Dr. Michael Addison Will Run for South Carolina Governor
The United Citizens Party candidate plans to campaign for the 2026 gubernatorial race with a new economic platform.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Employment
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Dr. Michael Addison has announced his bid for governor of South Carolina in the 2026 election. He is running as a candidate for the United Citizens Party, focusing his platform on wage increases and state tax restructuring.
Why it matters
Addison says his platform aims to support the working class and nonpartisan citizens who often face barriers to healthcare. His policy proposals seek to shift the state's revenue model while addressing rural access issues.
Addison proposes eliminating state income tax, which he projects will provide citizens a 5% pay raise, offset by a 3% increase in state sales tax. His plan also includes raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour.
The players
Michael Addison
He is a candidate for the United Citizens Party and the chairman of the South Carolina NAACP environmental committee.
United Citizens Party
This political organization represents working-class and nonpartisan citizens in South Carolina.
The details
Addison, who chairs the South Carolina NAACP environmental committee, proposes the Palmetto Public Option to use telemedicine to improve medical access for residents. He also intends to establish task forces for artificial intelligence and data centers on unused federal rural land.
Timeline
Dr. Michael Addison seeks the South Carolina gubernatorial seat in 2026.
Key Data
Addison's proposed Palmetto Public Option represents a novel state-level approach to expanding medical access. This framework follows a pattern set by other state-led healthcare initiatives seeking to bypass traditional physical infrastructure constraints.
If enacted, the proposal to eliminate state income tax in exchange for higher sales tax would shift the state's primary revenue burden from earnings to consumption. Workers earning minimum wage would also see their base pay rise significantly under his $15 per hour mandate.
The takeaway
Voters should consider how a transition from income-based to consumption-based taxation would alter their individual monthly household budgets. The proposal also highlights a growing intersection between state economic policy and the expansion of digital infrastructure in rural districts.
Further reading
For broader trends on labor policy in the state, visit South Carolina Employment.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Live5news.
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