Wes Climer

Climer was born September 26, 1982, in Charlotte, North Carolina; the state Senate biography lists him as an Eagle Scout, and his campaign website says he was raised in South Carolina. He earned a B.A. from Furman University in 2006.[3][4][5] According to Wikipedia, he worked from 2006 to 2011 as a Washington, D.C.-based congressional aide to Rep. Patrick McHenry and Sens. Elizabeth Dole and Bill Cassidy. His campaign website describes him as a financial advisor and business owner.[5][4]

Climer won the 2016 Republican primary for South Carolina Senate District 15 against incumbent Robert W. Hayes Jr., who had held the seat since 1991, and took office November 14, 2016. He was re-elected in 2020. 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.[2][5][3] In June 2025 he and attorney Dick Harpootlian sued the State of South Carolina over the legislature's budget pay raise for lawmakers, which they said violated the state constitution; he declined the additional pay.[5]

Climer announced his run for the 5th District on July 31, 2025, after Rep. Ralph Norman said he would run for governor; Norman endorsed him on August 21, 2025. The Republican primary on June 9, 2026, was canceled, and he faced Democrat Mallory Dittmer in November.[2][5] According to his campaign website, he campaigned on cutting taxes, limiting spending and supporting President Trump's agenda.[4] According to his campaign website, he is a husband and father of five.[4] He won the November 3, 2026 general election with 52.8% of the vote to Mallory Dittmer's 47.1%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[1] In June 2026 he submitted his resignation from the state Senate, effective November 3, 2026, saying it would let York County choose his successor in the regular general election rather than a separate special election.[6]