Three Third Party Candidates Seeking to Unseat Congressman Clyburn in South Carolina’s 6th District

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — It’s a tight race for South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District, with three third-party candidates in the running.

They are all trying to unseat longtime Congressman Jim Clyburn and give voters a choice beyond the two major political parties.

Navy veteran Michael Simpson is running as a libertarian in what he calls the party for the people.

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Simpson’s goal is to improve the personal economy of District 6 residents.

“I don’t think income taxes should be a big deal,” he said. “All that money you make should go into your pocket, thereby improving your consumer health.”

Gregg Marcel Dixon was born in Georgia and raised in South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District.

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He now works as a school teacher in Jasper County and is committed to improving the state’s struggling public education through increased funding.

“I want the federal government to invest in public education,” said Dixon, the United Citizens Party candidate. “We have spent trillions of dollars overseas, in foreign countries, on wars, conflicts and taking care of illegal immigrants. We can invest in our children.”

This November is not the first time Joe Oddo has run for political office as a member of the Alliance Party.

If elected, he plans to improve infrastructure in rural South Carolina, which will hopefully improve the quality of life in smaller counties.

“To make sure that you’re reaching out to the people who are living in poverty in this area, which is quite high across the country, give those people the opportunity to have clean water, clean air and jobs,” Oddo said.

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Representing different parties, all three candidates believe it’s time to change the leadership of the district, which has long been under the control of Rep. Clyburn.

Dixon, Oddo and Simpson believe this can be achieved through third-party voting.

“I’m running as a third-party candidate to give us not just a third choice, but a better choice,” Dixon said.

Their campaigns also serve as an alternative for people who want to escape the binary choices that exist among the American electorate.

“This is a great opportunity for people to finally get rid of the lesser of two evils,” Oddo said of the Democratic and Republican parties.

Simpson added: “Look at the people who are running and then vote with your conscience, not out of fear.”

Congressman Clyburn is seeking his 12th term in Washington, DC. Duke Buckner is his Republican opponent.