Joe Wilson — Republican Candidate for U.S. House in South Carolina, 2026

Joe Wilson opposes noncitizen voting, arguing that allowing individuals to vote without identity verification diminishes lawful voters' voices and enables illegal immigrants to influence elections. He advocated for border security and national defense as part of his 2026 legislative agenda and criticized the 2026 State of the Union address regarding immigration issues.

“Allowing individuals to vote without verifying their identity diminishes the voices of lawful voters and opens the door to illegal immigrants influencing our elections. That is unacceptable. Illegal immigrants are here in this country. They came in by over the mil-lions in the last 4 years. They are in California being given driver’s licenses and then using those licenses to reg-ister to vote. It is happening all across the country. It is happening in States like Massachusetts." - Joe Wilson, Congressional Record, February 11, 2026”

Research pending more substantial sources.

Representative Joe Wilson opposes stringent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, stating they increase energy costs and eliminate jobs. He advocates for domestic production of natural resources, including support for the Keystone XL Pipeline, to achieve energy independence. He also supports rolling back regulations that he believes limit innovation in energy technologies. The League of Conservation Voters gave him a 14% score on both "Climate Change Science" and "Corporate Climate Risk Disclosure Requirements."

“More stringent regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency will only drive up the cost of energy and kill jobs. I support President Trump in rolling back regulations the limit innovation in these emerging technologies. - Rep. Joe Wilson, 2026 Legislative Agenda”

Joe Wilson has supported legislation opposing abortion access and funding. He voted for H.R.7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2015, to prevent taxpayer funds from being used for abortions. He also supported H.R. 217, the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act. Additionally, Wilson cosponsored H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, to prohibit abortions after 20 weeks, citing the principle of protecting the unborn.

“Protecting the lives of those who cannot protect themselves has always been critically important to me, as I have represented South Carolinians both in the State House and in Washington. Recently, I, along with my colleagues in the House of Representatives, took a decisive stand by passing H.R.7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2015. This needed legislation ensures that abortions are not funded with taxpayer dollars and institutes stringent reporting requirements on insurance companies, forcing them to fully disclose information regarding abortion coverage in each plan. [...] I have also supported H.R. 217, the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act, which prevents Title X grants from going to organizations that use abortion as the primary method of family planning. No taxpayer dollars should be used to fund abortions, and this bill, which is awaiting further consideration in the House of Representatives, would be a positive step in the right direction. As the 114th Congress continues, please be assured that I will continue the fight for a strong pro-life agenda to protect the unborn and promote pro-family legislation on behalf of all Americans.”

Joe Wilson advocates for a foreign policy of "peace through strength," emphasizing a strong military with necessary equipment and funding to safeguard national security. He co-sponsored the Holding Accountable Russian Mercenaries Act 2.0 (HARM Act 2.0), which aimed to designate the Wagner Group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Additionally, he expresses support for the enduring relationship between the U.S. and Kurdistan.

“The United States military has successfully remained the most superior power in the world by practicing President Ronald Reagan’s national security approach of providing peace through strength. It is no accident America has not been attacked in more than 11 years. No matter the legislation before me, I will always fight to make sure our soldiers have the equipment and funding they need to do the job we have asked of them, which is to keep the American people safe from foreign threats. (Joe Wilson, Press Release, October 29, 2025, http://joewilson.house.gov/issue/national-security)”

Research pending more substantial sources.

Joe Wilson voted against the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022. This legislation included provisions for expanded background checks for gun purchasers under 21, incentives for states to include juvenile records in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and closing the "boyfriend loophole."