A note from Jason
I'm not running because I want to be a politician. I'm running because my family found a home here — and that means something to me. I want to give back to the community that gave us so much.
— Jason
Democrat · SC House District 83 · Nov 3, 2026
Service before self.
Neighbors before politics. Community before party.
- 22 yrs U.S. Army
- 3 deployments
- North Augusta
- Father of three
U.S. Army Veteran
~22 Years of Service
My promise
I won't answer to lobbyists. I'll answer to neighbors.
I won't take pay-to-play money. I'll take phone calls.
I won't dodge tough questions. I'll show up at your kitchen table.
Community first. Values always.
Jason M. Payne
Get to know Jason
Five things about the man behind the campaign.
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01
He's a New Orleans kid who picked North Augusta on purpose.
After more than 20 years moving across the country and around the world with the Army, Jason and his family looked at every option — and chose the CSRA.
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02
He married a fellow soldier.
Jason and his wife met while both were serving on active duty in the U.S. Army. Their three children are growing up in the Augusta area.
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03
Service runs in the family.
He comes from a military family with veterans from nearly every branch — a household where showing up for country and community was just what you did.
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04
Five degrees — and still in school.
A.A. and B.S. in Criminal Justice. M.S. in International Relations. M.P.A. in Public Administration. PhD in Business Analytics & Data Science (in progress). He believes in lifelong learning, and he means it.
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05
He was showing up locally long before this campaign.
Chair of the North Augusta Public Safety Foundation (2023–2025). Volunteer Parent Project instructor at the Child Advocacy Center of Aiken (2022–2024). The community work didn't start when the campaign did.
In their words
What others are saying.
From people who have served, taught, and led alongside Jason.
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I appreciate everything Jason taught me and was amazed at how that became the foundation for how I lead people. It created a culture for my entire military organization to fall in on.
Active-duty service member
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Jason's consistency, dedication, and passion for helping Aiken County families had a meaningful impact. Many parents gained valuable tools for creating positive change in their homes.
Former co-instructor · Parent Project, Child Advocacy Center of Aiken
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We all appreciate Jason's leadership on the North Augusta Public Safety Foundation. It shows that he and the community truly support Public Safety.
North Augusta Public Safety Officer
Help send Jason to Columbia.
Every door knocked, every dollar donated, every neighbor talked to brings District 83 one step closer to representation that puts community first.