Latest Pecan Music and Food Festival Fills Downtown Florence Saturday
☁ 55°F Mostly Clear · FlorenceFORECAST
FLORENCE, SC · PEE DEE EDITION · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2026
BUSINESS DIRECTORY | ADD YOUR BUSINESS | NEWSLETTER | SUBMIT A TIP
HERE City Network
HEREFlorence
Why It Matters. HERE!
Pecan Music and Food Festival Fills Downtown Florence Saturday Overnight Lane Closures on I-95 Bridges in Florence County Wrong-Way Pickup Crash in Florence Leaves 2 Critically Hurt Dixie Street Search Ends in Johnsonville Drug Arrest AI’s Trillion-Dollar Price Tags Meet a Market That Blinked
Florence SC Politics & Government

Florence SC Politics & Civic News — Page 7

Covering Florence City Council, Florence County Council, South Carolina General Assembly, and your federal representatives in Washington, D.C. Accountability journalism for Florence County residents.

City Council County Council SC Senate SC House US Congress Elections Civic Issues
POLITICS NOW
POLITICSHistoric Sites Advocates Warn on Federal Review Bill ◆ POLITICSJoe Wilson Holds SC 2nd District in Narrow Midterm Win ◆ POLITICSWilliam Schofield Enters Senate District 31 Race in Florence ◆ POLITICSLaurens County Council to Take First Vote on Joanna Industry Deal ◆ POLITICSAlan Wilson Wins South Carolina Governor Race ◆ POLITICSLarue Alford Returns as Lake City Mayor After Three-Way Race ◆ POLITICSBraddock Keeps District 3 City Council Seat in Florence ◆ POLITICSSC Lieutenant Gov. Hopefuls Pitch Audits, Schools, Reform ◆ POLITICSHousing Authority Board Suspends Director in Florence ◆ POLITICSTwo Florence One School Board Seats Contested in Florence ◆ POLITICSFirst-Day Early Voting Crowds Jam Elections Office in Florence ◆ POLITICSAnnie Andrews Rallies Florence Democrats Before Early Voting ◆

Florence County sits inside one of the most layered governmental structures in the region. Residents answer to at least five levels of elected authority simultaneously: the federal government, statewide offices, Florence County Council, Florence City Council, and school district boards — each a separately elected body covering its own geographic slice of the county.

Florence’s federal delegation includes US Rep. Russell Fry (SC District 7) and Senators Darline Graham and Tim Scott. In Columbia, Florence is represented by Sens. Mike Reichenbach (District 31) and Kent M. Williams (District 30) and Reps. Wallace H. "Jay" Jordan, Jr. (District 63), Terry Alexander (District 59), Phillip D. Lowe (District 60), and Jackie E. "Coach" Hayes (District 55).

Florence County Council controls property tax millage, land-use zoning outside city limits, and fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreements. Downtown zoning decisions and the Florence Police Department budget run through Florence City Council. State funding for schools, roads, and Medicaid flows from the South Carolina General Assembly. The Florence County Elections and Voter Registration Office administers local balloting under SC Election Commission oversight.

HEREFlorence covers Florence County Council meetings, Florence City Council sessions, South Carolina General Assembly session, federal delegation votes and town halls, school board meetings, and candidate filing windows. We also pull FOIA-sourced travel records and contracts at both the city and county level. If it shapes how Florence County is governed, it’s HERE.

Live Updates

HERE! NOW! — Politics

Pre-Breaking Political Briefs — As It Develops
Live Political Feed HEREFlorence · Politics Category
Nov 5 Historic Sites Advocates Warn on Federal Review Bill
Nov 5 Joe Wilson Holds SC 2nd District in Narrow Midterm Win
Nov 7 Laurens County Council to Take First Vote on Joanna Industry Deal
Nov 5 William Schofield Enters Senate District 31 Race in Florence
Nov 4 Alan Wilson Wins South Carolina Governor Race
Tip line: See something? Send tips to [email protected] or tag us #FlorencePolitics
Community Accountability
What's Wrong HERE?
Report infrastructure issues, government failures, and civic concerns

Report a Civic Issue

Anonymous. No sign-up. Your report goes to the right people.

1 Category
2 Where is it?
0/200
3 Describe the Issue
0/120
0/500

100% anonymous — no name, no email, no account needed

HOW IT WORKS

Your Voice. Their Responsibility.

The only local news platform where citizens can publicly surface issues to elected officials and get answers.

1
Report Your Issue
Select a category, choose your location, and describe the problem. No sign-up, no email, completely anonymous. Your identity is never collected or stored.
2
We Match You to Officials
Our system identifies which elected officials and government agencies have jurisdiction over your issue — from the Mayor and City Council to your State Representative and U.S. Congressman.
3
Public Accountability
Your issue is published publicly with the names of officials who can help. Politicians, campaign managers, and community leaders monitor this page. When their name appears next to a problem, they pay attention.
Why Use This?
It's anonymous. No name, no email, no account. Your privacy is absolute.
It creates a public record. Issues don't disappear into a voicemail box or email inbox. They're visible to the entire community.
Officials are watching. Every elected official in Florence knows their name appears here when constituents report problems in their jurisdiction.
Community upvoting. Other residents can upvote your issue, showing officials how many people care about the same problem.

HERE Answers

Civic issues submitted by the community. Answers pending from officials.

No issues reported yet. Be the first to speak up.

Community Voice

Florence Speaks

Voice your opinion on local political issues
NATIONAL 423 responses

What do you think: Herzog Accepts Israel Vote Results?

Strongly support — this is overdue 37%
Cautious support — depends on the details 30%
Skeptical — need to see the cost first 18%
Oppose — not the right direction for Florence 15%
Based on our coverage · November 5, 2026
NATIONAL 414 responses

What do you think: Amish Shah Claims Win Over Jay Feely in Arizona House Race?

Strongly support — this is overdue 35%
Cautious support — depends on the details 27%
Skeptical — need to see the cost first 15%
Oppose — not the right direction for Florence 23%
Based on our coverage · November 5, 2026
Political Coverage

Local & State Political News

Florence, Florence County, & South Carolina Capitol
All Political News →
Historic Sites Advocates Warn on Federal Review Bill
Nov 5, 2026
Historic Sites Advocates Warn on Federal Review Bill
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Local and national preservation groups are warning that a permitting overhaul now queued in Washington could shrink the say communities have when federally backed projects touch historic ground in South Carolina. Senate bill S. 5653 — known as the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act — lands on the Nov. 9 calendar
Joe Wilson Holds SC 2nd District in Narrow Midterm Win
Nov 5, 2026
Joe Wilson Holds SC 2nd District in Narrow Midterm Win
WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — Rep. Joe Wilson eked out another term in South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday, surviving the closest general-election scare of his long House career. Unofficial returns with counties reporting put the Republican at 147,620 votes, about 49.8% of the total. Democrat Zyon Khalifa finished with 144,593, about 48.8%. Workers Party
William Schofield Enters Senate District 31 Race in Florence
Nov 5, 2026
William Schofield Enters Senate District 31 Race in Florence
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
Laurens County Council to Take First Vote on Joanna Industry Deal
Nov 7, 2026 · SC Statewide · HERE Clinton
Laurens County Council to Take First Vote on Joanna Industry Deal
Via HERE Clinton: LAURENS, S.C. — Laurens County Council is set to take its first public step Monday toward a proposed industrial development in Joanna, the mill village community that sits on SC-221 between Clinton and Laurens. The project, known inside county government as Project Orange, comes in two phases. Council members plan to meet behind closed doors […]
Alan Wilson Wins South Carolina Governor Race
Nov 4, 2026
Alan Wilson Wins South Carolina Governor Race
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Attorney General Alan Wilson will be South Carolina's next governor after the Republican defeated Democratic state Rep.…
Larue Alford Returns as Lake City Mayor After Three-Way Race
Nov 4, 2026
Larue Alford Returns as Lake City Mayor After Three-Way Race
LAKE CITY, S.C. — Voters in Lake City picked a familiar name for mayor on Tuesday, sending Larue Alford back…
Braddock Keeps District 3 City Council Seat in Florence
Nov 4, 2026
Braddock Keeps District 3 City Council Seat in Florence
FLORENCE, S.C. — Bryan A. Braddock will keep his District 3 seat on Florence City Council after winning the only…
SC Lieutenant Gov. Hopefuls Pitch Audits, Schools, Reform
Oct 31, 2026
SC Lieutenant Gov. Hopefuls Pitch Audits, Schools, Reform
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The race for South Carolina lieutenant governor rarely gets the spotlight, but the candidates on the Nov.…
Evergreen Guides
Political Resource Center
Civic education & voter resources for Florence County residents
🗺️
Find Your District
Look up your SC Senate, House, and Congressional districts after the latest redistricting.
Find your rep →
Elected Officials

Your Florence Reps

Every official with a vote on Florence's future — pulled live from our roster.

SC State Senate — Florence County
State Senate
Mike Reichenbach
State Senator
District 31
R
State Senate
Kent M. Williams
State Senator
District 30
D
SC House of Representatives — Florence County
State House
Wallace H. "Jay" Jordan, Jr.
State Representative
District 63
R
State House
Terry Alexander
State Representative
District 59
D
State House
Phillip D. Lowe
State Representative
District 60
R
State House
Jackie E. "Coach" Hayes
State Representative
District 55
D
US Congress — SC
US House
Russell Fry
US Representative
SC District 7
R
US Senate
US Senate
Darline Graham
US Senator
South Carolina
R
US Senate
Tim Scott
US Senator
South Carolina
R
Politics of Data

Data Center Florence

DATA CENTER: NEWS, INFORMATION & RESOURCE CENTER FOR FLORENCE

Full resource center →

No local data-center vote or application is on file in HERE Florence's reporting yet. If a proposal arrives, these are the people and agencies that would decide it, and this section will track it every week.

A data center in or near Florence would first need local land-use approval through City of Florence, and Florence County weighs in on land outside city limits and on tax incentives. The Public Service Commission of South Carolina is the state utility regulator; it reviews rates and large-customer power contracts for the utilities it oversees. Air and water permits come from the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.

National context: Federal energy researchers estimate data centers used about 4.4% of all U.S. electricity in 2023 and could use 6.7% to 12% by 2028, which is why utility commissions, local boards, and voters are now central to where these campuses land. U.S. Department of Energy report

What’s on file near Florence

  • Nothing on file yetNo local data-center vote, rezoning, or application is on file in HERE Florence's reporting yet. When one is filed, it will appear here first.

Who decides: zoning, councils, utility regulators & permits

Zoning & Planning

Local Elected Body

County

State Utility Regulator

Environmental, Water & Air Permits

From across the HERE network

Full Data Center Resource Center for Florence →Questions & answers
HERE Florence · Politics of Data Brief
Get the data center white paper for Florence

A plain-language briefing on who decides, what the power contracts mean for your bill, and which communities near Florence are next. Leave your email and HERE Florence will send it as soon as it is published.

Building data centers, or organizing around them? Use the same form to get more information or to get your message out to Florence readers.

No spam. Industry, utility, and business inquiries go to our advertising team; everyone else joins the HERE Florence newsletter list.

Updated weekly. Last updated Nov 6, 2026.

HEREFlorence · Free Newsletter

HERE Politics Brief

Local government news, voting alerts, and civic updates — free every weekday morning for Florence County residents.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Delivered by HEREFlorence.
Quick Access

Quick Resources

Official links for Florence County civic engagement
Data Center Resource Center for Florence→ Florence City Council Agendas → South Carolina General Assembly → Find Your District (SC) → Find Your US Rep → South Carolina State Ethics Commission → City of Florence Official Site → Rep. Russell Fry · SC District 7 → Sen. Darline Graham · US → Sen. Tim Scott · US →
@HERECityNetwork Live Feed
Follow →
Follow the conversation #FlorencePolitics — tag @HERECityNetwork to be heard Submit a Tip → [email protected]
HERE City Network

POLITICS NEWS NEAR FLORENCE SC

Politics coverage from the 10 closest HERE cities.
Myrtle Beach SCColumbia SCIrmo SCLexington SCRock Hill SCChapin SCCharlotte NCCharleston SCNewberry SCAiken SC
POLITICS SPONSOR — AARP — Real possibilities for 50+
JOIN AARP →
📅 This space available in 3 days — local advertisers get priority. Claim it →

Florence is in Florence County, South Carolina. Mayor: Teresa Myers Ervin; City Manager: Scotty Davis.

Latest Florence Politics News — Page 7

  1. Rogers Targets El-Sayed Support as Obama Plans Detroit Rally

    DETROIT — Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers used a televised town hall in the Detroit area on Monday night to argue that his Democratic rival, Abdul El-Sayed, can…

  2. Wilson and Johnson Make Final Push in Governor’s Race

    COLUMBIA, S.C. — The contest to replace term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster has entered its last two weeks, and both nominees used Monday, the opening day of early voting,…

  3. First-Day Early Voting Crowds Jam Elections Office in Florence

    FLORENCE, S.C. — Voters turned out in such numbers Monday, the opening day of South Carolina early voting, that the parking lot at the Florence County elections office…

  4. Paxton and Talarico Locked in Tight Texas Senate Race

    AUSTIN, Texas — With the midterm election less than a month away, the U.S. Senate race in Texas has turned into a genuine contest, an unusual spot for…

  5. Trump Waives Most Penalties in Graham Act Russia Sanctions

    WASHINGTON — The Russia sanctions law that carries the name of the late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham will not bite for now. President Donald Trump signed an…

  6. Forecasters See Tighter Lacore vs. Honeycutt Race in SC-1

    CHARLESTON, S.C. — The race for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District has tightened in the eyes of two national election forecasters, less than three weeks before voters settle…

  7. Graham, Andrews Senate Race Tight as SC Early Voting Opens

    COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina voters can start casting ballots in person on Monday, Oct. 19, and recent polls show the U.S. Senate contest between Republican Sen. Darline…

  8. Annie Andrews Rallies Florence Democrats Before Early Voting

    FLORENCE, S.C. — Annie Andrews, the Democrat running for U.S. Senate, campaigned in Florence on Saturday, Oct. 17, two days before in-person early voting opens across South Carolina,…

  9. Federal Judge Tosses Trump Suit Against New York City

    NEW YORK — The Trump administration lost another round in its legal fight against so-called sanctuary cities late Thursday, when federal Judge Ramón E. Reyes Jr. in Brooklyn…

  10. Carney Urges Albertans to Reject Separation Path in Monday

    EDMONTON, Alberta — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wrapped up two days of campaigning in his home province Friday night, telling a rally in the city where he…

  11. Democrats Lean on Iran War Votes in Midterm Ad Blitz

    WASHINGTON — With Election Day about three weeks off, Democrats and their allies are making the war with Iran a centerpiece of their closing television pitch, pairing votes…

  12. MARTA Still Has No Date for New Trains in Atlanta

    ATLANTA, Ga. — Riders waiting on MARTA next-generation railcars still do not have a start date. Agency chief Jonathan Hunt said during a public Atlanta City Council Transportation…