Polling Average
25%20%15%10%5%0%
18.9%
16.9%
15.9%
14.0%
12.2%
A. Wilson
South Carolina Republican Governor nominee?
$2.0M
JUN 10, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Senator
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age41 years old (Dec 18, 1984)
GenderMale
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LocationSouth Carolina
BackgroundState senator
EducationNorth Greenville University (B.A., 2007)
Notable personal detailsJoshua Brett Kimbrell is an American politician and Republican member of the South Carolina Senate representing District 11 (Spartanburg County), first elected in 2020. He has worked in commercial real estate sales and leasing and previously was involved in aviation leasing operations. Kimbrell earned a B.A. from North Greenville University (2007) and attended the Gardner–Webb School of Business.
SourcesShowHide
scstatehouse.goven.wikipedia.orgx.comciclt.netscsenategop.comthestate.comherebeaufort.comfastdemocracy.comfoxcarolina.comvote-usa.orgscdailygazette.comkingst.comzipdatamaps.comspartanburgdemocrats.comgreenvillechamber.orggreenvillecounty.orgrfa.sc.govthefreedomindex.orgjoshkimbrell.comlive5news.comwyff4.compresidency.ucsb.eduspectrumlocalnews.comcvsc.orgapnews.comsouthcarolinapublicradio.orgwrdw.comrepbio.orgsengov.comballotready.orgyahoo.comlykelect.comvote.norml.orgherelexington.comlegislation.ballotpedia.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgfec.govfrontpage.ballotpedia.orgcongress.govsenate.govgovinfo.govcdn.ballotpedia.orgnga.orgtimmons.house.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports cutting state taxes and advocated for a large, multi-billion-dollar reduction in South Carolina income taxes; was a sponsor/co-sponsor of the 2022 Comprehensive Tax Cut Act that phased down the top marginal rate and provided taxpayer rebates. Positions emphasize tax cuts and reduced tax burden for individuals and manufacturing.
Healthcare
Josh Kimbrell supports reforms aimed at lowering costs and restructuring South Carolina’s health-care system, with an emphasis on reducing insurance costs for businesses and improving veterans’ health and mental-health services. His public platform highlights modernizing state services and addressing insurance affordability rather than expanding large new government coverage programs.
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Immigration & Border
Supports expanding immigration enforcement and stronger border controls while endorsing policies that deputize state law enforcement to address illegal immigration. Expresses approval of aggressive enforcement approaches taken by national Republican governors.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports restricting abortion through a fetal-heartbeat/6-week style law while allowing exceptions for rape, incest, life of the mother, and certain fetal anomalies. Has sponsored and worked on legislation to limit abortion in South Carolina and sought clarification to ensure medical-care exceptions are understood by providers.
Climate & Energy
The candidate has supported legislative measures that advance clean-energy and conservation goals, including votes for offshore wind industry development and commercial property-assessed clean energy programs, and has a high recent score from a state conservation group. His public campaign announcements emphasize deregulation and tax changes but do not articulate opposition to renewable energy investments.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports broad Second Amendment rights and opposed additional penalties for responsible gun owners; has sponsored measures expanding where permit-holders or employees could carry and said responsible gun owners should not be penalized. Emphasizes backing law enforcement while arguing that criminal use of guns remains a crime.
Polls
South Carolina Republican Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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