Charleston, South Carolina Elects First Republican as Mayor in Nearly 150 Years

The runoff was ordered after no candidate achieved a majority in the general election earlier this month.

The runoff occurred today to elect the Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina. The runoff was called after no candidate achieved a 50%+1 majority during the November 7 nonpartisan general election

Republican William Cogswell has been declared the winner of the mayoral runoff. The race was called in his favor as he’s currently leading with 51.04% against two-term Democratic incumbent Mayor John Tecklenburg with 48.96%. 27,291 votes have been counted.

Cogswell previously represented District 110 in the South Carolina House of Representatives from November 2016 to November 2022.

Tecklenburg has served as the Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina since January 2016. He previously served as the city’s Director of Economic Development from 1995 to 1999.

The Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina serves for a four-year term with no limits on how many terms they may serve. The Mayor also presides over a 12-member City Council. A Republican hasn’t been elected mayor since George I. Cunningham left office in 1877!

According to 2022 estimates, Charleston is the 172nd most populous city in the United States as well as the most populous city in South Carolina.