
Josiah Magnuson
Republican | South Carolina
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Josiah Magnuson
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary
Race
State Representative, District 38
Incumbent
Yes
EDUCATION
Kingsway Christian School, Orrville, OH, High school, 2008-2010
Oak Brook College of Law, Fresno, CA, 2010-2013
WORK & MILITARY
Palmetto Fortis Education Group, International Sales, 2020-2026
Biblical Civics, Author, 2021-2026
AFFILIATIONS
Hope Remains Youth Ranch, Board member, 2019-2023
Americans for Constitutional Government, Director, 2012-2017
Boy Scouts of America, Asst. Scoutmaster, 2009-2010
Soldiers of Biblical Reformation, Founder, 2007-2026
Mountain View Baptist Church, Boys' Sunday School teacher, 2025-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Representative, 2016-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (2)
Stand For Health Freedom
Ralph Norman
OTHER (1)
*Equal Protection South Carolina
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (7)
Ralph Norman
Curtis Loftis
Jordan Pace
Sarita Edgerton
Bill Chumley
OTHER INFORMATION
Josiah Magnuson took the Equal Protection South Carolina pledge in 2026.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
I have consistently fought every year to stop Planned Parenthood funding with state dollars.
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
There is no situation where an intentional abortion should be legal. There may be medical emergencies that require an unintentional abortion, but even in a case where the life of the mother is at risk, best efforts should be taken to protect both lives.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
I do not agree with a minimum wage since it tends to cut out the lowest rungs of the ladder for those who want to work.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
I believe private property is a Biblical and moral issue, and needs to be defended against collectivism and socialism.
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
1. Ensure zero-based budgeting is practiced, as required by state law 2. Create systems for transparency and accountability to verify where every taxpayer dollar is spent 3. Transition to a block-grant model for legislative earmarks, to eliminate the political "carrot and stick" 4. Give more teeth to the Legislative Oversight Committee and the Inspector General
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The church and state are different institutions with different purposes, but both exist under God and for His glory. Christians should seek influence in the state in pursuit of justice and liberty, while preserving freedom of religion for all.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
My wife is a pharmacist and several family members are nurses so the need to protect religious liberty of medical professionals is personal to me.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
C is the best option for our current system where there is no free market in healthcare. As we achieve more of a free market model, the ideal would be for all medical needs to be met by families, churches, and communities, instead of borrowing more and more money on the national debt and inflating the currency as is accepted today.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Disagree
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
We need to ban land ownership by Chinese agents, and stop all use of technology with spyware for the Chinese government.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes, they are a key ally in the Middle East to hold back the forces of Islamic radicalism.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Disagree
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
The U.S. Constitution never granted the federal government power over education.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Agree
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
I have been a leading sponsor of Parental Rights legislation in the SC House.
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
I was one of the primary voices advocating to make transgender surgeries on minors a felony.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour. I have been born again by His grace, not of myself. Because of His love, I strive to exalt Him as King and spread His Word to others everywhere I have opportunity, including in the State House.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Strongly Disagree
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Nuclear power is no doubt the best hope for energy in the long term. Natural gas also seems to be a viable option for areas that may need more flexibility.
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
I am 100% pro-life, strongly in favor of the 2nd Amendment and Constitutional Carry, strongly against government cronyism, strongly for transparency and accountability, and strongly in favor of parental choice in education and medicine.
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
Swift and strong justice against those who harm others
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
There is a key role for the state here, primarily to empower parents in keeping kids away from harmful materials, and prosecuting criminals guilty of sexual crimes to the fullest extent of the law. At the same time, there are those who would hijack this emotionally-charged issue to create government control of the internet and move toward a surveillance society, so we must remain vigilant and carefully informed.
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I do not support any restrictions for law-abiding citizens. I do support terminating gun rights of violent felons or after a court adjudication that a person is mentally unstable.
If you are not already receiving our emails, stay up to date with important election alerts, educational articles, and encouraging reminders.