Representative-elect · South Carolina’s 5th district

Wes Climer

Republican

Campaign website ↗

What they campaigned on

Share of their campaign website’s words, by policy area.

668words on issues
  • Law, crime and courts35%
  • Government operations and elections12%
  • Taxes12%
  • Immigration8%
  • Education and culture7%
  • Everything else25%

Where they stand

20 issues in their own words, then everything else their site says, by policy area.

Law, crime and courts

Firearms ›
  • Protect the right to keep and bear arms
  • Loosen limits on carrying and owning guns
“Championed constitutional carry, playing a key role in passing one of the most important Second Amendment victories in state history”
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Fentanyl and drug trafficking ›
  • Stop the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs
  • Strengthen border security to stop drug smuggling
  • Sanction and cut off fentanyl supply chains in China and abroad
“The open border is a national crisis. Wes supports building the wall, reinstating Remain in Mexico, defunding sanctuary cities, and stopping fentanyl and human trafficking at the source.”
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Other things the site says about law, crime and courts (6)
“South Carolina’s current system for selecting judges blurs those lines in ways that should concern anyone who cares about the integrity of the courts or their own freedoms.”
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“But structure matters. Systems should be designed to avoid conflicts of interest and preserve public confidence. In South Carolina, lawyer-legislators routinely appear in court before judges who were screened and elected through a process the legislature controls. Even when everyone involved acts honorably, that arrangement raises understandable questions for the public.”
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“Justice must not only be fair. It must also be seen to be fair. That is why judicial reform has become an important conversation in our state. The legislation currently under consideration would move South Carolina toward a system that more closely resembles the constitutional balance of power envisioned by our founders.”
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“Committees are meant to study legislation, not quietly bury it. Judicial reform deserves to be debated openly on the Senate floor so that every member can vote according to his or her judgment.”
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“The courts function best when they are independent of political influence and when the public can trust that independence.”
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“Reforming the judicial selection process will not solve every problem overnight. But it will move us toward a system that better reflects the principles of separation of powers, judicial independence and public accountability.”
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Government operations and elections

Government ethics and corruption ›
  • Step up investigations and penalties for corrupt officials
  • End corruption in Washington
“He believes public service should never be about personal profit. In Washington, he’ll fight to expose corruption and force transparency on every dime spent.”
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Government waste and fraud ›
  • Cut waste, fraud and abuse in government spending
“As a financial advisor by trade, Wes understands how bloated government and reckless spending hurt working families. That’s why he’s spent his time in the State Senate leading fights to cut taxes, block wasteful spending and shrink the power of unelected bureaucrats.”
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Presidential power ›
  • Rein in executive overreach and restore the balance of powers
“Wes supports eliminating bloated agencies, gutting executive overreach, and reinstating constitutional balance. He backs reforms like DOGE to dismantle entrenched, unaccountable bureaucracies.”
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Size of the federal government ›
  • Shrink the federal government and its bureaucracy
  • Continue, expand and codify DOGE's cuts
“As a financial advisor by trade, Wes understands how bloated government and reckless spending hurt working families. That’s why he’s spent his time in the State Senate leading fights to cut taxes, block wasteful spending and shrink the power of unelected bureaucrats.”
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“Cut Taxes, Shrink Government, and Return Power to the People”
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“End the Deep State Bureaucracy”
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“Wes supports eliminating bloated agencies, gutting executive overreach, and reinstating constitutional balance. He backs reforms like DOGE to dismantle entrenched, unaccountable bureaucracies.”
View on their website ↗
Government transparency ›
  • Show the public how government spends money
“Led the fight to ban secret spending in the state budget so taxpayers know where every dollar goes”
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“He believes public service should never be about personal profit. In Washington, he’ll fight to expose corruption and force transparency on every dime spent.”
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Other things the site says about government operations and elections (2)
“Blocked a legislative pay raise by filing a lawsuit to stop an unconstitutional $18,000 salary increase for lawmakers”
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“Wes filed a lawsuit to stop the unconstitutional $18,000 pay raise lawmakers gave themselves.”
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Taxes

Overall tax levels ›
  • Cut taxes and keep them low
  • Oppose tax increases
“As a financial advisor by trade, Wes understands how bloated government and reckless spending hurt working families. That’s why he’s spent his time in the State Senate leading fights to cut taxes, block wasteful spending and shrink the power of unelected bureaucrats.”
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“Passed over $2 billion in tax cuts for South Carolina families and small businesses”
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“Cut Taxes, Shrink Government, and Return Power to the People”
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“Wes helped deliver $2 billion in tax cuts in South Carolina.”
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“In Congress, he’ll vote to slash spending, block tax hikes, and restore federalism by returning power to states and citizens.”
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Small business taxes ›
  • Cut small business taxes, including through credits and deductions
“Passed over $2 billion in tax cuts for South Carolina families and small businesses”
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Immigration

Border security ›
  • Secure the border
  • Finish building the border wall
  • Reinstate the Remain in Mexico policy
  • Stop cartels from smuggling drugs and people across the border
“Fix the Border or Shut It Down”
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“The open border is a national crisis. Wes supports building the wall, reinstating Remain in Mexico, defunding sanctuary cities, and stopping fentanyl and human trafficking at the source.”
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Other things the site says about immigration (1)
“He’ll advance the America First agenda with no excuses—on immigration, energy, national security, and restoring the rule of law.”
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Education and culture

School curriculum ›
  • Keep liberal ideology out of classrooms
  • Give parents access to and a say in what schools teach
“Wes will fight for parental rights, eliminate woke curriculum, and return control of education to parents and local communities. He supports abolishing the federal Department of Education entirely.”
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School vouchers and choice ›
  • Expand school choice for families
“Expanded school choice so every child can access the best education regardless of ZIP code”
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Educational opportunity ›
  • Give every child a good education regardless of ZIP code, race or income
“Expanded school choice so every child can access the best education regardless of ZIP code”
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Parents' role in raising children ›
  • Protect parents' rights to direct their children's upbringing and education
“Wes will fight for parental rights, eliminate woke curriculum, and return control of education to parents and local communities. He supports abolishing the federal Department of Education entirely.”
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Federal role in education ›
  • Abolish or defund the Department of Education
  • Return control of education to local communities and parents
“Wes will fight for parental rights, eliminate woke curriculum, and return control of education to parents and local communities. He supports abolishing the federal Department of Education entirely.”
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Other things the site says about education and culture (1)
“Protect Kids and Take Back the Classroom”
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Housing and community development

Zoning and land use ›
  • Limit overdevelopment and protect neighborhood character and open space
“Fix Overdevelopment by Getting Government Working Together”
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Economy and the federal budget

Federal spending ›
  • Cut federal spending
  • Root out waste, fraud and abuse in federal spending
“As a financial advisor by trade, Wes understands how bloated government and reckless spending hurt working families. That’s why he’s spent his time in the State Senate leading fights to cut taxes, block wasteful spending and shrink the power of unelected bureaucrats.”
View on their website ↗
“In Congress, he’ll vote to slash spending, block tax hikes, and restore federalism by returning power to states and citizens.”
View on their website ↗

Health

Abortion ›
  • Protect unborn life
“He’s pro-life, pro-parent, and pro-freedom.”
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Other things the site says about health (1)
“Fought for medical freedom by standing against mandates and government overreach during COVID”
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Transportation and infrastructure

Infrastructure funding ›
  • Invest in building and repairing infrastructure
“The 5th District is growing fast—but federal, state, and local governments aren’t keeping up. Wes will fight to align all levels of government to ensure our infrastructure, schools, and services meet the needs of a booming population without destroying our quality of life.”
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Roads and bridges ›
  • Secure funding for local road and bridge projects
“Secured tens of millions in road funding to meet the needs of York County’s fast growth”
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Agriculture and food

Other things the site says about agriculture and food (2)
“Passed the toughest fake meat regulations in the nation to protect South Carolina agriculture”
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“Created the Working Agricultural Lands Preservation Act to protect farmland and preserve South Carolina’s way of life”
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Defense and veterans

Other things the site says about defense and veterans (1)
“Helped lead on veterans property tax exemptions and other efforts to support those who’ve served”
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