The Ballot Brief
Horry County, South Carolina

South Carolina House District 61

See where Goodman, Herndon and Schuessler stand on schools and roads. Names follow official Horry County election filings.

About this race

Carol Goodman (Democratic), David Herndon (Libertarian), Carla Schuessler (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Carla Schuessler is the sitting member, per the House roster. Carol Goodman won the June 9 Democratic primary with 66.8 percent over Pete Bember (33.2 percent). David Herndon (Libertarian) also qualified for the November ballot, per the Election Commission's listing. South Carolina primaries require a majority (June 23 runoffs); unopposed nominees still print. The field is the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System active list (read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Carla Schuessler, is on the ballot.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

South Carolina › Horry County › South Carolina House District 61

Carol Goodman

Democratic

Biography

Carol Goodman is the Democratic nominee for South Carolina House District 61, running against Republican incumbent Carla Schuessler and Libertarian David Herndon, per the League of Women Voters VOTE411 candidate guide. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

David Herndon

Libertarian

Biography

David Herndon is the Libertarian Party's 2026 nominee for South Carolina House District 61, per the South Carolina Libertarian Party. He has previously sought South Carolina House seats as a Republican candidate in earlier election cycles. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

Carla Schuessler

Carla Schuessler

RepublicanIncumbent

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Address infrastructure needs
  • Improve the quality of education
  • Support and protect active and retired military
Biography

Carla Schuessler is a business development manager for G3 Engineering & Surveying and a longtime Myrtle Beach resident with a political science degree from Illinois State University, per the campaign site. Schuessler was executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Horry County and chaired the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce board, per the campaign site.

Next on your ballotSouth Carolina House District 68

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Questions about this race

Who is running for South Carolina House District 61 in 2026?

3 candidates are tracked for South Carolina House District 61 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Carol Goodman, David Herndon and Carla Schuessler. Candidate information follows official Horry County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below. See where they stand on schools and roads.

When is the South Carolina House District 61 election in South Carolina?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for South Carolina are on the South Carolina election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Horry County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Horry County and state election office filings, last verified October 14, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official South Carolina election office, or see the full Horry County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Horry County ballot

32 tracked races in Horry County, South Carolina. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
South Carolina House District 103South Carolina House District 104South Carolina House District 105See all 32 Horry County races
Candidate profiles
Carol Goodman, full profileDavid Herndon, full profileCarla Schuessler, full profileOfficial South Carolina election office