James Teeple says he's a family man. His record says something else especially considering he accepted a campaign contribution from a registered sex offender and currently is under an ethics investigation.
Times the state sent inspectors after complaints. In under two years.
Four times, inspectors wrote up how his workers punish kids. Every one was marked "High." That's the state's worst level.
Teeple lists himself as the owner of Palmetto Learning Academy. It cares for up to 258 children. The state also wrote it up for how kids were watched, how they slept, and how problems were reported.
He sits on the House Education Committee. He writes rules for your kids' schools. His own daycare can't stay off the state's complaint list.
Teeple accepted a campaign contribution from a registered sex offender.
He knew that this person was a registered sex offender and only returned the money after a massive public outcry.
Source: SC Ethics Commission campaign disclosure, Sept. 28, 2024
Teeple is under investigation by the State Ethics Commission over allegations that he used his public office to promote a private company in which he has an ownership interest.
Source: Sept. 9, 2026 SC Ethics Commission notice.
"Tell him I'm going to kick his dad's ass."James Teeple to a school bus driver, about a little boy. Caught on the bus camera.
![School bus camera still from August 2022 showing James Teeple at the bus door, with the caption: Teeple: Hi, is there a kid named [redacted] on this bus?](images/bus-camera.jpg)
Two kids argued over a bus seat. A grown man went after one boy's dad. Then he followed the bus to the boy's home.
"There is no way that that is appropriate for any of that to be in the media."Teeple, on the video of his own words
He later sued the school district and the bus company.
Post and Courier, Oct. 3, 2024, with the Charleston County Sheriff's Office report
Bigger tax cut for millionaires than for working families. He voted yes.
The rich got thousands. Working families got crumbs. Some may even pay more.
And he's bragging about it.
"I am proud to have been part of major tax cuts as your State Representative."Teeple's official Facebook page, Sept. 26, 2026
Look at the number he shows off: the top income tax rate, cut from 7% to 5.21%. That's the rate paid on the highest incomes.
He calls it "helping families keep more of what they earn." The richest 1% keep $3,139. The poorest families keep $0.
The tax law he voted for caps a tax break for working families at $200. Experts say that raises taxes on low- and middle-income families. Nearly half the money goes to the richest 5%.
The same night, he voted to kill a child tax credit for families.
He says he backs teachers. Then he voted to send public school money to private schools.
| Date | Bill | What it does | Teeple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar. 10, 2026 | H.4216 | Tax law: top rate cut, $200 cap on working families' tax credit | Yes |
| Mar. 10, 2026 | Amdt. 7A | Killed a child tax credit for families | Yes |
| Feb. 5, 2026 | H.4760 | New prison terms tied to abortion pills | Yes |
| May 1, 2025 | S.62 | Public money for private schools | Yes |
| Apr. 2, 2025 | H.3927 | Bans diversity programs in government | Yes |
Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, March 2026 · SC House roll calls linked above
"A big thank-you to Google." That's what he posted on his official page.
Data centers eat up huge amounts of power and water. Lowcountry families are the ones who live next to them and pay the power bills.
Said women need "a reasonable amount of time" to learn they're pregnant before an abortion ban applies. Said the law should always have exceptions.
Voted for prison terms tied to abortion pills.
The bill he backed means up to 5 years in prison for giving out abortion pills. Up to 50 years in some cases. Just having the pills without a prescription becomes a felony.
Doctors. Pharmacists. Anyone who helps a woman get these pills. That's who he voted to go after. One year after he asked you to trust him.
"It really didn't matter anymore since we won."Teeple, on dropping his own lawsuit
He sues people to win elections. Then he walks away.
In 2024, he sued the Hollywood mayor. She is the sister of Charlie Murray, the Democrat he ran against that year. He asked a judge to ban her and her brother from office for 15 years. He also filed ethics complaints. The state threw out the first one.
After he won, he let his lawsuit die.
In August 2026, he blew up at his own party's senators: "You don't give a DAMN about our first responders." He said they had "blood on their hands."
He has also said he won't be doing this job 10 years from now.
Post and Courier, May 2025 · FITSNews, Aug. 2026 · SC Daily Gazette, March 2025
Protect our kids. Fire James Teeple. Vote early now, or on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Oct. 19 to Oct. 31, 8:30 AM to 6 PM. Closed Sunday, Oct. 25.
Charleston County: (843) 744-VOTE
Colleton County: (843) 549-2842
scvotes.gov