Dorchester County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
32 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 18 Dorchester County races, led by the Dorchester County Council, District 1 contest.
County offices
Council, District 1Skip Elliott (R) · Peter Smith Jr (D)
Skip Elliott Republican
Skip Elliott previously served on Dorchester County Council, including as vice chairman in 2005 and chairman in 2006, per the county's council records. Skip Elliott appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Dorchester County Council, District 1, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Peter Smith Jr Democratic Incumbent
Peter Smith Jr. was sworn in as Dorchester County Council's District 1 representative in April 2025 after winning a special election, per ABC News 4. Peter Smith Jr appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Dorchester County Council, District 1, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Skip Elliott (Republican), Peter Smith Jr (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot for Dorchester County Council, District 1, per the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System (filing location Dorchester County). No contested June 9 primary was recorded for this office in the county's official results feed.
Full race pageCouncil, District 2Joe Debney (R) · Bryan Holman (D)
Joe Debney Republican
Joe Debney is CEO of the Summerville Family YMCA and has worked on a partnership between the YMCA and Dorchester County to establish the Oakbrook Sports Complex, per the Post and Courier. He is running for the open District 2 seat on Dorchester County Council. Joe Debney appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Dorchester County Council, District 2, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Bryan Holman Democratic
Bryan Holman appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Dorchester County Council, District 2, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Bryan Holman.
Joe Debney (Republican), Bryan Holman (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot for Dorchester County Council, District 2, per the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System (filing location Dorchester County). No contested June 9 primary was recorded for this office in the county's official results feed.
Full race pageCouncil, District 3Jessica Bright (D) · Rita May (R)
Jessica Bright Democratic
- Bringing healthcare technology access to underserved parts of the district
- Public-private workforce partnerships so local graduates can enter local jobs
- Ensuring data center costs are borne by operators, not taxpayers
Per the Dorchester County Democrats.
About Jessica Bright
Jessica Bright served as Executive Director of Emerge South Carolina from 2021 to 2024, an organization that trains Democratic women for political office, per the Dorchester County Democrats. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Clemson University and a graduate degree in Health Informatics from the Medical University of South Carolina. Jessica Bright appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Dorchester County Council, District 3, per the county elections office's certified candidate list.
Rita May Republican Incumbent
- Fiscal responsibility in the use of tax and referendum funds
- Developer impact fees and comprehensive development agreements
- Expanding senior services and veterans' healthcare access in St. George
Per the Post and Courier.
About Rita May
Rita May, also known as Rita May Ranck, is a registered nurse who owns Good Faith Caregivers, a business providing non-medical senior care services, per the Post and Courier. She has represented Dorchester County Council District 3 since January 2023 and was a founding member of the county's Parks and Recreation Commission. Rita May appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Dorchester County Council, District 3, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Jessica Bright (Democratic), Rita May (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot for Dorchester County Council, District 3, per the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System (filing location Dorchester County). No contested June 9 primary was recorded for this office in the county's official results feed.
Full race pageCouncil, District 7Jennifer Kunda (R) · Preston Smelt (D)
Jennifer Kunda Republican
Jennifer Kunda has called Dorchester County home for 14 years, is a Clemson University graduate in architecture, and is a licensed Realtor and owner of Summerville Elite Homes Group, per the Post and Courier. She also serves on the county's Planning Commission. Jennifer Kunda appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Dorchester County Council, District 7, per the county elections office's certified candidate list.
Preston Smelt Democratic
- Addressing overcrowded schools amid rapid growth
- Improving roads for current and projected growth
- Strengthening law enforcement capacity and addressing development and data center impacts
Per the campaign site.
About Preston Smelt
Preston Smelt moved back to the Dorchester County area in August 2024 and is running for the District 7 seat on county council, per his campaign site. Preston Smelt appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Dorchester County Council, District 7, per the county elections office's certified candidate list.
Jennifer Kunda (Republican), Preston Smelt (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot for Dorchester County Council, District 7, per the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System (filing location Dorchester County). Jennifer Kunda won the June 9 Republican primary with 59.0 percent over James Weaver (41.0 percent). Results per the county's official Clarity results feed (enr-scvotes.org).
Full race pageSchool board
School Board, District 22Nonpartisan race · Bethanny Dodge
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Bethanny Dodge Nonpartisan
Bethanny Dodge appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Dorchester County School Board, District 22, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Bethanny Dodge.
Bethanny Dodge (Nonpartisan) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot for Dorchester County School Board, District 22, per the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System (filing location Dorchester County). Nonpartisan office: no primary; the November 3 vote decides.
Full race pageSchool Board, District 24Nonpartisan race · Evan Guthrie · Meredith Westfall
Evan Guthrie Nonpartisan
Evan Guthrie appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Dorchester County School Board, District 24, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Evan Guthrie.
Meredith Westfall Nonpartisan
Meredith Westfall appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Dorchester County School Board, District 24, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Meredith Westfall.
Evan Guthrie (Nonpartisan), Meredith Westfall (Nonpartisan) meet on the November 3 ballot for Dorchester County School Board, District 24, per the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System (filing location Dorchester County). Nonpartisan office: no primary; the November 3 vote decides.
Full race pageSchool Board, District 26Nonpartisan race · Ashley Wimberly
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Ashley Wimberly Nonpartisan
Ashley Wimberly appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Dorchester County School Board, District 26, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Ashley Wimberly.
Ashley Wimberly (Nonpartisan) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot for Dorchester County School Board, District 26, per the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System (filing location Dorchester County). Nonpartisan office: no primary; the November 3 vote decides.
Full race pageSchool Board, District 44Nonpartisan race · Fred Crum Sr · Evelyn Infinger
Fred Crum Sr Nonpartisan
Fred Crum Sr appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Dorchester County School Board, District 44, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Fred Crum Sr.
Evelyn Infinger Nonpartisan
Evelyn Infinger appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Dorchester County School Board, District 44, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Evelyn Infinger.
Fred Crum Sr (Nonpartisan), Evelyn Infinger (Nonpartisan) meet on the November 3 ballot for Dorchester County School Board, District 44, per the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System (filing location Dorchester County). Nonpartisan office: no primary; the November 3 vote decides.
Full race pageSchool Board, District 45Nonpartisan race · Phyllis C Hughes · Justin Smith
Phyllis C Hughes Nonpartisan
Phyllis C Hughes appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Dorchester County School Board, District 45, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Phyllis C Hughes.
Justin Smith Nonpartisan
Justin Smith appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Dorchester County School Board, District 45, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Justin Smith.
Phyllis C Hughes (Nonpartisan), Justin Smith (Nonpartisan) meet on the November 3 ballot for Dorchester County School Board, District 45, per the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System (filing location Dorchester County). Nonpartisan office: no primary; the November 3 vote decides.
Full race pageDistricts and boards
Soil and Water District CommissionNonpartisan race · Perry B Chinners · Tommy Feagin · Molly Jones
Perry B Chinners Nonpartisan
Perry B Chinners is a Dorchester County farmer with about 36 years of farming experience as of 2026, per the Post and Courier. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Tommy Feagin Nonpartisan
Tommy Feagin is a retired energy worker and lifelong resident of Dorchester County who attended Knightsville Elementary and lives in the Summerville area, per the Post and Courier. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Molly Jones Nonpartisan
Molly Jones is a graduate of Coastal Carolina University with a B.S. in Marine Science and previously worked for the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism as a Naturalist Interpreter, per Clemson University. She served as the Dorchester County 4-H Agent from January 2020 to January 2025 and has been Clemson Extension's Area Water Resources Agent covering Dorchester and nine other counties since January 2025, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Perry B Chinners (Nonpartisan), Tommy Feagin (Nonpartisan), Molly Jones (Nonpartisan) meet on the November 3 ballot for Dorchester County Soil and Water District Commission, per the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System (filing location Dorchester County). Nonpartisan office: no primary; the November 3 vote decides.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Dorchester County is split across 8 South Carolina House districts.
Find your districts by addressSouth Carolina House: 8 districtsDistricts 90, 94, 95, 97, 98, 102, 109, 114
South Carolina House District 90Justin Bamberg (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Justin Bamberg Democratic Incumbent
Justin Bamberg is an attorney with Bamberg Legal, LLC, who has represented Bamberg, Colleton, Dorchester and Orangeburg counties in the South Carolina House since 2015, per the Legislature's roster. He serves on the House Judiciary Committee and chairs the board of Healing Species, Inc., per the Legislature's roster. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Justin Bamberg (Democratic) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; Justin Bamberg is the sitting member, per the House roster. South Carolina primaries require a majority (June 23 runoffs); unopposed nominees still print. The field is the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System active list (read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageSouth Carolina House District 94Gil Gatch (R) · Sally Hebert (D)
Gil Gatch Republican Incumbent
Gil Gatch is an attorney at Gil Gatch Law who earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law School in 2019, per his official State House biography. He serves as First Vice Chair of the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Sally Hebert Democratic
- Infrastructure investment
- Raising teacher starting salaries to $60,000 annually
Per the Post and Courier.
About Sally Hebert
Sally Hebert has a background in business reporting and previously worked in Dorchester County government, per the Post and Courier. She has lived in the Lowcountry since the 1990s and is the Democratic nominee for South Carolina House District 94. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Gil Gatch (Republican), Sally Hebert (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Gil Gatch is the sitting member, per the House roster. Sally Hebert won the June 9 Democratic primary with 57.5 percent over Collin Holloway (22.1 percent), Bryan Sharper (20.3 percent). South Carolina primaries require a majority (June 23 runoffs); unopposed nominees still print. The field is the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System active list (read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageSouth Carolina House District 95Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Gilda Cobb-Hunter Democratic Incumbent
Gilda Cobb-Hunter is a social work administrator who has represented Dorchester and Orangeburg counties in the South Carolina House since 1992, per the Legislature's roster. She is first vice chair of the House Ways and Means Committee and previously served as House Minority Leader, per the Legislature's roster. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Gilda Cobb-Hunter (Democratic) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; Gilda Cobb-Hunter is the sitting member, per the House roster. South Carolina primaries require a majority (June 23 runoffs); unopposed nominees still print. The field is the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System active list (read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageSouth Carolina House District 97Cathy A Jaggars (D) · Robby Robbins (R)
Cathy A Jaggars Democratic
Cathy A Jaggars is the Democratic candidate for South Carolina House District 97 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the South Carolina Election Commission's general-election candidate listing. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Robby Robbins Republican Incumbent
Robby Robbins is an attorney who served as Solicitor of the First Judicial Circuit in 2004 and as a Commissioner for the South Carolina Department of Transportation from 2016 to 2022, per his official State House biography. He serves on the House Ethics and Judiciary Committees. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Cathy A Jaggars (Democratic), Robby Robbins (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Robby Robbins is the sitting member, per the House roster. South Carolina primaries require a majority (June 23 runoffs); unopposed nominees still print. The field is the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System active list (read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageSouth Carolina House District 98Greg Ford (R) · Sonja Ogletree Satani (D)
Greg Ford Republican Incumbent
Greg Ford is a retired U.S. Air Force officer who served from 1997 to 2017, per his official State House biography. He was elected in a January 6, 2026 special election to complete the unexpired term of Christopher J. Murphy and serves on the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Sonja Ogletree Satani Democratic
Sonja Ogletree Satani is a U.S. Air Force veteran, educator and business owner who has lived in the district for 20 years, per ABC News 4. She is the mother of three graduates of Dorchester District 2 schools and is the Democratic nominee for South Carolina House District 98. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Greg Ford (Republican), Sonja Ogletree Satani (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Greg Ford is the sitting member, per the House roster. South Carolina primaries require a majority (June 23 runoffs); unopposed nominees still print. The field is the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System active list (read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageSouth Carolina House District 102Montez Aiken (D) · Harriet Holman (R)
Montez Aiken Democratic
Montez Aiken is a Summerville High School graduate who earned a music education degree from the University of South Carolina and worked as a band director before entering law enforcement, per the Berkeley Observer. He retired as a lieutenant from the Summerville Police Department in 2025 after nearly 23 years of service and holds a master's degree in public administration from Villanova University. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Harriet Holman Republican Incumbent
Harriet Holman is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Adjutant General Corps who earned degrees from Jackson State University and Claflin University, per her official State House biography. She serves on the House Interstate Cooperation and Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committees. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Montez Aiken (Democratic), Harriet Holman (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Harriet Holman is the sitting member, per the House roster. Montez Aiken won the June 9 Democratic primary with 55.6 percent over Katie McCravy (44.4 percent). South Carolina primaries require a majority (June 23 runoffs); unopposed nominees still print. The field is the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System active list (read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageSouth Carolina House District 109Tiffany Spann-Wilder (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Tiffany Spann-Wilder Democratic Incumbent
Tiffany Spann-Wilder is an attorney who served as North Charleston Municipal Judge from 2001 to 2005 and as a Charleston County Magistrate from 2019 to 2023, per her official State House biography. She was elected in an April 2024 special election and serves on the House Judiciary Committee. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Tiffany Spann-Wilder (Democratic) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; Tiffany Spann-Wilder is the sitting member, per the House roster. South Carolina primaries require a majority (June 23 runoffs); unopposed nominees still print. The field is the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System active list (read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageSouth Carolina House District 114Gary Brewer (R) · Kelly Hough (D)
Gary Brewer Republican Incumbent
Gary Brewer is Vice President of Construction Services at HDR Engineering of South Carolina, per his official State House biography. He serves on the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Kelly Hough Democratic
- Economic stability and sustainability for working families
- Expanding access to healthcare
- Smart school funding and affordable child care
Per the campaign site.
About Kelly Hough
Hough is a nurse who has worked in South Carolina healthcare settings, including hospice care and leadership roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, per the campaign site. A South Carolina native with degrees from several state colleges, she is a mother who describes her approach as community-centered, per the campaign site.
Gary Brewer (Republican), Kelly Hough (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Gary Brewer is the sitting member, per the House roster. South Carolina primaries require a majority (June 23 runoffs); unopposed nominees still print. The field is the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System active list (read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageSee your full ballot
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Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
South Carolina's June 9 primaries required a majority, with June 23 runoffs where no candidate reached one; unopposed nominees still print, and minor-party nominees and petition candidates certified by the Election Commission join the November 3 ballot, per the SC Election Commission's Candidate Tracking System.
Who is on the ballot in Dorchester County, South Carolina on November 3, 2026?
Dorchester County sample ballot 2026: see where the soil and water, school board and county council candidates stand on health care, schools and jobs. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in South Carolina?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for South Carolina are listed on the South Carolina election hub. South Carolina election hub →
How do I see my exact Dorchester County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →
South Carolina statewide racesEvery South Carolina race on this county's ballot.Candidate roster last updated Sep 27, 2026 from official election sources.