William Oden

William Oden, also known as Bill, is the Republican candidate for South Carolina House of Representatives District 50 in the November 3, 2026 general election, running against Democratic incumbent Keishan Scott.[1] A retired U.S. Air Force network administrator who served from 1974 to 1997, he lists right-to-life issues, tax reform and tort reform as policy priorities.[1][2]

William Oden earned a high school diploma from Emmerich Manual High School, a bachelor's degree from Saint Leo University in 1991, and graduate degrees from Troy State University in 1992 and Webster University in 2003.[1] In his 2026 Ballotpedia survey, he said he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1974 and served 23 years, retiring as Senior Network Administrator at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina.[2] He said he then spent sixteen years working on technology systems for Kershaw County schools, retiring as Senior Systems Administrator.[2]

Oden said in the survey that he served more than 25 years in the South Carolina State Guard, retiring as Deputy Chief of Staff for Cyber Security and Intelligence, and that he has worked as a State Constable and as an adjunct professor at Central Carolina Technical College.[2] He also said he serves on the boards of South Carolina State University and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 36.[2] He listed right-to-life issues, tax reform and tort reform as the public policy areas he is most passionate about.[2]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.