Beaufort County: A Night of Choices and Familiar Faces
Election Day Surprise for the Nation, But Not for Beaufort
Oh, what a night it was in Beaufort County! While the nationwide results of the Nov. 5 general election sent shockwaves through political circles as a certain former president took the crown once again, things were a bit more *status quo* here in our local contests. In a significant twist on the national stage, voters here seemed quite comfortable sticking with their tried-and-true representatives.
With an impressive turnout of over 75%, residents of Beaufort County made their voices heard, casting a total of 105,175 ballots from a pool of 140,221 registered voters. That’s a 6.6% increase from the previous election in November 2020 when just 98,623 votes were tallied. Talk about civic engagement!
Incumbents Hold Their Ground
As the clock struck 7 p.m. and the polls closed, residents awaited results that didn’t start rolling in until about 9 p.m., thanks to a little hiccup with the county’s tabulators. But once the numbers began to flow, it became clear: incumbents were not just holding on; they were *thriving*!
The familiar faces of Gerald Dawson, York Glover, and Logan Cunningham all secured their positions on the Beaufort County Council once again. Yes, folks, the *status quo reigns supreme*, with no shake-ups in the council—much to the delight of their loyal supporters.
Meanwhile, in a twist of fresh versus familiar, Beaufort inched forward with a new face at the helm. Former city council member Phil Cromer was elected as the city’s next mayor, *winning decisively* against young challenger Josh Scallate by a margin of 843 votes. Scallate had been campaigning on a message of change, but it seems the voters in Beaufort still craved a bit of the old guard.
As for the Beaufort City Council, incumbents Mitch Mitchell and Neil Lipsitz emerged victors once again, managing to edge out challengers Julie Crenshaw and Josh Gibson. It was certainly a night for incumbents all around!
New Voices in Hilton Head
Over in Hilton Head, some new energy was felt in the council chambers. In Ward 1, incumbent Alex Brown secured his seat again, but Ward 6 welcomed a *fresh face* in political newcomer Melinda Tunner, who grabbed the attention of voters. Meanwhile, in Ward 3, Steve DeSimone made a return after a stint away from the council back in the early 2000s. It might be a mix of old and new, but it appears local residents are looking for both comfort and a change of pace on their councils.
Same State, Steady Leaders
Looking over at the state legislature, it was much of the same. Voters reelected a solid Republican lineup: Bill Hager, Jeff Bradley, Weston Newton, and Bill Herbkersman will return to the South Carolina House. And let’s not forget about the state senate—Democratic incumbent Margie Bright Matthews was also reelected in her unopposed race. So, it seems Beaufort County is maintaining a steady hand in its representation at the state level.
National News: Trump Takes the Throne Again
Now, let’s take a moment to cast our gaze up to the broader scene. In the national results, Donald J. Trump was once again declared the winner of the presidential race, snatching up a remarkable 56.6% of the vote in Beaufort County. That’s a whopping 59,002 votes for the former president! Vice President Kamala Harris garnered 43,886 votes, making up 42.1% of the electorate—showing a bit of local division as she won in 22 of Beaufort’s 126 precincts.
And while we revel in the excitement of local politics, here’s a little food for thought for all the political junkies out there: just 1,460 days until the next general election rolls around on Nov. 7, 2028. Time flies, doesn’t it?
