Michael
Addison
United Citizens Party candidate for South Carolina governor in 2026; medical director and community organizer from Hartsville, SC
- sources
- 4
- positions
- 6
- endorsements
- 0
Background
Michael Addison is a candidate for governor of South Carolina in the 2026 election, running under the United Citizens Party banner alongside running mate Brewer for lieutenant governor. 2720 He is from Hartsville, South Carolina, and identifies professionally as a medical director and community organizer with R.A.C.E. (Rural Advocates for Community Enhancement), as well as a licensed asbestos inspector and EPA- and OSHA-certified property damage analyst. 110
According to Vote Smart, Addison studied mathematics at South Carolina State University in 1987 and chiropractic and nutrition at Life University in 1991. His professional history, as listed by Vote Smart, includes serving as medical director of The Medical Wellness Center beginning in 1992, chief financial officer of Aaron's Public Adjustment beginning in 2011, executive managing director of Addison-Hayes Capital Management beginning in 2012, and work with QLC Restoration beginning in 2017. 1
Addison has sought elected office on multiple occasions without success. He ran in the 2020 Democratic primary for South Carolina Senate District 40, in the 2022 Republican primary for U.S. House in South Carolina's 6th District, and in both the 2024 Democratic primary and the 2024 special general election (as an Independence Party candidate) for Senate District 19. 12226 He holds no prior elected office.
In 2026 Addison is one of four candidates appearing on the general election ballot for South Carolina governor on November 3, 2026. 1720 His campaign is operated under the committee Friends of Michael Addison and based at addisonforsc.com. 1011
At a glance
- Party
- United Citizens
- Running for
- Governor, South Carolina
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Website
- addisonforsc.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 6newsGreenville News reports Addison's $1,000 voter credit proposal and tax-shift platform; he did not respond to comment request
The Greenville News reported that Addison's campaign video proposed a $1,000 credit for registered South Carolina voters to offset rising costs, alongside his plan to eliminate the state income tax and raise the consumption tax from 6% to 9%. The newspaper noted Addison did not respond to its request for comment; details were drawn from his campaign website.
Four candidates seek to lead SC as governor. See their top priorities · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 6newsAddison confirmed on SC general-election ballot but excluded from the scheduled gubernatorial debate
News coverage ahead of the November 3 election confirmed Addison as one of four candidates on the general-election ballot. However, the only scheduled gubernatorial debate was between Republican Alan Wilson and Democrat Jermaine Johnson; Addison and Green Party candidate Walid Hakim were not invited to participate.
Candidates for SC governor set to debate ahead of election · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 29pollQuinnipiac poll (Sept. 29–Oct. 3) shows Addison at approximately 2.85% among SC registered voters
A Quinnipiac poll of 638 registered South Carolina voters conducted September 29–October 3 placed Addison at 2.85%, with a margin of error of ±3.7 percentage points. The result was reported by FITSNews on October 6.
Exclusive: Alan Wilson Enjoys Double-Digit Lead in S.C. Governor's ... · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 24newsLive 5 News publishes interview with Addison on his United Citizens Party third-party gubernatorial bid
Live 5 News reported on Addison's third-party campaign, including his proposals to eliminate the state income tax, raise the sales tax by three percentage points, close corporate sales-tax exemptions, raise the minimum wage to $15/hour, and create a 'Palmetto Public Option' for telehealth access. He also called for separate task forces on data centers and AI, with requirements for environmental responsibility and energy self-sufficiency.
WE THE PALMETTO: Addison attempts a 3rd-party bid · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Sources 4
- [1] Exclusive: Alan Wilson Enjoys Double-Digit Lead in S.C. Governor's ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [2] Four candidates seek to lead SC as governor. See their top priorities(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [3] Candidates for SC governor set to debate ahead of election(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [4] WE THE PALMETTO: Addison attempts a 3rd-party bid(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026