Beaufort County Elections Reflect Mixed Results: Incumbents Hold Ground Amidst Presidential Change

Beaufort County Elections: A Balancing Act of Change and Status Quo

Beaufort, SC – The recent general election on November 5 turned out to be quite the show in Beaufort County! While the nation saw a paradigm shift with a new presidential pick, locals surprisingly leaned towards sticking with familiar faces in down-the-ballot races. Yes, you heard that right! It’s a tale of incumbents holding their ground in a year where everyone expected change.

Turnout Numbers Give Hope

First things first—voter enthusiasm was high! With a turnout of just over 75%, Beaufort County rallied 105,175 ballots from its 140,221 registered voters. This not only marks a significant uptick of 6.6% from the last presidential election in 2020, where 98,623 ballots were cast, but it also showcases the community’s dedication to participating in the democratic process.

Election Night Drama

Now, one might think with such a hefty turnout that results would come pouring in promptly, right? Not quite! Although the polls closed at 7 p.m., local results took their sweet time, trickling in only after about two hours thanks to a little hiccup with the county’s tabulator. By 9:30 p.m., however, the dust had settled, and the results were in.

Incumbents Stand Strong

For those who kept their ears open, the biggest takeaway from the local races was that the status quo prevailed. In a show of support for familiar faces, three county council incumbents were voted back into their seats: Gerald Dawson in District 1, York Glover in District 3, and Logan Cunningham in District 7. It seems residents preferred the devil they know!

Mayoral Move

In a slightly different twist, Beaufort City made headlines by electing former city council member Phil Cromer as their new mayor. Cromer won decisively, besting his young challenger, Josh Scallate, by 843 votes. While Scallate talked a big game about ushering in new leadership, the residents clearly had other plans.

City Council Consistency

The contest for the two City Council seats also leaned towards the incumbents. Mitch Mitchell and Neil Lipsitz retained their spots, edging out challenges from Julie Crenshaw and Josh Gibson. Clearly, the message was “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

Hilton Head Sees New Faces

Over in Hilton Head, there were some exciting changes too! Incumbent Alex Brown snagged reelection for Ward 1, while newcomer Melinda Tunner made waves by winning the Ward 6 seat. Meanwhile, old-timer Steve DeSimone also made a comeback for Ward 3 after previously serving on the council in the early 2000s. Talk about a mix of heritage and fresh perspectives!

State Politics—Same Old, Same Old

When it comes to state legislators representing Beaufort County, voters opted for a steady lineup. They reelected Republicans Bill Hager, Jeff Bradley, Weston Newton, and Bill Herbkersman to the South Carolina House. Meanwhile, Democratic incumbent Margie Bright Matthews was reelected in an unopposed race. More of the same, it seems!

Presidential Picks and Preferences

And how did the presidential picks turn out in Beaufort County? Well, the buzz began early Wednesday morning when it was declared that Donald J. Trump emerged victorious in the 2024 presidential election, securing 59,002 votes or 56.6% of the electorate. His opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, trailed with 43,886 votes or 42.1%. Interestingly, Harris did manage to snag victories in 22 of Beaufort County’s 126 precincts, particularly in those communities north of the Broad River.

What’s Next?

With a mixed bag of outcomes—some new faces here and there but mostly incumbents retaining their posts—the excitement in Beaufort is just getting started. Political junkies have just 1,460 days until the next general election on November 7, 2028. Buckle up, because it’s going to be an interesting ride!