One of the open seats in next year's general election will be the SC Commissioner of Agriculture and a candidate has already emerged.
Fred West, a former Vice President of poultry producer Amick Farms, has officially launched his campaign for South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture. West enters the race as a Republican with the endorsement of longtime Commissioner Hugh Weathers, who is not running for re-election after two decades in office.
In a press release, West's campaign said he will focus on protecting the state's agricultural heritage, fighting burdensome regulations, preventing foreign adversaries from buying up farmland and reducing reliance on agricultural imports.
After retiring in 2023, West founded an agriculture consulting firm West Resources. He currently serves as Director of Market Development at the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. The Republican Primary will be held June 9, 2026.
