By admin 
South Carolinians will choose someone new to lead the state Department of Agriculture this year after the longtime commissioner announced his retirement and declined to run again.
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Both leading candidates are younger than 40, grew up in Clarendon County and say they want to center small producers in their campaigns for state agriculture commissioner.
Election Day is Nov. 3, and South Carolinians can vote early Oct. 19 through 31, Monday through Saturday.
Why is this race important?
The winner will become South Carolina’s first new agriculture commissioner in more than two decades. Commissioner Hugh Weathers, who announced he would retire after his term, has served in the role since 2004.
The South Carolina Department of Agriculture supports and regulates the state’s largest industry, agribusiness. It also handles food and restaurant safety, the hemp growing program and inspects gas pumps.
Who is the Democratic nominee?
DeShawn Blanding, 29, is the Democratic nominee for agriculture commissioner. He did not have a primary opponent.
Blanding said his grandfather was a fourth-generation farmer but encouraged his family not to continue farming. He grew up in Clarendon County.
“He faced so much hardship and discrimination that he told his kids to do something different, encouraged them to find another profession outside of agriculture and farming,” Blanding told reporters Sept. 22. “And so I did not get to grow up on the farm. I always tell folks I grew up where the farm used to be, and that is the reason why, though, I decided to pursue a career in agriculture.”
Blanding was president of the Manning Future Farmers of America chapter in high school and studied agribusiness at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, according to his campaign. He later worked as a policy staffer in Congress.
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He said his campaign is focused on helping local farmers turn a profit and stay in the industry.
“Local farmers, small farmers, felt like they have not been heard, and so our focus is really making sure we’re supporting our small and mid-sized farmers that are actually feeding their local communities and transitioning to more of a cooperative community agricultural system in South Carolina,” Blanding said Sept. 22.
Who is the Republican nominee?
Cody Simpson, 35, is the Republican nominee for agriculture commissioner.
Before the primary, Simpson said he wants to make the agriculture industry in South Carolina better for future generations. Simpson grew up on his family century farm in Clarendon County. He wants to cut regulations he sees as unnecessary, find new revenue streams for small farmers and prevent land from being sold to China.
“Our food supply is getting even more consolidated,” Simpson said in a June interview. “Our small producers are being really left out of that equation in many facets, in many cases.”
He defeated three Republican challengers in the June primary and secured an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
Simpson worked in Gov. Henry McMaster’s office and was appointed as the state executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2025.
Who are the third party candidates?
Two third-party candidates are competing to be the next agriculture commissioner, according to the state Election Commission. Chris Nelums of United Citizens and Michael Sullens of the Libertarian Party both filed to run for the office.