Latest Alan Perry Wins Second Term as Hilton Head Island Mayor
☁ 68°F Mostly Cloudy · BeaufortFORECAST
BEAUFORT, SC · LOWCOUNTRY EDITION · WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2026
HERE City Network
HEREBeaufort
Why It Matters. HERE!
Politics

Republicans Take All Five Contested Beaufort County Council Races

Published November 4, 2026 at 6:24 am | By Israel Meza Jr., Staff Reporter

Precinct ballot scanner mounted on a locked ballot box cart

BEAUFORT, S.C. — Republican candidates won every one of the five contested Beaufort County Council races on Tuesday, according to unofficial returns, keeping two incumbents in place and bringing several new faces to the dais.

Eight council seats were on the ballot this year. In District 6, Vice Chair Tab Tabernik earned a second term, taking 5,599 votes to 3,718 for Democrat Carolyn Fournier. In District 9, Bluffton resident Mark Lawson won a third term with 3,593 votes against 3,016 for Democrat Jannine Mutterer.

HERE CITY BUSINESS DIRECTORYOwn a business in Beaufort? Get listed HERE.Free basic listing. Premium features available.
ADD YOUR BUSINESS →

Kraig Gordon, a retired Army Corps of Engineers lieutenant colonel who chairs the county transportation committee, won District 8 with 5,452 votes over Democrat Trey Judy at 3,620. Hilton Head Island attorney John Casey claimed District 10 by 934 votes over Democrat Travis-Ludwig Hodges.

In District 5, Okatie homeowners association president Joshua Hower led 4,405 to 3,244 with about 79% of precincts counted.

The same ballot carried a sheriff race, seven school board contests and a pair of referendum questions on a one-cent sales tax for roads and transit that could bring in as much as $780 million across nine years. New members take their seats in January.

POLITICS SPONSOR — AARP — Real possibilities for 50+
JOIN AARP →
📅 This space available in 3 days — local advertisers get priority. Claim it →

Section: More Beaufort SC politics news

Filed under: Beaufort SC Politics News

Israel Meza Jr.
HERE Beaufort · POLITICS

Israel is a staff reporter for HERE Beaufort covering local news, community stories, and developments across Beaufort County. Israel is committed to accurate, community-first journalism.

Contact Israel
HEREmention Get Your Business Found in AI BE THE ANSWER. When customers ask ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google AI who to hire — your name comes up. Learn More

POLITICS NEWS NEAR BEAUFORT SC

Politics coverage from the 10 closest HERE cities.