Democrat · South Carolina's 4th District · 2026
Courtney McClain
McClain grew up in Spartanburg, where her family's roots stretch back two centuries and include teachers, nurses, railroad workers and religious leaders.
Biography
Courtney McClain calls Interstellar her comfort movie and names South Carolina's people and food as her favorite things about the state.1 A Spartanburg native, she comes from a family whose local history includes educators, nurses, railroad workers and religious leaders.2 She says she taught herself to write a petition and brought it to a city council meeting in 2020.1
McClain began her political involvement at 19 and went on to lead the South Carolina NAACP Youth and College Division.2 Her campaign biography lists a bachelor's degree in journalism and communications.2 It lists a master's in political science from Howard University, focused on American government, politics and policy.2
Her experience includes a Fannie Lou Hamer Government Relations Fellowship through the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, working in Toyota North America's government affairs office on clean energy automotive production.2 She has also been a South Carolina House legislative page, a Clyburn Fellow and a participant in Emerge South Carolina's 2025 class.2
McClain proposes restricting corporate purchases of individual houses, limiting rent increases through federal tenant protections and converting vacant buildings into affordable housing.3 Her broader agenda emphasizes health care access, small businesses and opposition to new data centers in local communities.4 She faces Republican William Timmons and Libertarian Jessica Ethridge.5