Learn more about Courtney McClain

Why Courtney is Running

"South Carolina is ready for change, and I'm here to deliver it."

Courtney McClain is a proud Daughter of the South, born and raised in Spartanburg, South Carolina, a city that shaped her deep-rooted passion for civic leadership. Her family has lived in Spartanburg for over two centuries. Integrating schools in Spartanburg and becoming educators, nurses, railroad workers, and religious leaders in the community.

Courtney holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Communications. She also recently completed her Master’s degree in Political Science at Howard University, with a focus on American Government, Politics, and Policy, further sharpening her understanding of systems that shape lives and legislation.

Her political journey began at just 19 years old, in Spartanburg. From that moment, she spearheaded transformative initiatives that improved the lives of students across South Carolina. A dynamic, award-winning advocate, Courtney brings a unique blend of creativity, strategy, and lived experience to her work in civil rights, policy, and communications. Her leadership has been felt both locally and nationally. As President of the South Carolina NAACP Youth and College Division, she led over a dozen youth and collegiate chapters, amplifying the voices of young activists across the state. She has also served as a Fannie Lou Hamer Government Relations Fellow with the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, a fellow with the HBCU Green Fund, and a congressional intern with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

Courtney’s impact extends into the heart of government. She has worked in the South Carolina House of Representatives as a legislative page, is a proud Clyburn Fellow (Class of 2022), and a graduate of the 2025 Emerge South Carolina Class. She also completed three cohorts as a policy intern with IMPACT Strategies. In recognition of her tireless advocacy, she received the 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Award from the University of South Carolina - Columbia.

Courtney has actively lobbied in both chambers of the South Carolina Legislature, with a focus on women’s reproductive rights, gun violence prevention, voting rights, public education, and criminal justice reform. Her grassroots organizing has mobilized tens of thousands across the U.S. for a range of movements that center on the betterment of the community.

Courtney McClain is not just a rising leader; she is a catalyst for change, committed to building a more affordable, inclusive, and empowered future for Greenville - Spartanburg and beyond. She hopes to continue her legacy of igniting fires of change wherever she steps, by continuing her fight for the people of South Carolina in the United States House of Representatives.