Charleston SC Politics & Civic News
Covering Charleston City Council, Charleston County Council, South Carolina General Assembly, and your federal representatives in Washington, D.C. Accountability journalism for Charleston County residents.
Charleston County sits inside one of the most layered governmental structures in the region. Residents answer to at least five levels of elected authority simultaneously: the federal government, statewide offices, Charleston County Council, Charleston City Council, and school district boards — each a separately elected body covering its own geographic slice of the county.
Charleston’s federal delegation includes US Rep. Nancy Mace (SC District 1) and US Rep. James Clyburn (SC District 6) and Senators Darline Graham and Tim Scott. In Columbia, Charleston is represented by Sens. Ed Sutton (District 20), Matthew W. "Matt" Leber (District 41), Lawrence K. "Larry" Grooms (District 37), Brian Adams (District 44), Margie Bright Matthews (District 45), George E. "Chip" Campsen III (District 43), and Deon T. Tedder (District 42) and Reps. Leonidas E. "Leon" Stavrinakis (District 119), Marvin "Mark" Smith (District 99), Elizabeth "Spencer" Wetmore (District 115), Gary S. Brewer, Jr. (District 114), Carl L. Anderson (District 103), Wendell G. Gilliard (District 111), James E. Teeple (District 116), and Thomas F. "Tom" Hartnett, Jr. (District 110).
Charleston County Council controls property tax millage, land-use zoning outside city limits, and fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreements. Downtown zoning decisions and the Charleston Police Department budget run through Charleston City Council. State funding for schools, roads, and Medicaid flows from the South Carolina General Assembly. The Charleston County Elections and Voter Registration Office administers local balloting under SC Election Commission oversight.
HERE Charleston covers Charleston County Council meetings, Charleston City Council sessions, South Carolina General Assembly session, federal delegation votes and town halls, school board meetings, and candidate filing windows. We also pull FOIA-sourced travel records and contracts at both the city and county level. If it shapes how Charleston County is governed, it’s HERE.
HERE! NOW! — Politics
Report a Civic Issue
Anonymous. No sign-up. Your report goes to the right people.
Your Voice. Their Responsibility.
The only local news platform where citizens can publicly surface issues to elected officials and get answers.
HERE Answers
Civic issues submitted by the community. Answers pending from officials.
No issues reported yet. Be the first to speak up.
Charleston Speaks
What do you think: Charleston Mayor Lays Out Daniel Island Growth and Traffic Plans?
What do you think: Russia Frees Jailed Michigan Man After Trump Appeal to Putin?
Local & State Political News
Your Charleston Reps
Every official with a vote on Charleston's future — pulled live from our roster.
Quick Resources
Charleston is in Charleston County, South Carolina. Mayor: William S. Cogswell Jr.; Mayor Pro Tem: Karl L. Brady Jr..
Latest Charleston Politics News
Charleston Mayor Lays Out Daniel Island Growth and Traffic Plans
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Traffic jams, flooding and the pace of new construction dominated a Tuesday night forum on Daniel Island in Charleston, South Carolina, where Mayor William Cogswell…
Atwood Crosses District 110 on Foot and Water in Charleston
CHARLESTON, S.C. — A candidate for State House District 110 spent the first day of early voting covering his Charleston-area district the hard way, on foot and by…
Seven Early Voting Sites Open Monday Across Charleston County
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Charleston County voters get seven places to cast an early ballot when in-person early voting for the statewide general election starts Monday, Oct. 19. Inside…
CofC Students Train as Charleston Poll Workers
CHARLESTON, S.C. — In Charleston, roughly 40 College of Charleston political science students are training to staff precincts as certified workers for the Nov. 3 general election. Juniors…
Trump Tele-Rally Backs Graham and Wilson Ticket in Charleston
CHARLESTON, S.C. — From a Charleston-linked campaign call this week, President Donald Trump pressed South Carolina voters to elect Sen. Darline Graham, Attorney General Alan Wilson as governor,…
McMaster Keeps Dunmeyer-Roberson on Charleston School Board
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Gov. Henry McMaster on Wednesday left trustee Darlene Dunmeyer-Roberson on the Charleston County school board after a state misconduct case, even as he labeled her…
Russia Frees Jailed Michigan Man After Trump Appeal to Putin
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Russia on Wednesday freed an American from Michigan who had been held since the spring of 2022 on charges that he fought as a…
Kagan Says Court Election Rulings Have Hurt Democracy
WASHINGTON — Justice Elena Kagan on Tuesday faulted the conservative majority on the Supreme Court for a run of election decisions she said have pushed the country further…
North Korea Orders Border Troops to Hit Back
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea has instructed soldiers along its southern frontier to respond swiftly and forcefully if South Korean forces endanger them, state media reported Wednesday,…
SC Early Voting Opens With Nearly 98,000 First-Day Ballots
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina voters wasted little time once in-person early ballots became available for the 2026 general election, with 97,968 people casting ballots statewide on Monday,…
Trump Rallies for Graham as SC Senate Race Moves to Lean GOP
CLEMSON, S.C. — President Donald Trump heads to the Upstate on Wednesday night to campaign for U.S. Sen. Darline Graham, a stop that comes one day after a…
SC 2026 Ballot Guide: Governor, Senate and the 1st District
COLUMBIA, S.C. — With early voting open, South Carolina voters are deciding three contests that will shape the state for years: an open governor's office, a U.S. Senate…
