Doug Seifert declares victory as Beaufort County sheriff

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - Doug Seifert has won the race for Beaufort County sheriff, taking the helm of the department as its first new leader in more than two decades.

Seifert defeated Alphonso Small Jr. in a historic election cycle that drew record turnout, including roughly a third of the county’s registered voters casting ballots during early voting.

In total, 85,496 people voted. 50,886 voted for Seifert, which was nearly 60% of the vote.

The outcome concludes a campaign focused heavily on public safety priorities and agency leadership:

• Doug Seifert campaigned on doubling the department’s drug division, creating a dedicated traffic team, and exploring a new substation on St. Helena Island.
• Alphonso Small Jr. centered his platform on increasing transparency, hosting more community meetings, and boosting deputy visibility in neighborhoods.

Both candidates cited their prior service as elected officials as key preparation for overseeing county law enforcement and managing the department’s budget

Here is Seifert’s full victory speech:

Here is Seifert’s full interview with the media following his victory:

Seifert will be sworn in as the new sheriff in January 2027.

Small Jr. congratulates winner, asks residents to hold new sheriff accountable

After the results came in, Small Jr. released a statement.

He opened by saying in part, “I want to begin by thanking God, my family, my wife April, my children, and my grandchildren for standing beside me throughout this journey,” Small wrote. “To my campaign team, volunteers, donors, community leaders, and everyone who believed in our vision, I am deeply grateful. I congratulate my opponent on their victory. I respect the decision of the voters and wish them success in carrying out the important responsibilities of the Sheriff’s Office. Although the outcome was not what we had hoped for, I do not consider this journey a failure. I entered this race because I believe Beaufort County deserves leadership grounded in integrity, transparency, accountability, and trust.”

Later, Small Jr. stated he believes there is still a disconnect between the sheriff’s department and people in the community.

He wrote, “Throughout this campaign, people shared experiences of feeling unheard, concerns about accountability, and a desire for greater trust and transparency. Those concerns deserve acknowledgment, even when those in leadership may not agree that a disconnect exists. Listening to the community means more than hearing what people say. It means taking their concerns seriously and demonstrating a willingness to address them. This includes discussions surrounding the 287(g) program, constitutional rights, appropriate oversight of surveillance technologies, and stronger collaboration with mental health professionals and first responders. These are not simply campaign issues. They are concerns that deserve continued public dialogue, responsible evaluation, and meaningful action from those entrusted with leading the Sheriff’s Office.”

Small Jr. ended the release by once again thanking his supporters, saying he is still committed to keeping the public safe, and hopes Seifert leads with fairness, listens to every community, and remembers that the Sheriff’s Office belongs to the people.