This year’s filing deadline for candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives in South Carolina was March 30, 2026.

Two districts are open this year because their incumbents — Rep. Nancy Mace (R-1st) and Rep. Ralph Norman (R-5th) — are both retiring to run for governor of South Carolina. That’s the highest number of open districts in South Carolina since 2014. There was one open district in 2024, none in 2022, none in 2020, one in 2018, none in 2016, and none in 2014.

One of those open districts — the 1st Congressional District — has attracted the most candidates. Eighteen candidates — seven Democrats and 11 Republicans — are running for the district.

Of the incumbents running for re-election, three — one Democrat and two Republicans — are running in contested primaries. There were three incumbents in contested primaries in 2024, four in 2022, one in 2020, two in 2018, two in 2016, and two in 2014.

In total, nine primaries — five Democratic and four Republican — are contested this year. In total, there were nine contested primaries in 2024, six in 2022, five in 2020, nine in 2018, three in 2016, and five in 2014.

Forty–one candidates — 19 Democrats and 22 Republicans — are running for South Carolina’s seven congressional districts. That’s 5.9 candidates per district. There were 4.1 candidates per district in 2024, four in 2022, 2.9 in 2020, 6.1 in 2018, 2.4 in 2016, and 2.4 in 2014.

Candidates filed to run in the Republican and Democratic primaries in all seven districts, meaning no districts are guaranteed to either party.

South Carolina and three other states — Maine, Nevada, and North Dakota — are holding U.S. House primaries on June 9, 2026. If needed, South Carolina will hold runoff elections on June 23, 2026.

In South Carolina, winners in primary elections are determined by majority vote. If no candidate wins a majority, a runoff election is held two weeks following the primary.