Charleston SC Politics & Civic News — Page 9
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.
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Charleston is in Charleston County, South Carolina. Mayor: William S. Cogswell Jr.; Mayor Pro Tem: Karl L. Brady Jr..
Latest Charleston Politics News — Page 9
SC Ports, Army Corps study terminal deepening
South Carolina Ports and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, have initiated a feasibility study to explore additional depth for the North Charleston Terminal. This agreement,…
Report Alleges Misconduct by Charleston School Board Member
A new report from the South Carolina Office of the Inspector General, released this week, details alleged violations and misconduct by a member of the Charleston County School…
Charleston Housing Authority CEO investigation continues
Charleston Mayor William Cogswell Jr. sent a letter on August 25 to the Charleston Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, seeking an update on an ongoing independent investigation into…
SC Ports Expands South American Shipping Access
Charleston's connectivity with South America has expanded with the addition of the AMERXL service by CMA CGM, a development that occurred recently. This new fixed-day weekly service connects…
Sullivan’s Island landmark listed for $18.5M
A landmark property on Sullivan's Island, formerly a Fort Moultrie officers club, is back on the market for $18.5 million, with the added benefit of approved redesign plans…
Charleston Harbor Dredging Begins in August
Maintenance dredging of the Charleston Harbor is set to begin in August, with work expected to continue until next fall. This project aims to ensure the channel remains…
SC Ports Expands South American Shipping Capacity
Charleston is seeing bolstered access to South American markets, with South Carolina Ports now offering six weekly services to and from the region. This expansion includes Charleston's recent…
Darline Graham Secures GOP Nomination for US Senate Seat
Darline Graham won the Republican nomination for the US Senate on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in a special primary runoff election held in Columbia. She will now appear…
Illinois HS cancels varsity football season
A high school in Illinois has announced the cancellation of the remainder of its varsity football season following its game this week. Sherrard High School officials stated the…
Turf Delays Reschedule Greenville Co. Football Games
Several high school football teams in Greenville County are facing disruptions to their home schedules this week due to ongoing delays in artificial turf installation. While some schools…
Man arrested after barricade, gunfire in North Charleston
A man was taken into custody by North Charleston police after barricading himself inside a home in the Dorchester Waylyn community on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. The incident,…
NFL Teams Cut 20 Vets, Including Ex-Pro Bowlers
As NFL teams prepare to finalize their 53-player rosters this weekend, a significant number of veteran players, including former Pro Bowlers and first-round draft picks, face the possibility…
