Wes Climer
Wes Climer, a Republican who has represented the 15th district in the South Carolina Senate since 2016, is his party's nominee for South Carolina's open 5th congressional district seat in 2026 against Democrat Mallory Dittmer.
2026 Races & Market Forecast
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- Born
- September 26, 1982
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Wes Climer, whose full name is David Wesley Climer, was born on September 26, 1982. From 2006 to 2011 he worked in Washington, D.C., as a congressional aide to Republican U.S. Representative Patrick McHenry, Senator Elizabeth Dole and Senator Bill Cassidy.
Career
Climer entered the South Carolina Senate in 2016 after defeating Republican Robert W. Hayes Jr., who had represented the 15th district, covering York, since 1991, in the Republican primary. He chairs the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and also serves on the Family and Veterans' Services, Finance, Labor Commerce and Industry, Legislative Oversight and Transportation committees.
On June 9, 2025, Climer and his attorney, former state senator Dick Harpootlian, sued the State of South Carolina over the legislature's vote in the 2025 state budget to raise members' pay, which they stated violated the state constitution.
Climer declined the additional money, as did two other members of the Senate and 34 members of the South Carolina House of Representatives.
On February 7, 2026, he announced that he would resign his Senate seat in November 2026, concurrent with a joint resolution allowing replacement elections for legislators who submitted irrevocable resignations by March 1 to take place during the June primaries.
His resignation takes effect on November 3, 2026.
2026 race
Wes Climer is the Republican nominee for South Carolina's 5th congressional district, which covers northern South Carolina and the southern suburbs and exurbs of Charlotte, including Rock Hill.
The seat is open because Republican incumbent Ralph Norman, who was re-elected with 63.5% of the vote in 2024, filed on July 25, 2025, to run for governor of South Carolina. Climer announced his candidacy on July 31, 2025, and veterinarian Bill Bledsoe withdrew from the Republican primary.
In the general election on November 3, 2026, Climer faces Democrat Mallory Dittmer, a branding consultant who won the Democratic primary with 55.8% of the vote against airline worker Andrew Clough.