A procrastinator’s guide to elections in Columbia and across Richland, Lexington counties
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to include the correct races and candidates in West Columbia. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the council seats and candidates up for election in that city due to an editing error.
Here’s a reminder for your Tuesday: Today is election day!
Municipal elections are being held across South Carolina.
The city of Columbia will elect a new at-large council member and will decide whether to keep or replace its District 3 representative. One new face is guaranteed to join the council in January, with sitting at-large council member Howard Duvall not seeking reelection.
In Columbia, candidates have focused on high rates of gun violence, balancing development with neighborhoods and finding solutions to quality of life issues.
If you need a refresher on who is running for Columbia City Council and what they care about, read these stories:
▪ A voter guide to help you get to know every candidate running for Columbia City Council
▪ Interviews with Christa Williams, Jesse Bullard and Tyler Bailey, the three candidates for the open at-large council seat, on:
▪ Interviews with Will Brennan and Moe Baddourah, both candidates running for Columbia City Council District 3.
Columbia voters won’t be the only people in the Midlands heading to the polls Tuesday.
Cayce
If you live in Cayce, you have a mayor to elect, plus two city council members — one for District 2 and one for District 4. Read these stories to catch up on that race:
▪ A voter guide to introduce the candidates for mayor and city council in Cayce
▪ Interviews with the two candidates for Cayce mayor
▪ A story on how the Cayce mayor’s race has gotten a bit contentious, with mysterious campaign fliers going around attacking one candidate.
Irmo
Irmo voters also have some work to do this election, with the incumbent Mayor Barry Walker facing off against sitting councilman Bill Danielson for the mayor’s seat and five candidates running for two at-large town council seats.
▪ This voter guide delves into what all of the Irmo candidates have to say.
Blythewood
Residents in Blythewood will face a similar choice, with Mayor Bryan Franklin running for reelection against sitting town councilman Sloan Griffin. Four candidates are also running for two at-large council seats.
▪ This voter guide delves into the Blythewood elections, including candidates’ thoughts on managing growth and change that will come with the new Scout Motors manufacturing plant.
Batesburg-Leesville
In Batesburg-Leesville, four of eight town council seats are on the ballot, but only two of those races are contested.
▪ This voter guide delves into the Batesburg-Leesville elections.
Lexington
In Lexington, longtime Mayor Steve MacDougall announced in late August he would not run for reelection. Lexington council member and mayor pro-tem Hazel Livingston is running unopposed to fill the seat. There are also seven candidates running for three at-large town council seats.
▪ This interview with MacDougall explains his decision not to run again.
▪ And this voter guide delves into the Lexington town council candidates.
West Columbia
The mayor’s seat and multiple council district seats are up for election in West Columbia.
▪ Mayor Tem Miles faces a challenge from Melissa Sprouse Brown.
▪ The District 2 race is uncontested, with incumbent Trevor Bedell on the ballot.
▪ In District 4, incumbent Joseph Dickey is challenged by Ronnie Lindler.
▪ In District 6, incumbent Jimmy Brooks is challenged by Madison Duncan.
▪ And in District 8, incumbent David Moye is challenged by Pete Fisher.
Polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and anyone in line before 7 p.m. must be allowed to vote. You can find your polling place (and double check your registration) at SCVotes.gov.
And don’t forget your identification! Any of these will work as an accepted ID: South Carolina driver’s license, South Carolina DMV ID card, South Carolina voter registration card with photo, federal military ID, or U.S. passport.
This story was originally published November 6, 2023 at 12:00 PM.
