U.S. House, South Carolina 2nd Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District?
Joe Wilson has the strongest record in South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District. Joe Wilson scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Zyon Khalifa at 56, as of October 9, 2026. Joe Wilson's highest marks are relevant experience and coalition building. Zyon Khalifa's highest marks are roots in the constituency and communication. Dayna Alane Smith (0 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Zyon Khalifa
56 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
Workers
Dayna Alane Smith
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- NR
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Joe Wilson
65 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 42
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 75
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.
Zyon Khalifa
- Credit2026-06-19
Took part in an Aiken County Democratic Party forum with David Robinson III before the June 23, 2026 runoff.
Source: WJBF via Yahoo, June 19, 2026
- Credit2020 to 2025
Served in the Air Force Reserve from 2020 to 2025 and earned a law degree in 2026.
Source: Ballotpedia, Zyon Khalifa
Dayna Alane Smith
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Joe Wilson
- On the record2020-12 to 2021-01
Signed the December 2020 House amicus brief supporting Texas v. Pennsylvania and voted Yea on the objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's certified electoral votes on Jan. 6 and 7, 2021.
Sources: U.S. Supreme Court, House members' amicus brief, Texas v. Pennsylvania, House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021
- On the record2009-09-15
The House adopted H.Res. 744 disapproving his interruption of President Obama's Sept. 9, 2009 address to a joint session; the vote largely followed party lines.
- Credit2023
Ranked 50 of 436 House members on the Lugar Center Bipartisan Index for 2023, in the top quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
- Credit2022
Sponsored the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022, one of seven bills he sponsored that GovTrack counts as enacted.
Source: GovTrack, enacted legislation
- Credit2021 to 2024
Rated as exceeding expectations by the Center for Effective Lawmaking in the 117th Congress and meeting them in the 118th.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Zyon Khalifa. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Dayna Alane Smith. No public record found.
Joe Wilson. His 2025 annual financial disclosure was filed May 5, 2026; no periodic transaction reports are listed for 2023 to 2026. No current House Ethics finding or FEC administrative fine against his committee found.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10075469, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Zyon Khalifa. No public record found.
Dayna Alane Smith. No public record found.
Joe Wilson. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Zyon Khalifa. Took part in an Aiken County Democratic Party candidate forum before the June 2026 runoff and holds public campaign events.
Source: WJBF via Yahoo, June 19, 2026
Dayna Alane Smith. No public record found.
Joe Wilson. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Zyon Khalifa. No public record found.
Dayna Alane Smith. No public record found.
Joe Wilson. In the House since 2001 and the state Senate from 1984 to 2001. The House's 2009 resolution disapproving his outburst during a presidential address is older than 10 years and passed largely on party lines (E1, E3); it is in the Record.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Joe Wilson, GovTrack, H.Res. 744 (111th) text
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Zyon Khalifa. Served in the Air Force Reserve from 2020 to 2025 per Ballotpedia. No official finding of misuse found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Zyon Khalifa
Dayna Alane Smith. No public record found.
Joe Wilson. Voted Yea on the House objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's certified electoral votes on Jan. 6 and 7, 2021, and signed the December 2020 House amicus brief supporting Texas v. Pennsylvania (E2).
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021, U.S. Supreme Court, House members' amicus brief, Texas v. Pennsylvania
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Zyon Khalifa. Air Force reservist and former USC athlete who earned a law degree in 2026; little documented leadership experience. Has not held public office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Zyon Khalifa
Dayna Alane Smith. No public record found.
Joe Wilson. U.S. representative for the 2nd District since January 2001, and a state senator for District 23 from 1984 to 2001 (E9).
Source: Ballotpedia, Joe Wilson
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Zyon Khalifa. Publishes a platform on economic growth, education and jobs in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, Platform
Dayna Alane Smith. No public record found.
Joe Wilson. Serves on the Armed Services, Education and Workforce and Foreign Affairs committees; Ballotpedia lists him as chairman of a Foreign Affairs subcommittee in 2023 to 2024.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, Ballotpedia, Joe Wilson
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Zyon Khalifa. Three channels documented: Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, a platform page and a candidate forum.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Zyon Khalifa, Campaign site, Platform, WJBF via Yahoo, June 19, 2026
Dayna Alane Smith. No public record found.
Joe Wilson. Two channels documented: an email newsletter and issue pages on his House site. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: House office site, services, Ballotpedia, Joe Wilson
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Zyon Khalifa. A native of Aiken County who graduated from Silver Bluff High School. FEC by-state totals show about 74 percent of itemized individual contributions from South Carolina.
Sources: Campaign site, Meet Zyon, Ballotpedia, Zyon Khalifa, FEC contribution totals by state
Dayna Alane Smith. No public record found.
Joe Wilson. Born in Charleston and has held state and federal office from the Midlands since 1984. FEC by-state totals show about 47 percent of itemized individual contributions from South Carolina.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Joe Wilson, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Zyon Khalifa. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Dayna Alane Smith. No public record found.
Joe Wilson. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. The only fines-database match is another committee's case in which his committee appears as a contributor; no fine against his committee.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Zyon Khalifa. No public record found.
Dayna Alane Smith. No public record found.
Joe Wilson. Legislative Effectiveness Score 1.113 against a benchmark of 1.502 in the 118th Congress, meets expectations; primary sponsor of seven enacted bills, including the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Zyon Khalifa. No public record found.
Dayna Alane Smith. No public record found.
Joe Wilson. Missed 362 of 15,673 roll call votes, 2.3 percent, from December 2001 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Zyon Khalifa. No public record found.
Dayna Alane Smith. No public record found.
Joe Wilson. Runs district offices in Aiken and West Columbia and offers help with federal agencies. No published casework totals found.
Sources: House office site, office locations, House office site, services
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Zyon Khalifa. No public record found.
Dayna Alane Smith. No public record found.
Joe Wilson. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of 0.61666 in the latest posted House scores (2023), ranked 50 of 436, in the top quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Zyon Khalifa. No public record found.
Dayna Alane Smith. No public record found.
Joe Wilson. 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 South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District?
Joe Wilson has the strongest record in South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District. Joe Wilson scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Zyon Khalifa at 56, as of October 9, 2026. Joe Wilson's highest marks are relevant experience and coalition building. Zyon Khalifa's highest marks are roots in the constituency and communication. Dayna Alane Smith (0 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District in 2026?
Zyon Khalifa (Democratic), Dayna Alane Smith (Workers), Joe Wilson (Republican, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Zyon Khalifa a good candidate for Congress?
Zyon Khalifa scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Dayna Alane Smith a good candidate for Congress?
Dayna Alane Smith has public evidence on 0 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Joe Wilson a good candidate for Congress?
Joe Wilson scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 42 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 75 of 100. 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, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the South Carolina 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.