3rd candidate enters race for SC ag commissioner, 2 weeks after McMaster and Trump endorsements

By: Seanna Adcox

Outlets: South Carolina Daily Gazette

Published: February 19, 2026

Words: 351

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 5 days ago

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COLUMBIA — The race to be South Carolina’s next agriculture commissioner is officially a three-person contest.

Cody Simpson, former agriculture adviser to Gov. Henry McMaster and a Trump administration appointee, announced Thursday that he’s running for the job.

His announcement comes two weeks after both McMaster and President Donald Trump publicly encouraged the fifth-generation Clarendon County farmer to run and gave their full endorsement ahead of his decision.

McMaster and Trump endorse 3rd …

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