Elect
Ashley Painter
South Carolina House District 117
“I’m not running because I want a political career. I’m running because families like mine are struggling, and the people currently in office aren’t solving those problems.”
Focused on solving real problems for residents of District 117
Growing up, Ashley Painter lived in 14 different homes and with 12 different people. She entered foster care at 15 and aged out at 18. Now, Ashley is a 32-year-old railroad-wife and mother of two, and seeks to use her real-life experiences and knowledge to help make her district and South Carolina a better place for everyone. A part-time small business owner and a full-time homemaker with a professional background in human services, Ashley knows firsthand that the high cost of living is smothering the American dream. Too many South Carolinians are struggling to make ends meet while the elites in the statehouse get richer and ignore the real needs of citizens. Ashley believes it’s time to change the way things have been going and to begin focusing on working-class families struggling to survive.
ASHLEY’S ISSUES
- Affordable Healthcare
- Affordable Childcare
- Rising cost of energy
- Support for small businesses
- Reproductive rights
Common Questions
What makes Ashley Painter a good candidate for SC State House?
Ashley has advocated for families and children throughout her career. She is ethical, driven, and solution-focused. Her degree and professional experience have prepared her for a position as a State Representative.
Why is Ashley Painter running against Jordan Pace?
Has Ashley Painter run for office before?
How do I know if I live in Ashley Painter’s district?
Go to www.scvotes.gov and put in your voter information. A list will appear, showing you which House District you live in. Ashley is running to represent House District 117. If you need assistance with this, please reach out, and we can help you.
What can I do to help Ashley Painter win in November?
Ashley needs financial support and volunteers for her campaign. If you can donate money, please use this link. You may also mail checks to PO Box 65, Summerville, SC 29484, and make them out to Ashley Painter for Office. To volunteer, go here and request to join her Volunteer Group. Heylo is a convenient way to communicate with the team and keep track of upcoming events.
Sign Up for Campaign Updates
Lower the cost of living
Health Care for Working Families
- South Carolina is one of only ten states that have not expanded Medicaid.
- Working families are stuck in the “coverage gap”—earning too much for aid, but not enough to afford insurance.
- The refusal to extend ACA tax credits has made healthcare even more unaffordable.
- Children in working and middle-class families are going uninsured or underinsured.
- The myth that all children in South Carolina have access to affordable coverage is false.
- Expanding Medicaid would immediately increase access to care for thousands of families.
- Health insurance for everyone means a stronger, healthier, more productive workforce.
- Expanding coverage would force private insurers to lower costs and compete.
- South Carolina already has the funding—it’s a matter of priorities.
- Taxpayer dollars are being wasted on political perks rather than on essential healthcare.
- It’s time to invest in people, not politics.
Childcare for Working Families
- Parents can’t work without access to safe, reliable childcare.
- Childcare in South Carolina costs over $10,000 per year for just one child.
- Part-time care is often unavailable due to high operating costs.
- Families are forced to pay full-time rates—or turn to unsafe, unregulated options.
- Children are put at risk in overcrowded or unqualified care environments.
- The childcare crisis is a workforce issue—families can’t earn without support.
- Every family deserves access to affordable, high-quality childcare.
- Quality childcare leads to better behavior, stronger academic performance, and better long-term outcomes.
- Investing in childcare strengthens entire communities and future generations.
- South Carolina has the funding—it’s about prioritizing families.
- No tax increases needed—just smarter leadership and better allocation of resources.
Energy Costs
- Energy bills have doubled—and in some cases tripled—in the past year.
- Rising costs are driven by increased demand and utility rate hikes—not higher wages.
- Families are being squeezed while energy companies continue to raise prices.
- Decisions made in Columbia directly impact what you pay every single month.
- The South Carolina Energy Security Act makes it easier for utilities to raise rates and pass costs onto customers.
- This law allows more frequent rate increases with fewer barriers.
- When this HB 3309 came to a vote, Jordan Pace chose to abstain.
- On issues that affect your wallet, leadership requires taking a clear stand- Jordan Pace refused to do that, to protect his Freedom Caucus image.
- Families deserve accountability—not silence or inaction.
- Ashley will always be transparent and take a position on the issues that impact you.
- This campaign is about putting working families first—not protecting utility profits.
Protect, Fund, and Empower Small Businesses
- 70% of South Carolina small businesses have fewer than five employees—and they’re being left behind.
- State lawmakers prioritize large corporations over local entrepreneurs.
- Corporate tax breaks and incentives have drained hundreds of millions from public schools and infrastructure.
- Big corporations aren’t building lasting local wealth—small businesses do.
- There is currently no meaningful support for grassroots entrepreneurship in South Carolina.
- Jordan Pace has failed to prioritize small business growth, proposing only one relevant bill in four years.
- That bill focused on political ideology—not real solutions for small business owners.
- Pace has openly admitted to favoring businesses that align with his personal beliefs.
- Small business success should not depend on political or ideological alignment.
- It’s time to stop subsidizing billion-dollar corporations at the expense of local communities.
- We should redirect funding toward grants, low-interest loans, and tax relief for small businesses.
- Small businesses deserve tax breaks—not heavier burdens.
- Local entrepreneurs—not corporations—are the backbone of South Carolina’s economy.
Fight for women to live, and not be forced to give birth to the child of a rapist
- Ashley is a miscarriage survivor—and knows these risks are personal, not political.
- Under current laws, women facing miscarriage have been denied life-saving care.
- The 6-week abortion ban puts women at increased risk of infection, sepsis, and death.
- Miscarriage care and abortion care are medically the same, but laws are preventing treatment.
- Doctors are forced to delay care until it’s too late—putting women’s lives in danger.
- There are documented cases of women dying due to delays caused by extreme abortion bans.
- South Carolina is losing OB-GYNs—leaving 14 counties without access to care.
- Jordan Pace has championed some of the most extreme abortion restrictions in the country.
- He co-sponsors legislation that will criminalize—and even execute—women and doctors.
- He supports banning abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest.
- That means forcing women and children to carry pregnancies caused by rape.
- These policies put ideology over women’s lives and medical reality.
- Ashley believes doctors should never fear legal consequences for saving a patient’s life.
- She will fight to protect access to life-saving care for women experiencing pregnancy loss.
- She will defend exceptions for rape and incest—because compassion and safety must come first.
Help elect Ashley!
Help Ashley prioritize working families, support small businesses, and protect women and girls in South Carolina. Every door knocked and every phone call matters. Sign up to help Ashley win in November.