---
title: "Joe Wilson Holds SC 2nd District in Narrow Midterm Win"
url: https://www.hereclinton.com/2026/11/05/joe-wilson-holds-sc-2nd-district-narrow-win/
date: 2026-11-05T10:09:02-05:00
modified: 2026-11-05T10:09:02-05:00
author: "HERE City State Desk"
categories: ["Politics"]
site: "HERE Clinton"
attribution: "HERE Clinton"
---

# Joe Wilson Holds SC 2nd District in Narrow Midterm Win

> WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — Rep. Joe Wilson eked out another term in South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday, surviving the closest general-election scare of his long House career. Unofficial returns with counties reporting put the Republican at 147,620 votes, about 49.8% of the total. Democrat Zyon Khalifa finished with 144,593, about 48.8%. Workers Party

*Source: [HERE Clinton](https://www.hereclinton.com/2026/11/05/joe-wilson-holds-sc-2nd-district-narrow-win/) — November 5, 2026 by HERE City State Desk*

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — Rep. Joe Wilson eked out another term in South Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday, surviving the closest general-election scare of his long House career.

Unofficial returns with counties reporting put the Republican at 147,620 votes, about 49.8% of the total. Democrat Zyon Khalifa finished with 144,593, about 48.8%. Workers Party candidate Dayna Alane Smith drew 3,665 ballots, roughly 1.2%.

Wilson’s edge of about 3,027 votes is a sharp contrast with 2024, when he carried the Lexington-to-Aiken seat by more than 19 points in a race long labeled solidly Republican.

The district spans Lexington County and parts of Richland County stretching toward Aiken. Next door in District 6, Democrat Jim Clyburn was projected a winner near 69% against Republican John Peterson.

During the last Congress Wilson joined California Democrat Jimmy Panetta on a June 2025 measure aimed at labeling the Polisario Front a foreign terrorist organization. Panetta also won reelection Tuesday.