State House of Representatives District 81 in South Carolina State House District 81, South Carolina

2026 Primary Election

• Charles V Hartz — Incumbent Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives in SC

  Charles V. Hartz is an incumbent Republican member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 81 since 2024. He is a business owner who earned a bachelor's degree from Alfred University. Hartz is seeking re-election in 2026. His platform emphasizes defending personal freedoms, including the right to life, fully funding law enforcement, and cutting state income taxes. He supports school choice, increased teacher pay, parental rights, and ensuring school safety. Hartz is also a proponent of the right to bear arms and securing fair state funding for Aiken County's infrastructure.

• Peter J Swales — Historian of psychoanalysis and author in SC

  Peter J Swales is a Democratic candidate for the South Carolina House of Representatives, aiming to represent District 81 in the 2026 general election on November 3. He advanced from the Democratic primary, which was canceled, and will challenge incumbent Charles Hartz (R). Beyond his political aspirations, Swales is known as a historian of psychoanalysis and an author. He was formerly an assistant to the Rolling Stones and has been under contract since 1982 to write a biography of Wilhelm Fliess. He is also working on a book titled 'Freud's Last Patient: Marilyn Monroe and Her Tragic Odyssey From Couch to Couch.'