Let's Make a Difference

My name is Ashley Painter. I’m a wife, mother of two, and a small business owner. I’m running to represent you in the South Carolina State House because our Representative is the leader of an extreme cabal of politicians obsessed with culture wars; not with you and your family, and what you need to succeed.

 

I believe the government should work for working people, protect those who can’t protect themselves, and create opportunities rooted in fairness, compassion, and accountability. 

I am not a career politician. But I am someone who understands struggle. ​

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I grew up in trailers, wearing clothes that didn’t fit, with ketchup sandwiches as a meal. I searched in couch cushions for spare change just to buy a gallon of milk. I was the kid on the free lunch program. My husband and I live paycheck-to-paycheck, and, like so many of you, we are working hard in an unforgiving economy to build a better life for our children.

 

I was born in Savannah, Georgia, where my family’s roots run deep in Eastern Georgia. I was raised in Pennsylvania but, like too many children, my childhood was anything but stable. At 15, I entered foster care, and at 18, I aged out. My adverse childhood, along with my amazing foster parents, instilled in me the values that guide me today. 

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In 2021, I earned my Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in Social Work. I served as a county crisis counselor while completing my undergraduate degree, then went on to work as a family-based therapist after graduation. Seeking to make a broader impact, I joined the Children’s Aid Society, where I conducted adoption home studies and worked with foster children whose parental rights had been terminated and who were preparing for adoption. 

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After moving back South to Summerville, South Carolina, I worked at a methadone clinic in North Charleston, where I met and supported individuals from across the eastern part of the state—people from all walks of life, each with stories that deserved dignity, compassion, and real solutions. 

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Today, I am a homemaker and professional photographer. I run my own small business and homeschool our children. My husband is a dedicated railroad serviceman who has spent over a decade working on train cars, tracks, and critical infrastructure that keeps our communities moving. 

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I am a Democrat because I believe in a government that creates opportunity for all free of corruption, hate, and fear.  

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Regardless of your party, I’ll work hard to represent you and your family in Columbia. I’d be honored to have your vote.