Latest Carol Hill and Gloria Bracey Win Florence 1 School Board Seats
☁ 63°F Fog/Mist · FlorenceFORECAST
FLORENCE, SC · PEE DEE EDITION · THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2026
HERE City Network
HEREFlorence
Why It Matters. HERE!
Politics

William Schofield Enters Senate District 31 Race in Florence

Published November 5, 2026 at 5:20 am | By Colleen Quezada, Staff Reporter

South Carolina State House dome and north portico in Columbia under a blue sky

FLORENCE, S.C. — A day after winning another term on Florence County Council, William Schofield said Wednesday night that he wants to move up to the South Carolina Senate.

Schofield told supporters at Victor’s Restaurant in downtown Florence that he will seek the District 31 seat. It opens in January, when Sen. Mike Reichenbach leaves to become the state’s lieutenant governor.

HERE CITY BUSINESS DIRECTORYOwn a business in Florence? Get listed HERE.Free basic listing. Premium features available.
ADD YOUR BUSINESS →

Schofield plans to file for the special election once Tuesday’s midterm results are certified on Friday. Voters in that contest will choose who serves out the seat after Reichenbach departs.

Reichenbach, a Florence Republican, has held the seat since a March 29, 2022, special vote. He filled out the term left open by the death of longtime Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr.

Schofield kept his District 8 seat on county council in Tuesday’s voting. He has been council chair, vice chair and a district leader, the same roles once held by his late father, James Schofield. He said he wants to back businesses already in the county while bringing in new jobs and growth without losing the character residents value. His campaign slogan is Common Sense, Proven Leadership.

POLITICS SPONSOR — AARP — Real possibilities for 50+
JOIN AARP →
📅 This space available in 3 days — local advertisers get priority. Claim it →

Section: More Florence SC politics news

Filed under: Florence SC Politics News

Colleen Quezada
HEREFlorence · POLITICS

Colleen is a staff reporter for HERE Florence covering local news, community stories, and developments across Florence County. Colleen is committed to accurate, community-first journalism.

Contact Colleen
HEREmention Get Your Business Found in AI BE THE ANSWER. When customers ask ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google AI who to hire — your name comes up. Learn More

POLITICS NEWS NEAR FLORENCE SC

Politics coverage from the 10 closest HERE cities.