Ellen Weaver, the Republican incumbent, is seeking another term as South Carolina superintendent of education in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
The state Election Commission lists three active candidates: Weaver, Democrat Sylvia Wright and United Citizens candidate Baba Amin Ojuok.
Experience
Her Department of Education biography identifies her as South Carolina’s 19th state superintendent, elected in 2022. Her campaign says she took office in 2023.
The department lists a political science bachelor’s degree and an educational leadership master’s degree from Bob Jones University. It describes 12 years working for U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, ending as state director, and says she founded Palmetto Promise Institute in 2013. She also served on and chaired the state Education Oversight Committee.
On the issues
On her campaign website, Weaver emphasizes reading instruction grounded in phonics, stronger literacy and math, teacher recruitment and retention, and parent involvement.
She supports expanded education choice and phone-free classrooms. Her campaign also highlights school and bus safety and reducing administrative requirements on teachers.
Weaver presents teacher pay, paid parental leave and education reforms as parts of her first-term record. These are campaign descriptions of her work, rather than independent conclusions about their results.
Editor’s note: Weaver did not return the outlet’s candidate questionnaire. This profile uses official election records, her department biography and her published campaign priorities.
