by WILL FOLKS
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South Carolina superintendent of education candidate Sylvia Wright boasts of being a “military spouse” and an “Air Force wife” – and her campaign website prominently features a photograph of her husband, Carlton Wright, alongside a smiling and presumably convivial family.
“As a teacher, military spouse, and parent, I have walked in the shoes of many South Carolinians,” Wright wrote in her official bio.
While she’s been busy seeking this independently elected office, though, Wright’s marriage has been an absolute shambles – with the Democrat nominee’s husband engaged in an extended on-again, off-again extramarital affair featuring illicit texts, intimate disclosures, the alleged theft of $10,000 and what appears to be a conspiracy to remove his girlfriend from her full-time federal contracting job.
These explosive allegations were detailed in a federal lawsuit filed in Charleston, S.C. earlier this month – and in a separate employment complaint submitted on September 3, 2026. Both complaints were filed by Carlton Wright’s ex-girlfriend – Nicole Anastasia Gray of Summerville, S.C.
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??#Crossroads2026 We’ve seen a LOT covering South Carolina politics, but this story may take the cake. @TheDemocrats (@SCDP) nominee for superintendent of education in South Carolina was accused in a federal lawsuit of participating in the theft of $10,000 from her estranged husband’s bank account after his ex-girlfriend contacted her and provided details of their extramarital relationship. This report is a WILD ride… https://t.co/IAS52x1sL8
— FITSNews (@fitsnews) October 14, 2026
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Gray’s lawsuit (.pdf) alleged she was improperly terminated from her position as a contract employee at the U.S. Department of State’s passport center in Charleston, S.C. following “a series of events” involving sex-based treatment and an alleged “romantic relationship between (Gray) and a Department of State employee.”
The employee with whom Gray allegedly engaged in a romantic relationship was identified in the lawsuit as Carlton Wright, spouse of Sylvia Wright. Gray further alleged that the timing of her termination – and the timing of previous workplace actions directed toward her – coincided with her reaching out to Sylvia Wright and sharing intimate details regarding her relationship with her husband.
Gray is suing her former contractors and the federal government – specifically the State Department – alleging sex discrimination and retaliation. She is seeking damages for lost wages, lost employment opportunities, lost benefits, diminished future employment opportunities, professional and reputational harm and emotional distress.
She also wants to know the specific circumstances tied to her termination – and whether Sylvia Wright was involved.
Prior to the lawsuit, Gray filed a detailed complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) last month alleging “sex-based discrimination arising from a workplace romantic relationship” and “retaliation for opposing or reporting sex-based discriminatory treatment; and discriminatory and retaliatory termination and other adverse employment actions.”
Those allegations were also tied to fallout from her relationship with Carlton Wright.
Both Gray’s lawsuit and the EEOC complaint referenced Sylvia Wright and her campaign for higher office on multiple occasions – including references to our exclusive reporting last month about an ethics complaint being filed against her. One of the key allegations contained in that ethics compliant – filed a month ago by former state representative Sandy McGarry – is that Wright repeatedly failed to disclose sources for both individual and campaign income.
According to Gray, Wright took money from her estranged husband for use on her campaign.
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Wright has yet to submit her third quarter campaign finance disclosure with the S.C. State Ethics Commission (SCSEC), but her second quarter filing showed a deficit of $10,763.31.
Did Wright plug this hole with money taken from her husband?
According to Gray’s lawsuit, “the amount identified in that reporting is approximately the same amount that (Carlton) Wright told (Gray) had been taken from his account.” It further alleged Carlton Wright “attributed the withdrawal to Sylvia Wright through their adult daughter.”
Gray’s EEOC complaint elaborated further on this dubious alleged funds transfer.
“On October 26, 2025, Mr. Wright sent me a text message stating that approximately $10,000 was missing from his account and that he was extremely angry about it,” Gray wrote in her complaint.
Carlton Wright subsequently “confirmed that the money had been taken by his wife” after Sylvia Wright received an email from Gray on October 21, 2025 detailing her spouse’s infidelity, per the complaint.
Gray sent Sylvia Wright a subsequent message on November 10, 2025 which referenced the $10,000 – and Carlton Wright’s ongoing romantic advances toward her.
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“Despite the fact that you and (Wright’s daughter) took $10,000 out of Carlton’s bank, on account of my email/message to you, Carlton is more than willing to be romantic with me and sleep with me,” Gray wrote to Sylvia Wright.
Four days after sending these messages, Gray was notified she had lost her job at the passport center following an unexplained “request to remove” her from her position.
“This email is to inform you that your assignment has ended, effective immediately,” an email from Gray’s subcontractor noted, instructing her not to “contact anyone” from her job and not to “return to the agency.”
“At this time there have been continuous concerns, as well as disruptions in the work area, that ultimately have resulted in the request to remove you from the assignment,” the email stated.
No information regarding the origin of the removal request has been forthcoming, Gray alleged, which is one reason she is suing – to be able to find out what happened.
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RELATED | ETHICS COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE
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Gray’s lawsuit is seeking “discovery concerned communications between Sylvia Wright” and all of the parties to the lawsuit – as well as her husband and “any other person involved in (her) employment.”
A native of North Charleston, S.C., Wright defeated fellow Democrat Lisa Ellis in the June 2026 primary election, receiving 218,208 votes (or 61.02% of all ballots cast). She is currently campaigning against Republican incumbent Ellen Weaver, who is widely expected to win a second, four-year term this fall. Recent polls shared with this media outlet show Weaver with a commanding lead over Wright.
Keep it tuned to FITSNews for updates as we intend to offer our open microphone to everyone involved in this saga… including Gray and both Carlton and Sylvia Wright.
In the meantime, to view the federal complaint for yourself click on the document below…
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THE PLEADING…
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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