Montez Aiken

Montez Aiken is a former public school teacher and retired school resource officer from Dorchester County running to flip a seat in the South Carolina House this fall. Montez’s career has given him a wealth of experience at the intersection of education, public service, and community safety. His campaign is fueled by his desire to serve his community at an even higher level, and if he is elected, he will proudly champion working families on issues such as the runaway cost of living, improving public education, and bolstering critical infrastructure.

Montez is facing a one-term Republican incumbent who was elected in 2024 by less than 900 votes. This year, District 102 is one of the most competitive flip opportunities for South Carolina House Democrats, and, with the support of the DLCC, Montez is already running a strong campaign with a good chance of winning a key victory in November.

2026 is a historic opportunity to build Democratic power in South Carolina and break the Republican supermajority in the state House.

South Carolina Republicans have introduced some of the most extreme legislation in the country, including several near-total bans on abortion and attacks on civil rights. Breaking the House supermajority would be a critical first step towards stopping GOP lawmakers in South Carolina from rubber-stamping Trump’s disastrous agenda at the state level.

The DLCC has worked with Democrats in South Carolina year after year, supporting competitive campaigns and helping build the infrastructure to win key races across the state. Electing Democratic candidates committed to upholding democracy is the only way to ensure millions of South Carolinians are protected from deeply harmful GOP policies.

Now, with a once-in-a-generation chance to strike a decisive blow to Republican control, it’s time to rally behind South Carolina Democrats as they fight to build power in the Palmetto State.