Mallory Dittmer

Mallory Dittmer (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent South Carolina's 5th Congressional District. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. She advanced from the Democratic primary on June 9, 2026.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m not a politician; I’m a mother, a teacher’s wife, an independent thinker and creative problem-solver. For most of my professional career I worked as an executive in the fashion industry, where I developed expert negotiating skills and a passion for bringing people and communities together.

I’m running for Congress because I love our country and believe it needs more bridge-builders like me. It needs less conflict and more collaboration, a new generation of leaders who can think outside the Democrat vs. Republican box and work together. My background makes me uniquely qualified for that role! I’ll compromise whenever it’s helpful but won’t bend to pressure from special interests. I’ll work harder for District 5 than anyone ever has!

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I’ll be a voice for working families.

I’ve spent the past eight months talking to people in the 5th District about their lives and concerns. Their top priority – and therefore my top priority – is the cost of living, from groceries and gas to health care and housing. When families are trapped in a daily struggle to pay the bills, there’s no room for planning, let alone dreaming, for the future.

That’s unacceptable in the wealthiest nation on earth. When I’m in Washington, I’ll prioritize economic and trade policies that curb inflation and lower costs. I’ll support raising the minimum wage, making childcare more affordable, reversing cuts to health care programs and lowering housing prices through government programs and tax incentives.People over party politics - we can end the gridlock!

Washington has been paralyzed by partisan bickering and gridlock for most of my life. It might work for the politicians in DC who like to grandstand for the cameras but it doesn’t work for the people who sent them there. That can end in a single election cycle!

I’ll work to create a coalition of Democrats, Republicans and Independents that prioritizes people over party and results over rhetoric to find common-sense solutions that make life better for us all. If you are tired of the chaos and ready for progress, no matter which party you’ve voted for in the past, I invite you to join our team. Together we can turn the corner and get Washington working again for you!Hope is on the move!

Everywhere I go on the campaign trail people are looking for reasons to be hopeful. They want to believe in a future where dreams are attainable. They want to believe that their government can work for ordinary people again; that we can tone down the toxic rhetoric and heal our broken politics.

Patriotism isn’t a partisan issue, faith isn’t partisan, and neither is the desire to leave a better world for generations behind us. They are the best human instincts, and they are plentiful across the political spectrum. So I am running on hope- on the belief that reasonable people working together can solve the toughest problems. I invite you all to join our hopeful campaign!

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Affordability: Congress MUST address the cost of living- groceries, gas, health care, child care and housing. I’ll fight to raise the minimum wage, enact fair tax / trade policies, and lower the cost of living.

Election Reform: I’ll advocate for term limits, an end to partisan gerrymandering, and limiting the role of billionaires and big business in government.

Public Education: I’ll support protecting public school finding, expanding access to early childhood programs and ensuring teachers have the resources they need.

Roads & Highways: I’ll fight for the maximum investment in our infrastructure using every tool the government offers, from programs like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to grants that fund road and highway improvement