2026 SC House District 36 Election
*CANDIDATES' VIEWS IN THE Q&AS LINKED BELOW DO NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OF ONESPARTANBURG, INC. CANDIDATE RESPONSES ARE THE CANDIDATES' OWN WORDS, HAVING COME FROM EMAILED RESPONSES.*
REPUBLICAN PARTY CANDIDATES
ROB HARRIS (i)
Candidate did not respond.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY CANDIDATE
VIRGINIA MCLEAN
Website: www.vaforsc.com
The Office You're Seeking: SC House District 36
Tell us about yourself, your involvement in our community, and why you are running for the SC House.
I am a dedicated community leader, artist, and mom running for the South Carolina House of Representatives to represent District 36 in the upstate. Being an “Army Brat” taught me early on about the values of discipline and sacrifice. I earned a B.A. from Winthrop University and a Master’s from The Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, and currently serve as the Director of Religious Education at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spartanburg. I served on the PTO at Duncan Elementary School for the Arts and as the president of MOMS Club of Spartanburg (which stands for Mothers Offering Mothers Support) when my children were younger. I am running for the SC House of Representatives because my district has not had a choice on the ballot in 20 years. Democracy depends on having a choice. Democracy also depends on a well educated public. Therefore I believe our public schools are the backbone to our democracy. I am committed to making sure our public schools are fully funded and our educators supported; not only because I have 2 children attending public schools, but because we all are affected by the public school system.
What is the role of state government, if any, in economic development and corporate recruitment? How can the State help raise per-capita income in Spartanburg and across the state?
The state's role is to act as a catalyst for growth by creating a business-friendly environment by providing the infrastructure that helps businesses start up quickly. The state is also responsible for attracting quality jobs by investing in our technical colleges that help prepare our students for the workforce.
Comprehensive Tax Reform remains a high priority in the SC General Assembly. Income, property, and sales tax are all being discussed for reform. As a State Representative what would be your approach to good tax policy for the State?
Childcare across South Carolina is often unaffordable and inaccessible, damaging our state’s economy and outcomes for our children. Data shows that a lack of childcare options prohibits some people from participating in the workforce. In South Carolina, the state’s prime-age labor force participation rate of 81.1% falls 2.5% points below the national average. As a state representative, what are some solutions you have for this crisis?
The childcare crisis is not just a family issue, but a fundamental barrier to SC's economic growth. To solve this, I would advocate for a public-private partnership that engages the business community as a stakeholder in the solution. I would advocate for tax incentives for business that invest in the "childcare infrastructure" of their employees. This can look like on-site childcare facilities, cooperatives, or direct childcare stipends. By treating childcare as a part of our infrastructure, similar to roads and schools, we can help to stabilize the workforce and local businesses recruit and retain talent.
What are the greatest challenges facing your District and what will you do as the Representative to address them?
District 36 is rapidly growing and our infrastructure cannot keep up. The cost of living is also rapidly growing, outpacing local wages. By focusing on sustainable development and childcare as a core part our infrastructure, we can be sure that the growth of District 36 benefits every family and not just those at the top.
Do you believe the state should pass legislation related to AI infrastructure? If so, what would ideal legislation look like?
As South Carolina experiences rapid economic expansion, state government must pass legislation that ensures our power grid, water resources, and taxpayers are fully protected from the massive demands of large-scale AI data centers. Ideal legislation should establish a comprehensive framework focused on environmental preservation, ratepayer protection, and local sovereignty. First, the state should institute a temporary moratorium on utility approvals for facilities exceeding 15 megawatts, giving regulators time to conduct complete regional impact assessments regarding power and water drawdowns. Legislation must mandate closed-loop, dry-cooling technology to safeguard local aquifers from depletion and thermal contamination. Second, state policy must insulate residential customers from industrial grid costs by placing developers in a dedicated rate class where they pay 100% of capital costs for sub-stations, transmission expansions, and clean energy infrastructure. Data centers must also be prohibited from relying on dirty fossil-fuel backup generators. Finally, legislation must restore full zoning authority to local governments, ban non-disclosure agreements that conceal resource demands from the public, and sunset blanket state tax credits for hyper scale servers. By prioritizing environmental safeguards, rate stability, and community transparency, South Carolina can ensure technological growth never comes at the expense of our natural resources or citizens' financial well-being.
Please identify any other issues or concerns that influenced your decision to run for this office.
The most significant factor that influenced me to run is my belief that democracy functions best when voters have a choice. It has been 20 years since a Democrat has appeared on the ballot for this seat. I am running to ensure that we have a race that reflects the diverse perspectives of our region.