Big election year ahead for South Carolina; Beaufort Co. braces for busy June primary

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - South Carolina’s 2026 election cycle is shaping up to be a crowded one, with multiple high-profile races expected to drive turnout in the June primary.

Statewide, ten candidates have filed to run for governor and 18 have filed for a congressional seat, according to information provided to the Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections.

Locally, Beaufort County voters will also decide several county offices, including a competitive race for Beaufort County sheriff.

Beaufort County expects turnout to rise

As of now, about 140,000 people are registered to vote for the primary election in Beaufort County.

Election officials expect that number to grow as the registration deadline approaches and as interest builds around top-of-the-ticket races.

“Maybe not as big as the primaries in the Presidential year in 2024, but we are expecting a huge turnout,” Director of the Beaufort County Board of Voter Registration and Elections, Jean Felix,, said.

Felix said the large candidate fields could also lead to extended campaigning beyond Primary Day.

“With the number of candidates that are on the ballot for some of these seats, it’s also not out of the realm of possibility that we have a runoff on June 23rd,” Felix said.

Sheriff’s race features a new field after Tanner retirement

One of the races drawing the most attention locally is for Beaufort County sheriff, with longtime Sheriff P.J. Tanner announcing he will retire and not seek re-election after more than two decades in office.

Tanner said he waited until the candidate filing period closed before making his endorsement.

He has endorsed Doug Siefert, a veteran of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

“No one can outwork him. He comes to work, and his motto is, ‘I come to work, and I go home when the work is completed.’ He is just one of those guys that I think is the future of this office,” Tanner said.

Siefert will face Jojo Woodward in the primary.

Woodward is making his third run for sheriff and brings 35 years of law enforcement experience.

On the Democratic side, Alphonso Small Jr. is the only candidate filed. Small currently serves on the Beaufort County School Board and has 13 years of law enforcement experience.

The winner of the Republican primary will face Small in the general election in November.

Election officials seeking poll workers

With higher turnout expected, election officials said they are also preparing for a bigger need at polling locations.

“With the turnout — [and] the number of polling locations that we have — we need poll workers,” Felix said.

If you are interested in becoming a poll worker, click here.

How to register, check status, and find candidates

Voters can check their registration status and view a sample ballot or candidate lists here.

If you still need to register to vote, you can do so online, in person at your local election office, or by mail, email, or fax. Officials said the deadline to register online is in May.

Key dates

• Primary Election: June 9, 2026
• Possible runoff: June 23, 2026
• General Election: November 2026