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Wes Climer

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Wes Climer
Member of the South Carolina Senate
from the 15th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 14, 2016
Preceded byRobert W. Hayes, Jr.
Personal details
BornDavid Wesley Climer
(1982-09-26) September 26, 1982 (age 43)
Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
PartyRepublican
Spouse
Martie Behrens
​
(m. 2008)​
Children5
EducationFurman University (BA)

David Wesley Climer[1] (born September 26, 1982) is an American politician. Since 2016, Climer has represented the 15th District (York) in the South Carolina Senate. He is a member of the Republican Party.[2] He resigned from the state senate, effective November 3, 2026.[3]

Political career

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Congressional aide

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From 2006 to 2011, Climer worked as a Washington, DC-based Congressional aide for Republicans US Rep. Patrick McHenry, US Senator Elizabeth Dole, and Senator Bill Cassidy.[4]

South Carolina Senate

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Climer has represented South Carolina's 15th Senate District since 2016, when he defeated Republican Robert W. Hayes Jr. in the Republican primary. Before that, Hayes had represented the district since 1991.[5][6]

In the primary race, Climer was endorsed by Governor Nikki Haley, and supported by the Club for Growth and a PAC affiliated with Haley, Great Day SC PAC.[7]

Climer chairs the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, and serves on the Senate Family and Veterans' Services, Finance, Labor Commerce and Industry, Legislative Oversight and Transportation Committees.[8]

Legislative lawsuit

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On June 9, 2025, Climer and his attorney, former South Carolina Senator Dick Harpootlian, sued the State of South Carolina over their vote in the 2025 state budget to give themselves pay raises, which they stated is in violation of the State constitution. Climer declined the additional money, as did 2 other members of the Senate and 34 members of the South Carolina House of Representatives.[9][10]

2026 congressional race

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On July 31, 2025, Climer announced his bid for the South Carolina Congressional District 5 US House Seat. Incumbent Ralph Norman had announced his intention to run in the 2026 South Carolina gubernatorial election. Climer endorsed Norman in that race.[11]

On August 21, 2025, Norman announced his endorsement of Climer as his successor in Congress.[12]

On February 7, 2026, Climer announced that he would resign in November 2026, concurrent with the passage of a joint resolution by the General Assembly allowing replacement elections for legislators submitting irrevocable resignations by March 1 to take place during the June Primaries, rather than in separate special elections.

Electoral history

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Year Office Type Party Main opponent Party Votes for Climer Result Swing Ref.
Total % P. ±%
2016 S.C. Senator Rep. primary Republican Robert W. Hayes, Jr.[a] Republican 4,993 51.82% 1st N/A Won N/A [5][13]
General Republican Write-in N/A 39,584 98.05% 1st N/A Won Hold [14]
2020 General Republican Vickie Holt Democratic 39,121 60.17% 1st -37.88% Won Hold [15][16][17]

Notes

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  1. ↑ Incumbent seeking re-election.

References

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  1. ↑ "South Carolina State Sen. Wes Climer". LegiStorm.
  2. ↑ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  3. ↑ https://scdailygazette.com/2026/06/22/gop-senator-running-for-congress-resigns-enabling-voters-to-replace-him-in-november/
  4. ↑ Holdman, Jessica (2025-07-31). "Rock Hill state senator launches bid for SC's 5th Congressional District • SC Daily Gazette". SC Daily Gazette. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
  5. 1 2 Marchant, Bristow (June 18, 2016). "A closer look at how Climer unseated SC Sen. Hayes". The State. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  6. ↑ "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  7. ↑ Marchant, Bristow (June 18, 2016). "A closer look at how Climer unseated SC Sen. Hayes". The State Newspaper. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  8. ↑ "South Carolina Legislature Online - Committee". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
  9. ↑ "SC senator sues to stop in-district pay raise for lawmakers". South Carolina Public Radio. 2025-06-09. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
  10. ↑ "SC senator details legal challenge opposing pay raises for state lawmakers". WIS-TV. 2025-06-09. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
  11. ↑ O'Neill, Nora (August 1, 2025). "SC senator announces run for Ralph Norman's 5th District seat in Congress". The Herald. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  12. ↑ "US Rep. Ralph Norman endorses SC state Sen. Wes Climer to succeed him in Congress". WIS-TV. 2025-08-21. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  13. ↑ "2016 Republican and Democratic Primaries: State Senate, District 15 - REP". South Carolina Election Commission. 2016-07-26. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  14. ↑ "2016 Statewide General Election: State Senate, District 15". South Carolina Election Commission. 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  15. ↑ Dys, Andrew (November 4, 2020). "SC House incumbents in York, Chester, Lancaster had challengers. Who's keeping seats?". The Herald. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  16. ↑ "South Carolina State Senate - District 15 Election Results | The Advocate". www.newarkadvocate.com. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  17. ↑ "2020 Statewide General Election: State Senate, District 15". South Carolina Election Commission. 2023-06-30. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
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