U.S. House, South Carolina 5th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in South Carolina's 5th Congressional District?
Wes Climer has the strongest record in South Carolina's 5th Congressional District. Wes Climer scores 66 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Wes Climer's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Mallory Dittmer (6 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.
Republican
Strongest record
Wes Climer
66 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 63
Democratic
Mallory Dittmer
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- 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.
Wes Climer
- On the record2026-06-22
Submitted an irrevocable resignation from the state Senate effective Nov. 3, 2026, so York County voters could fill his seat on the general election ballot.
- Credit2025-11-12
The South Carolina Supreme Court struck down the 2025 legislative in-district pay raise in a suit he filed in June 2025, siding with his argument that it violated the state constitution.
Sources: Associated Press via ABC News 4, Nov. 12, 2025, WRDW, June 9, 2025
- Credit2025-05-08
His bill requiring accurate labeling of cell-cultivated food products passed the Senate 42 to 0 and the House 109 to 0 and was signed May 8, 2025 as Act 14.
Source: SC Legislature, Climer primary-sponsored bills, 2025 to 2026
Mallory Dittmer
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Wes Climer. A House candidate financial disclosure was filed May 15, 2026, and campaign reports are on file with the FEC. No FEC administrative fine found. The State Ethics Commission site could not be opened.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10078631, FEC administrative fines search
Mallory Dittmer. A House candidate financial disclosure was filed May 16, 2026, and campaign reports are on file with the FEC. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10077851, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Wes Climer. Sued the state in June 2025 over the pay raise the General Assembly gave its own members, and the state Supreme Court struck it down in November 2025. Voted against confirming the governor's nominee to lead the Department of Environmental Services.
Sources: WRDW, June 9, 2025, Associated Press via ABC News 4, Nov. 12, 2025, Rock Hill Herald via Yahoo News, Oct. 2, 2025
Mallory Dittmer. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Wes Climer. No public record found.
Mallory Dittmer. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Wes Climer. Has served in the state Senate since 2016 and chairs a standing committee. No censure or conduct finding found; the State Ethics Commission site could not be opened.
Sources: SC Legislature, member page, Ballotpedia, Wes Climer
Mallory Dittmer. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Wes Climer. Has held a sworn state Senate seat since November 2016. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Wes Climer
Mallory Dittmer. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Wes Climer. In his third term in the South Carolina Senate, representing District 15 in York County since 2016; previously chaired the York County Republican Party.
Sources: Rock Hill Herald via Yahoo News, Oct. 2, 2025, SC Legislature, member page
Mallory Dittmer. Spent 15 years in corporate fashion retail, becoming a vice president at 33, then co-founded Community Advocates for Public Education and managed political campaigns from 2022. Has not held public office.
Sources: Campaign site, Meet Mallory, Rock Hill Herald via Yahoo News, Oct. 2, 2025
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Wes Climer. Chairs the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and sits on Finance. Lists federal priorities on the budget, the border and the Justice Department.
Sources: SC Legislature, member page, Rock Hill Herald via Yahoo News, Oct. 2, 2025
Mallory Dittmer. Publishes a priorities page covering the economy, health care, education, safety, national security, immigration, agriculture and elections, in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, Priorities
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Wes Climer. Publishes positions on his campaign website. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Rock Hill Herald via Yahoo News, May 27, 2026, Ballotpedia, Wes Climer
Mallory Dittmer. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026 and publishes a priorities page.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Mallory Dittmer, Campaign site, Priorities
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Wes Climer. Lives in Rock Hill and has represented York County in the state Senate since 2016, after chairing the county Republican Party. FEC by-state totals show about 73 percent of itemized individual contributions from South Carolina.
Sources: SC Legislature, member page, Rock Hill Herald via Yahoo News, May 27, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Mallory Dittmer. Has lived in Fort Mill, in York County, since 2020. FEC by-state totals show about 90 percent of itemized individual contributions from South Carolina.
Sources: Campaign site, Meet Mallory, Rock Hill Herald via Yahoo News, May 27, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Wes Climer. 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
Mallory Dittmer. 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
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Wes Climer. Primary sponsor of at least seven bills enacted since 2021, including Act 14 of 2025 on labeling cell-cultivated food and Act 34 of 2025 on accountant designations.
Sources: SC Legislature, Climer primary-sponsored bills, 2025 to 2026, SC Legislature, Climer primary-sponsored bills, 2023 to 2024
Mallory Dittmer. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Wes Climer. No public record found.
Mallory Dittmer. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Wes Climer. No public record found.
Mallory Dittmer. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Wes Climer. His synthetic food labeling bill, enacted as Act 14 of 2025, passed the Senate 42 to 0 and the House 109 to 0.
Source: SC Legislature, Climer primary-sponsored bills, 2025 to 2026
Mallory Dittmer. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Wes Climer. No public record found.
Mallory Dittmer. 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 5th Congressional District?
Wes Climer has the strongest record in South Carolina's 5th Congressional District. Wes Climer scores 66 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Wes Climer's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Mallory Dittmer (6 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 5th Congressional District in 2026?
Wes Climer (Republican), Mallory Dittmer (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Wes Climer a good candidate for Congress?
Wes Climer scores 66 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 63 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Mallory Dittmer a good candidate for Congress?
Mallory Dittmer has public evidence on 6 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.
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.