--- title: "Dittmer vs. Climer: 2026 South Carolina’s 5th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-sc-05" updated: "2026-08-01" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 South Carolina’s 5th District race: Mallory Dittmer (D) vs. Wes Climer (R) Rating: Safe R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 1, 2026 South Carolina's 5th Congressional District features an open-seat election following the retirement of Republican incumbent Ralph Norman, who stepped down to run for governor. Democratic nominee Mallory Dittmer, a former fashion executive running on a platform of cost-of-living relief and bipartisan problem-solving, faces Republican nominee Wes Climer, a state senator highlighting his record as a conservative reformer. The race hinges on whether Dittmer can build a coalition across party lines in a district that voted for Donald Trump with 60.7% of the vote in 2024. ## Candidates - **Mallory Dittmer** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://dittmerforcongress.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mallory_Dittmer) - **Wes Climer** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://wesclimer.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Wes_Climer) ## Issues ### Elections and government reform Salience: high Both candidates endorse congressional term limits, though Dittmer couples term limits with campaign finance reform and ending gerrymandering, whereas Climer aligns with formal conservative term limits pledges. **Mallory Dittmer:** Supports term limits and campaign reform Dittmer campaigns on reducing partisan gridlock by forming cross-party coalitions. She advocates for federal term limits, ending partisan gerrymandering, and restricting the influence of billionaires and big business in political campaigns. - Advocate for congressional term limits - End partisan gerrymandering - Limit the role of corporate PACs and billionaires in government - Build bipartisan coalitions prioritizing results over party politics > “I’ll advocate for term limits, an end to partisan gerrymandering, and limiting the role of billionaires and big business in government.” > — Mallory Dittmer, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mallory_Dittmer) > “I’ll work to create a coalition of Democrats, Republicans and Independents that prioritizes people over party and results over rhetoric to find common-sense solutions that make life better for us all.” > — Mallory Dittmer, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mallory_Dittmer) **Wes Climer:** Supports constitutional congressional term limits Climer positions himself as a conservative reformer dedicated to fixing broken government systems. He has signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge committing to vote for constitutional limits on members of Congress. - Signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge for members of Congress - Positions platform on conservative government reform > “He’s not in politics to climb the ladder or play the game. He’s in it to fix what’s broken.” > — Wes Climer, via [Campaign site](https://wesclimer.com) ### Cost of living Salience: high **Mallory Dittmer:** Supports federal actions to lower family expenses Dittmer identifies the cost of living—including groceries, gas, healthcare, childcare, and housing—as the primary issue facing families in District 5. She advocates raising the minimum wage, enacting trade and tax policies that curb inflation, expanding access to affordable childcare, and utilizing government programs and tax incentives to lower housing prices. - Prioritize economic and trade policies to curb inflation and lower consumer costs - Support raising the federal minimum wage - Lower housing costs through government programs and tax incentives - Make childcare more affordable for working families > “Their top priority – and therefore my top priority – is the cost of living, from groceries and gas to health care and housing.” > — Mallory Dittmer, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mallory_Dittmer) > “When I’m in Washington, I’ll prioritize economic and trade policies that curb inflation and lower costs. I’ll support raising the minimum wage, making childcare more affordable, reversing cuts to health care programs and lowering housing prices through government programs and tax incentives.” > — Mallory Dittmer, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mallory_Dittmer) **Wes Climer:** No documented position in our sources ### Public education Salience: medium **Mallory Dittmer:** Supports protecting public school funding Dittmer supports protecting funding for public schools and keeping classrooms free from partisan political interference. Her agenda includes expanding early childhood education programs and equipping teachers with necessary resources. - Protect public school funding streams - Expand early childhood education access - Ensure teachers have necessary classroom resources - Keep public education free from political battles > “Public Education: I’ll support protecting public school finding, expanding access to early childhood programs and ensuring teachers have the resources they need.” > — Mallory Dittmer, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mallory_Dittmer) **Wes Climer:** No documented position in our sources ### Roads and infrastructure Salience: medium **Mallory Dittmer:** Supports expanding federal infrastructure investments Dittmer prioritizes securing federal investment for South Carolina's transportation network. She proposes tapping into the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and competitive federal grants to improve local roads and highways. - Maximize infrastructure investments in District 5 - Utilize funding from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - Secure federal grants for road and highway improvement projects > “Roads & Highways: I’ll fight for the maximum investment in our infrastructure using every tool the government offers, from programs like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to grants that fund road and highway improvement” > — Mallory Dittmer, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mallory_Dittmer) **Wes Climer:** No documented position in our sources ### Healthcare Salience: medium **Mallory Dittmer:** Supports reversing health care cuts Dittmer advocates for accessible and affordable healthcare for all citizens. She pledges to reverse cuts made to health programs and work to lower overall medical costs for working families. - Reverse cuts to federal healthcare programs - Lower out-of-pocket medical and prescription costs > “reversing cuts to health care programs” > — Mallory Dittmer, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mallory_Dittmer) **Wes Climer:** No documented position in our sources ### Border security and immigration Salience: medium **Mallory Dittmer:** Supports border order and fair immigration Dittmer's platform emphasizes securing order at the southern border while establishing fairness within the legal immigration system. - Maintain order and enforcement at the border - Ensure fairness in the immigration process > “Order at the Border & Fairness in the System” > — Mallory Dittmer, via [Campaign site](https://dittmerforcongress.com) **Wes Climer:** No documented position in our sources ### Agriculture Salience: low **Mallory Dittmer:** Equates food security with national security Dittmer treats agricultural production and food security as critical components of national security. - Protect food security as a national security priority - Support local farming and agriculture industries > “Food Security is National Security” > — Mallory Dittmer, via [Campaign site](https://dittmerforcongress.com) **Wes Climer:** No documented position in our sources ### Foreign policy and national defense Salience: low **Mallory Dittmer:** Supports restoring American global leadership Dittmer advocates for strong national defense and reclaiming American leadership among free nations worldwide. - Reclaim American leadership of the free world - Maintain strong national security and international partnerships > “Reclaiming Our Place as the Leader of the Free World” > — Mallory Dittmer, via [Campaign site](https://dittmerforcongress.com) **Wes Climer:** No documented position in our sources ### Public safety Salience: low **Mallory Dittmer:** Supports child and community safety measures Dittmer highlights keeping children and communities safe as a non-negotiable priority for federal public policy. - Prioritize community safety and child protection measures > “Keeping Our Kids Safe is Non-Negotiable” > — Mallory Dittmer, via [Campaign site](https://dittmerforcongress.com) **Wes Climer:** No documented position in our sources ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/sc-05-house-election-winner) — SC-05 House Election Winner: Republicans 94.0%, Democrats 6.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-SC05-26) — SC-05 House winner?: Wes Climer 94.0%, Mallory Dittmer 7.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-sc-05)