Ethics Complaint Filed Against Sylvia Wright, South Carolina Democrat Candidate Accused

Former South Carolina state representative Sandy McGarry filed a wide-ranging ethics complaint on September 3, 2026, targeting Sylvia Wright, the Democratic nominee for state superintendent of education. The complaint submitted to the S.C. State Ethics Commission alleges numerous violations of state campaign finance and disclosure laws by Wright's campaign.

According to campaign finance disclosure forms, Wright reported total receipts of $189,293.94 against expenditures totaling $200,525.10, leaving her campaign with a negative balance of $10,763.31. McGarry's complaint highlights ongoing financial deficits and claims Wright accepted four contributions from a registered lobbyist without reporting refunds.

"The discrepancy raises additional questions concerning whether Wright failed to disclose one or more campaign loans, contributions, accounts, expenditures, or other financial transactions," stated McGarry in the formal filing.

Political analysts note that Wright faces an uphill battle against Republican incumbent Ellen Weaver, who secured the GOP nomination and is campaigning on a record of raising teacher salaries and driving academic reforms. Democrats have not won a statewide election in South Carolina since 2006.

The S.C. State Ethics Commission will evaluate the allegations to determine if further investigative steps or enforcement actions are warranted regarding the reported financial discrepancies.