Democrats Lead in Four Charleston County Statehouse Races on Election Night
Democrats were leading in races to potentially flip two Charleston County seats within the S.C. House of Representatives connected to West Ashley and the barrier islands, such as Folly Beach, Kiawah, James and Johns islands. As of 10 p.m., three of these four seats carried the possibility of changing hands while the sitting officeholder sought another term.
Two incumbents are Republicans, and one is a Democrat. One seat was open with the current representative retiring.
District-by-District Legislative Standings
In District 114, which covers West Ashley and southern parts of Dorchester County, Republican incumbent Gary Brewer led Democrat Kelly Hough with nearly 51 percent of the vote.
“It’s a pretty tight race,” Brewer said. “We were glad to have worked as hard as we could and hopefully we end up pulling this one out. … We’re definitely thankful for Charleston and Dorchester County for turning up.”
Earlier statements provided by Brewer to The Post and Courier indicate his primary focuses are upgrading infrastructure, tackling affordability, and conserving additional land.
At the same time, Democrat Nick Uricchio held a late lead over Republican Johnnie Garmon, capturing 60.8 percent of the vote in District 115. This district encompasses Folly Beach, Kiawah, Seabrook and parts of James and Johns islands. With current Democratic Rep. Spencer Wetmore not running for reelection, this seat was up for grabs.
“I feel good about the campaign we ran,” Uricchio said. “If we are lucky tonight and all that hard work worked out, great. But we’ll see how it goes when the rest of the vote comes in.”
Uricchio previously mentioned to The Post and Courier that his four main objectives involved addressing insufficient infrastructure funding, high living expenses, the increasing difficulty of buying a home, and ensuring the public education system adequately prepares coming generations. He stated his intention to work alongside officials from both political parties across all levels of government to formulate enhancement strategies that secure increased financial support for infrastructure upgrades.
Challengers and Incumbents on the Barrier Islands
In District 116, covering parts of West Ashley, Johns Island, Wadmalaw Island, Hollywood, Ravenel, Meggett, Adams Run and Edisto Island, Democrat Clay Middleton led Republican incumbent James Teeple with 56.5 percent of the vote as of 10 p.m. Middleton, running for South Carolina House of Representatives District 116, campaigned during Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s visit Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Ravenel.
“I feel confident,” Middleton told The Post and Courier. “I feel good about our plan and being able to execute it. I got faith in 116.”
Many of his priorities fall under the umbrella of infrastructure, housing and education. In comments shared earlier with The Post and Courier, Middleton noted that his infrastructure goals extend beyond mere roads and transportation; he emphasized that water, electricity, and broadband services dictate whether communities remain affordable, accessible, and capable of sustainable growth.
As the election night progressed, Democratic officeholder Leon Stavrinakis pulled ahead of Republican challenger Lee Edwards, securing 65.4 percent of the vote in District 119. This district includes parts of West Ashley, James Island and Johns Island.
Stavrinakis previously shared with The Post and Courier that a successful reelection campaign would see him maintain his focus on curbing excessive local development, preventing electricity rate hikes, and seeking out methods to lighten tax loads. He wants to expand access to affordable housing and affordable healthcare.
Results are unofficial until certified by election officials later this week.
