State House of Representatives District 17 in South Carolina State House District 17, South Carolina

2026 Primary Election

• James M Burns — Incumbent State Representative in Clemson, SC

  James M. Burns is a distinguished Calhoun Lemon Professor of History at Clemson University, holding a Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. His academic expertise spans African and British Imperial history, with a particular focus on the social history of film. He is a prolific author, known for works like ‘Flickering Shadows: Cinema and Identity in Colonial Zimbabwe’ and the co-authored ‘A History of Sub-Saharan Africa.’ Beyond academia, Burns is an active Republican Representative in the South Carolina House. His current legislative service includes action on various state bills, such as H4906, concerning matters like the Berkeley High School Baseball Championship. His background combines extensive historical scholarship with practical experience in state governance, offering a unique perspective to his public role.

• Richard L Nicoloff — Candidate for State House of Representatives in Travelers Rest, SC

  Rich Nicoloff is a Democratic candidate running for the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 17, in the general election on November 3, 2026. He automatically advanced from the Democratic primary after it was canceled. Nicoloff is challenging incumbent Mike Burns. His campaign centers on key issues including strengthening public schools to improve South Carolina's low education ranking, ensuring sustainable and affordable growth to preserve the state's natural beauty and diversity, and upholding fundamental freedoms and liberties. Nicoloff is based in Travelers Rest, South Carolina, and advocates for a change in leadership to address the state's challenges.