The Political Beat Candidate Guide: South Carolina House of Representatives District 26

District 26 is located in York County, including parts of the Fort Mill area.

Jenny Desch (D)

What is the top issue in your district and how do you plan to address it?

Aside from maintaining our top-rated public school system, the district’s biggest challenge is managing exponential growth responsibly. We need to ensure that development keeps pace with our infrastructure, protects existing residents’ quality of life, and preserves the character of our community.

I would advocate for a comprehensive approach that includes:

1. Coordinating growth and infrastructure. Work with developers, planning commissions, and neighboring municipalities to ensure development is coordinated across jurisdictions and that infrastructure keeps pace with growth rather than falling behind it.
2. Encouraging responsible commercial growth. Expand our tax base through appropriate business and commercial development that meets zoning requirements. Growth must be supported by adequate water, sewer, utilities, and transportation infrastructure before we continue adding large apartment complexes and sprawling subdivisions.
3. Improving traffic flow and connectivity. Develop new road connections and transportation corridors to improve access between previously disconnected areas and reduce traffic congestion.
4. Protecting green space. Use conservation easements, impact fees, and appropriate land-use requirements to preserve natural areas, maintain green space, and establish buffers between developments.

Growth should be an opportunity for our district, not a burden on the people who already call it home.

What policies will you advocate for to bring down costs?

I would focus on policies that address the everyday expenses families face, rather than relying on income tax relief alone.

1. Reduce transportation and shipping costs. I would advocate for suspending the state gas and diesel taxes to help reduce transportation and distribution costs that contribute to higher prices for consumers.
2. Address housing and property costs. Our district is heavily residential, and rising property taxes and homeowners’ insurance premiums are putting additional pressure on household budgets and monthly mortgage payments. I would advocate for property and sales tax relief alongside income tax relief.
3. Expand access to affordable healthcare. I support expanding Medicaid to improve access to care and help address the broader costs of our healthcare system. I would also advocate for greater transparency in prescription drug pricing and insurance premiums, along with policies that encourage competition and affordability.
4. Push back against harmful tariffs. I would work with our federal representatives to oppose tariffs that drive up costs for families, farmers, and businesses, contributing to higher prices for everything from groceries and housing to agricultural supplies.

What should SC do about data centers?

South Carolina should slow the rapid expansion of data centers until we have a clearer understanding of their long-term impact on our infrastructure and natural resources. Many development agreements have moved forward without sufficient credible evidence of the full costs to our communities.

Our state’s largest utility is projecting significant future electricity demand, while communities are raising concerns about the amount of water these facilities consume. We must also consider the potential effects on groundwater, noise pollution, and residential utility rates, which have already increased substantially in recent years.

I support a moratorium that allows us to thoroughly study these impacts before approving additional projects. Given the current gaps in research and transparency, I would need compelling evidence that a proposed data center would not place an unreasonable burden on our community before considering support for one.

If, after a transparent and comprehensive review, a community supports a data center, the company should bear the costs of the infrastructure and resources required to operate it. Those expenses should not be shifted onto taxpayers or residents through higher utility bills.

Should South Carolina expand Medicaid?

Yes. Expanding Medicaid would help insure low-income adults who might otherwise go without coverage or delay seeking preventive care because of the cost.

Increasing the number of insured South Carolinians would improve access to healthcare, support earlier diagnosis and treatment of serious illnesses, and reduce the number of people who wait until a condition becomes an emergency before seeking care.

When people lack insurance, they may postpone treatment, allow chronic conditions to worsen, or rely on emergency rooms for care that could have been addressed earlier. Those outcomes are costly for patients and place additional strain on an already burdened healthcare system.

Preventive care and early intervention are generally less expensive than treating advanced illnesses. Medicaid expansion is an opportunity to improve health outcomes while helping make our healthcare system more sustainable and affordable.

What separates you from your opponents?

As a practical problem solver, I believe our district deserves representation that prioritizes the immediate needs of its residents. The incumbent and Republican leadership have supported tax breaks for luxury purchases while failing to give the cost-of-living challenges facing everyday families the attention they deserve.

That raises an important question: Are our representatives listening to the people they serve and prioritizing the issues that affect their lives? Our district needs a representative who understands these challenges, listens to residents, and advocates for legislation that addresses real problems.

Throughout my career in public service, I have focused on listening to people, identifying the underlying issues, and working toward practical solutions. That experience has prepared me to address the challenges facing our district today: the rising cost of living, the need for safe and livable communities, and the infrastructure demands of continued growth.

I will bring a problem-solving approach to the State House, with a commitment to ensuring that progress benefits the people who live here, not just those who stand to profit from it.

Kiral Mace (Workers)

We will add a response once it is received.

David Martin (R)

We will add a response once it is received.

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