Two State House seats head to a Republican primary — with Democratic challengers waiting

Lancaster County’s 2026 primary season is focused and consequential. While many local offices on the ballot drew only a single candidate — leaving voters with no primary choice at all — two State House districts have generated enough Republican interest to produce a genuine intraparty contest before the general election.

In both cases, the dynamic is the same: multiple Republicans are competing for the right to represent their party in November, while a Democratic challenger waits on the other side. That structure makes the Republican primary the first critical test of each campaign, but it is not the last. The winners will still need to make their case to a broader Lancaster County electorate in the fall.

Here is a close look at the two Lancaster County local races heading to a primary in 2026.

SC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House District 44 — Republican Primary

House District 44 is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched local races in Lancaster County this cycle. Two Republicans — Tripp McCoy and incumbent Mike Neese — are competing in a primary for the right to carry the party’s banner into the general election, where Democrat Katie Crosby is already waiting.

Neese, the incumbent, enters the primary with the advantages that come with holding the seat — name recognition, a legislative record to run on, and an established donor network. But incumbency is not invincibility. McCoy’s challenge signals that at least a portion of the Republican base in District 44 is open to a change at the top of the ticket.

The primary outcome will set the tone for the general election contest against Crosby, who filed on the Democratic side and will be watching closely to see which Republican survives. For Crosby, a bruising primary between McCoy and Neese could create an opening; for the Republican winner, consolidating the party faithful quickly after the primary will be essential heading into November.

District 44 is a Lancaster County seat, and local issues — growth pressures, road infrastructure, school funding, and the county’s evolving character as it absorbs population from the Charlotte metro area — are likely to feature prominently in both the primary and general election campaigns.

Republican Primary Candidates

Tripp McCoy
Mike Neese — Incumbent

General election opponent: Katie Crosby (Democratic)

House District 45 — Republican Primary (Kershaw/Lancaster)

House District 45 spans both Lancaster and Kershaw counties, and it is generating a competitive Republican primary between incumbent Brandon Newton and challenger Russell Brazell. Democrat Nicole Ventour has filed to compete in the general election, meaning the Republican primary winner will face a contested fall race as well.

Newton, the incumbent, has represented the district and will be leaning on his record in Columbia to make the case for another term. Brazell, filing from Kershaw County, is mounting a challenge that will require him to build support across both counties that make up the district — a logistical and organizational test that will define whether his candidacy can gain serious traction with Republican primary voters.

The cross-county nature of District 45 adds an interesting dimension to the primary. Candidates must appeal to Republican voters in two distinct communities, each with its own local priorities and political personalities. Newton’s incumbency gives him a head start in both counties, but Brazell’s presence in the race suggests there is an appetite among some Republican voters for a fresh face.

Ventour, the Democratic candidate, will be following the primary result closely. Whichever Republican emerges will face her in a general election contest that could be competitive depending on turnout patterns and how the district has evolved demographically in recent cycles.

Republican Primary Candidates

Brandon Newton — Incumbent
Russell Brazell

General election opponent: Nicole Ventour (Democratic)

A NOTE ON OTHER LANCASTER COUNTY RACES

Several other Lancaster County offices are on the 2026 ballot but did not generate the kind of multi-candidate primary competition seen in Districts 44 and 45. County Council Districts 2, 4, and 6 each drew only a single candidate — Democrat Charlene McGriff in District 2, Republican Jose Luis in District 4, and Republican Bryant Neal in District 6 — meaning those seats may be decided without a contested election.

The Lancaster County Probate Judge seat has one candidate on file: Republican Mary Rathel. The 6th Circuit Solicitor position, which covers Lancaster, Chester, and Fairfield counties, has one candidate as well — Republican Randy E. Newman Jr.

In each of these cases, voters who want more competitive representation may wish to encourage additional candidates to consider filing in future cycles. Uncontested races, while common in local government, limit voter choice and reduce the accountability that competition provides.

The Stakes for Lancaster County Voters

Lancaster County is one of the fastest-growing counties in South Carolina, and the decisions made by its state legislators have direct consequences for how that growth is managed — from school capacity and road funding to zoning and municipal services. The two Republican primaries in Districts 44 and 45 are, in that sense, more than just partisan housekeeping. They are an early conversation about what kind of leadership the county wants in Columbia.

South Carolina holds open primaries, meaning any registered voter may participate in either the Republican or Democratic primary — but not both. In Lancaster County’s case, with both contested primaries on the Republican side, Republican primary voters hold an outsized role in determining who advances to the general election.

Primary turnout in local races is typically low. That means an organized, motivated group of voters can have a disproportionate say in who ends up on the November ballot. Lancaster County residents who care about their representation in the State House should treat primary day as the first — and in some cases most important — vote they cast this year.

Candidate filing information is provided by the South Carolina Election Commission. Voters should verify their registration status and polling location ahead of primary day.