Attorney General of South Carolina · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the South Carolina attorney general race?
Richard Hricik has the strongest record in the South Carolina attorney general race. Richard Hricik scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of David Stumbo at 58, as of October 9, 2026. Richard Hricik's highest marks are command of the job and communication. David Stumbo's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Strongest record
Richard Hricik
59 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- 50
Republican
David Stumbo
58 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Richard Hricik
- On the record2026-06-25
Launched his general election campaign with a pledge to take no contributions and not self-fund; he forgave an $8,420 startup loan on June 30, 2026.
Sources: Greenville News, via Yahoo, June 30, 2026, SC Daily Gazette, via Yahoo, Oct. 9, 2026
- Credit2024-10
Representing the state Democratic Party, won a 10-day voter registration extension in October 2024 after Tropical Storm Helene.
- Credit2023
Represented the family of an Allen Benedict Court resident in a carbon monoxide death case that reached a $2 million settlement with the Columbia Housing Authority in 2023.
- Credit1997
Moved to Mount Pleasant in 1997 to teach criminal justice and constitutional law at Charleston Southern University; teaches part time at the Charleston School of Law and for William and Mary Law School.
David Stumbo
- Unresolved2026-04-15
The State Ethics Commission opened an investigation in April 2026 into a complaint that he paid himself about $32,000 to $36,700 in mileage allowances from office funds, 2022 to 2025. He denies wrongdoing.
Where it stands: Under investigation; no commission finding reported as of 2026-10-09.
Sources: WCSC Live 5 News, April 22, 2026, The State, via MSN, April 24, 2026
- On the record2026-04-24
Said he stopped taking the mileage allowance after launching his attorney general campaign in late summer 2025 and that the payments were shown on his disclosure reports.
- On the record2026-05-27
Debated his Republican primary opponents on May 27, 2026 in an SCETV debate broadcast statewide.
- Credit2026-07-03
Was one of the original prosecutors on South Carolina's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, per WCSC.
Source: WCSC Live 5 News, July 3, 2026
- Credit2012
Elected Eighth Circuit Solicitor in 2012, chief prosecutor for Abbeville, Greenwood, Newberry and Laurens counties, and has held the office since.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Richard Hricik. Campaign filings on file show an $8,420 loan forgiven June 30 and a $94 balance; he has pledged to take no contributions. No official finding found.
David Stumbo. Reported his mileage allowance on his 2024 and 2025 Statements of Economic Interests per The State. A State Ethics Commission investigation opened in April 2026 is unresolved and does not move the score (see Record).
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Richard Hricik. No public record found.
David Stumbo. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Richard Hricik. No public record found.
David Stumbo. Took part in the May 27, 2026 SCETV Republican primary debate broadcast statewide. No 2026 general election attorney general debate was found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Richard Hricik. About 30 years as a practicing attorney and law firm owner, and a university faculty member, with no conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Richard Hricik
David Stumbo. Elected circuit solicitor since 2012 with no censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Richard Hricik. No public record found.
David Stumbo. Sworn elected solicitor since 2012; no official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results found. The pending ethics complaint is unresolved.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Richard Hricik. Trial and appellate attorney who owns a Mount Pleasant law firm and teaches law part time; no government service.
David Stumbo. Elected Eighth Circuit Solicitor, the chief prosecutor for four counties, since 2012, and earlier in private practice.
Sources: SC Daily Gazette, via Yahoo, June 24, 2026, SC Daily Gazette, via Yahoo, Oct. 9, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Richard Hricik. Specific plans tied to the office's consumer, securities and environmental duties, such as acting against plastic pellet pollution, debt collectors and junk fees.
Source: WCSC Live 5 News, July 24, 2026
David Stumbo. Specific plans within the office: expand the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, add resources against human trafficking, and open regional attorney general offices.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Richard Hricik. Three channels: Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey completed, campaign issue pages, and a published answer to a Fraternal Order of Police questionnaire.
David Stumbo. Two channels: televised primary debates and a campaign issue page. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Richard Hricik. Has lived in Mount Pleasant since 1997, about 29 years. Takes no contributions, so no donor share applies.
David Stumbo. Elected by voters of Abbeville, Greenwood, Newberry and Laurens counties since 2012; campaign based in Greenwood. In-state donor share not available (state filings not opened).
Sources: SC Daily Gazette, via Yahoo, June 24, 2026, Stumbo campaign site
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Richard Hricik. Owns and runs his own law firm. Campaign reports on file per the SC Daily Gazette.
David Stumbo. Has headed the Eighth Circuit Solicitor's Office since 2012. Office size and campaign filing timeliness not established; the State Ethics Commission site blocked access.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Richard Hricik. Won a $2 million 2023 settlement with the Columbia Housing Authority for a carbon monoxide death and a 10-day voter registration extension in October 2024 for the state Democratic Party.
David Stumbo. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Richard Hricik. No public record found.
David Stumbo. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Richard Hricik. No public record found.
David Stumbo. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Richard Hricik. No public record found.
David Stumbo. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Richard Hricik. No public record found.
David Stumbo. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the South Carolina attorney general race?
Richard Hricik has the strongest record in the South Carolina attorney general race. Richard Hricik scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of David Stumbo at 58, as of October 9, 2026. Richard Hricik's highest marks are command of the job and communication. David Stumbo's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the South Carolina attorney general race in 2026?
Richard Hricik (Democratic), David Stumbo (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Richard Hricik a good candidate for Attorney General?
Richard Hricik scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is David Stumbo a good candidate for Attorney General?
David Stumbo scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every South Carolina race scored, and the South Carolina 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.