COLUMBIA, S.C. — Fred West officially filed on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, to run for South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture.
The filing comes exactly one year after West launched his campaign and began traveling across South Carolina, meeting with people across the state and sharing his vision for the Department of Agriculture.
“Since launching this campaign, I’ve been on the ground all over South Carolina listening to people and learning how this role impacts their daily lives,” said West. “The truth is, everyone in our state is impacted by agriculture. From our farms to our tables to our restaurants, to our grocery stores and our gas pumps, it touches us all.”
West emphasized his background in the agriculture industry, noting that while others were engaged in politics, he was working as an agribusiness executive.
“I’ve been committed to serving from the start, and I’m not backing down now,” West said. “This job isn’t a political appointment. It is a constitutional office that requires leadership, experience, and a real understanding of the business of agriculture.”
“At the end of the day, this job requires someone who understands the business — not someone who just takes pictures of it,” West added.
West said he is ready to lead on day one.
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