The statewide primary is on June 9, 2026. The statewide general election is on Nov. 3, 2026.

The early voting period for the statewide primary started on Tuesday, May 26, and it will end on Friday, June 5, but polls are closed on Saturday and Sunday and on state holidays. Early voting hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Here are early voting locations in Lexington County for the statewide primary:

• County Voter Registration Office: 605 West Main St., Suite C, Lexington, S.C. 29072
• Midlands Technical College (Irmo): 7300 College St., Irmo, S.C. 29063
• West Columbia Community Center: 754 B Ave., West Columbia, S.C., 29169
• Midlands Tech (Batesburg-Leesville): 423 College St. Batesburg-Leesville, S.C., 29070
• Gaston Town Hall: 131 North Carlisle St., Gaston, S.C., 29053
• Chapin Town Hall: 157 North West Columbia Ct., Chapin, S.C. 29063

“Voters can visit any early voting center in their county during the early voting period, present their Photo ID, and vote using the voting system like they would at their polling place on election day,” according to the state election commission website.

Forty-nine have filed to run in the 2026 General Election for seats representing Lexington County. For a complete list, visit this link. 

The Lexington County Chronicle is publishing weekly question-and-answers ahead of June 9 as candidates running to represent Lexington County send in requested answers.

Below is the fifth set. Read the first set using this link. Read the second set using this link. Read the third set using this link. Read the fourth set using this link. 

Each of the following candidates’ names will be on primary ballots.

Joe White, running for State House of Representatives, District 40 (this seat represents Lexington and Newberry counties)

1. Why are you running? I am running to represent the values of the people of District 40.

2. Have you run for political office before? If so, explain: I am the incumbent and have represented District 40 for two terms.

3. Current job/profession, or if retired, past job/profession: I owned a Lexington based company (Medical Comfort Systems) for 35 years before I retired in 2017.

4. What makes you qualified for the seat? I am a veteran and former small business owner who believes in three God-given rights: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

5. What challenges/concerns do you see in the area the seat you're running for represents, and how do you intend to improve them? The challenges in District 40 are high property taxes, bad roads and schools that do not prepare young people for life. I will continue to sponsor and cosponsor bills designed to lower property taxes. I will spend time at DOT offices pointing out road issues and organizing people to protest the serious safety concerns caused by inferior roads. I will pressure K-12 school board members, administrative staff and the legislature to decrease paperwork that teachers are required to do, enforce discipline and end unnecessary testing.

6. What successes have you seen in the area that you want to build on? In my two terms as a representative, I have seen slight improvement in how our judicial system works due to my intense efforts to educate citizens around the state. During the current session, we the people improved a BAD DOT modernization bill. I want to continue educating citizens to pressure the legislature to fix our roads and fix our judicial system.

7. Any plans to address infrastructure? If so, explain. I have two bills currently in committee to completely restructure SCDOT. One (H5362) would create five regional DOT offices with operational authority to fix the roads in their region. The other (H5363) would create a pavement preservation program designed  after the Federal Highway Administration's pavement preservation program.

8. Are you actively involved in the community? How so? My community involvement is staying in touch with county council members, school board members and individual constituents to listen, learn and work together to solve problems.

9. Anything else you want to add? I wish more people would realize that the primary elections in June are really the election. November is just a rubber stamp on who wins the primary.

Evelio Duque, running for Lexington County Council, District 8 (this seat represents West Columbia, parts of Lexington and parts of Oak Grove)

I have never run for public office before, but I have spent my life serving others. I served 24 years in the United States Army and retired as a Network Operations Chief. During that time, I deployed five times to combat zones, including two tours in Afghanistan and three in Iraq. I served with the 18th Airborne Corps as a Communications Sergeant in Charge, where I helped install infrared cameras, GPS systems and other technologies that disrupted IED attacks and protected lives. For that work, I was awarded the Bronze Star. I later served on General Petraeus’ MITT Team, helping stop IEDs from crossing the border into Iraq.

My military career also included three years as a Drill Sergeant, where I helped prepare more than 2,000 soldiers for combat. I also worked in FORCOM, helping ensure unit readiness across the force. Those experiences taught me leadership, accountability, discipline and how to solve problems under pressure.

In addition to my military service, I earned an architectural engineering degree. I now work as a realtor in both residential and commercial real estate, helping clients navigate zoning issues in Lexington and Richland counties. I also worked as an OSHA compliance officer, where I gained experience applying regulations, addressing workplace safety concerns and finding practical solutions to complex problems as an engineer.

I continue serving my community as Commander of American Legion Post 79 and as the American Legion Baseball Director for the Lexington area. I have also helped veterans and their spouses secure benefits and assisted many veterans with their VA disability paperwork. I am also a proud father of six, including two by marriage.

I believe Lexington County’s leaders have served honorably, but our county now needs a proven problem solver, action taker and leader to address roads, schools, growth and infrastructure. My background in military leadership, engineering, regulatory compliance and local development gives me the experience to help move Lexington County forward.


Kim Ray, running for State House of Representatives, District 86 (this seat represents Aiken and Lexington counties)

Hello. My name is Kim Ray, a Republican candidate for SC House of Representatives in District 86. I graduated from USC Aiken with a bachelors degree in business administration. I own two small businesses and have been an accountant and a realtor for over 30 years. I’m currently a state political coordinator for South Carolina Realtors in District 24. My top priorities include: raising the homestead exemption value to $150k, repealing rollback taxes and taxes on business property and continuing to reduce state income tax rates. I also support eliminating taxes on personal residences for homeowners of all ages with a higher accommodation/tourism tax (FL saves the average household almost $2k doing this).  I am for protecting South Carolina land from foreign adversary purchases. Furthermore, I will push for a national deed fraud prevention system, and eliminate wasteful spending and fraud. We need plant growth and non-congested areas. Growth should serve the people that live there not overwhelmed them. Other facts on my Facebook page at Kim Ray for SC house. 

Hunter Hackett, running for State House of Representatives, District 96 (this seat represents only Lexington County)

1. Why are you running? I am running because District 96 deserves a representative who will listen, work hard and put local families first. Our community is growing quickly, and I want to help protect our quality of life while keeping South Carolina affordable, safe and rooted in conservative values.

2. Have you run for political office before? Yes. I ran for mayor of Swansea in 2021. Though I was not successful, that experience taught me a great deal about local government, public service and listening directly to people.

3. Current job/profession: I work in industrial maintenance and technical operations for one of the largest manufacturing employers in Lexington County.

4. What makes you qualified for the seat? I am not a career politician. I understand what working families, homeowners, small businesses and growing communities are facing because I live it too. My work has taught me how to solve problems, manage responsibility and get things done without excuses.

5. What challenges/concerns do you see, and how do you intend to improve them? The biggest challenge is managing growth while keeping roads, schools, water, public safety and infrastructure from falling behind. I will push for responsible planning, stronger coordination between state and local leaders and a fair share of infrastructure funding.

6. What successes have you seen that you want to build on? Our greatest success is our people. Families, churches, small businesses, schools and volunteers make this a place people are proud to call home. I want to protect what makes Lexington County strong.

7. Any plans to address infrastructure? Yes. Infrastructure must be a top priority. We need to focus transportation dollars where growth is happening, improve road safety, reduce congestion and make sure development does not outpace basic services.

8. Are you actively involved in the community? Yes. I have been involved in local ministries and churches all my life, and I teach Sunday school at a church I helped plant in Lexington. I am an Eagle Scout, remain active in Scouting, serve on the Lexington County Farm Bureau board and have previously been involved with Rotary and Lions Club. I also volunteer with the Fireflies, Blowfish and USC football.

9. Anything else you want to add? I am grateful for the opportunity to run and earn people’s trust. My promise is simple: I will listen, work hard and always put District 96 first.