State House of Representatives District 5 in South Carolina State House District 5, South Carolina

2026 Primary Election

• Neal Anthony Collins — Incumbent Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives in Easley, SC

  Neal Anthony Collins, born July 6, 1982, in Easley, South Carolina, is an incumbent Republican member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 5. He first assumed office in 2014 and has been re-elected in subsequent elections. An attorney by profession, he holds degrees from Furman, Harvard, and the University of South Carolina School of Law. He is currently seeking re-election for District 5 in the 2026 Republican primary scheduled for June 9. His current term concludes on November 9, 2026.

• David F Jones — General Counsel, South Carolina Forestry Commission in SC

  David F. Jones is a Democratic candidate seeking election to the South Carolina House of Representatives for District 5 in 2026. He successfully advanced from the Democratic primary, which was canceled, securing his spot on the general election ballot without appearing on the primary ballot. Professionally, Jones serves as General Counsel for the South Carolina Forestry Commission within the Office of the Attorney General. In this capacity, he has authored numerous formal advisory opinions on South Carolina law, advising public officials on complex legal matters. His areas of expertise include legislative preemption of municipal ordinances (such as firearms and gaming laws), Freedom of Information Act issues, constitutional questions regarding state entities, and asset forfeiture. He has also provided sworn testimony to a state legislative oversight subcommittee.

• Brandy L Tarleton — Customer Account Manager in Easley, SC

  Brandy L Tarleton is a Republican candidate running for the South Carolina House of Representatives, District 5, in the 2026 Primary Election. Hailing from Seneca, South Carolina, she earned an Associate degree from the University of Phoenix in 2012 and brings over 18 years of experience in customer service, currently working as an account manager. Tarleton is a strong conservative, advocating for pro-life policies, medical freedom, and the right to keep and bear arms. She supports efforts to secure the border, empower law enforcement, and believes education funding should prioritize local teachers. She is dedicated to legislative oversight of school curricula to prevent what she describes as "indoctrination" and aims to defend conservative values against special interests pushing ESG and DEI.