The Ballot Brief
Charleston County, South Carolina

South Carolina House District 15

3 candidates are tracked for South Carolina House District 15 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Melissa Couture, Heather Hickman and JA Moore. Candidate information follows official Charleston County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Melissa Couture (Libertarian), Heather Hickman (Republican), JA Moore (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; JA Moore is the sitting member, per the House roster. Melissa Couture (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, JA Moore, is on the ballot.

South Carolina › Charleston County › South Carolina House District 15

Melissa Couture

Libertarian

Top priorities
  • Phase out the state income tax
  • Require full transparency in government budgeting
  • Emphasize rehabilitation over recidivism in prison policy

Per the Libertarian Party candidate profile.

Biography

Melissa Couture works as an ERP systems analyst and has lived in South Carolina since 2011, per her Libertarian Party candidate profile. She serves as second vice chair of the South Carolina Libertarian Party and chair of the Charleston County Libertarian Party. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

Heather Hickman

Republican

Top priorities
  • Lower taxes and reduce the cost of living
  • Attract more industry and higher-wage jobs to the district
  • Prioritize constituents' interests over special interest groups

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Hickman is a retired Boeing employee who now works part-time at Planet Fitness and served in the U.S. Air Force until her 1981 discharge, per the campaign site. She moved to South Carolina permanently in 2010, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
JA Moore

JA Moore

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

JA Moore is a chef and business owner with a culinary arts degree from Johnson & Wales University, per the Legislature's roster. He represents Berkeley and Charleston counties in House District 15. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

Next on your ballotSouth Carolina House District 80

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Questions about this race

Who is running for South Carolina House District 15 in 2026?

3 candidates are tracked for South Carolina House District 15 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Melissa Couture, Heather Hickman and JA Moore. Candidate information follows official Charleston County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the South Carolina House District 15 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 Charleston 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 Charleston County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Charleston County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
South Carolina House District 94South Carolina House District 108South Carolina House District 109See all 30 Charleston County races
Candidate profiles
Melissa Couture, full profileHeather Hickman, full profileJA Moore, full profileOfficial South Carolina election office