Clarendon County witnessed a historic political shift in last week’s general election, with Republicans making unprecedented gains and achieving victories across several key races. Certified results confirm that the county, once a Democratic stronghold, has further solidified its transition into Republican territory.
For the first time since 1977, Senate District 36 will be represented by a Republican. Jeff Zell unseated longtime Democratic Senator Kevin Johnson, capturing 50.74% of the vote. On social media, Zell expressed his gratitude:
“We did it! God brought us to victory. I am at a loss for words; I’m truly moved to tears by all the love, support, and encouragement to keep pushing through during the hard days, and it paid off! I also want to thank Senator Johnson for his years of service to our community. I promise to represent my constituents with honor and dignity, even those who didn’t vote for me or are of a different party. That matters little to me.”
Johnson, reflecting on his defeat to local news outlets, emphasized the need for voter education. “There are a lot of uneducated and uninformed voters. There are too many people that thought their votes didn’t matter, particularly young Black people, just on the things that they shared with me on the campaign trail. I think that we need to do a better job of informing and educating,” he said.
Zell’s victory is part of a broader trend mirrored in other races. In the U.S. House of Representatives District 6 race, Republican Duke Buckner secured 53.42% of Clarendon County’s vote against Democratic incumbent Jim Clyburn, although Clyburn retained his seat. Meanwhile, State Representative Fawn Pedalino, a Republican, retained her seat in District 64 with 58.5% of the vote. Pedalino celebrated her victory, stating, “District 64, we did it! Thank you for your unwavering support. I am here to serve and work tirelessly to make this the best district in South Carolina!”
Republicans also made history by gaining control of Clarendon County Council for the first time. Jay Johnson defeated incumbent Council Chair Dwight Stewart with 53.33% of the vote, while newcomer Kurtis Rodine won the District 2 seat with 51.96%.
One of the most dramatic contests of the night unfolded in Clarendon County School Board District 7, where Ron Wingard narrowly edged out Amy Green and George Frierson, securing 312 votes (33.84%) to Green’s 305 (33.08%) and Frierson’s 296 (32.10%). In School Board District 9, incumbent Ceth Land secured re-election with 72.31% of the vote. Land expressed his gratitude and vision for the future, saying, “I would first like to thank the voters of District 9 for trusting me to represent them on the Clarendon County School District Board of Trustees. I believe that all the Board members will work together for what is best for the children and staff of the District and the citizens of Clarendon County. As demonstrated by the 2024 School Report, our District, for the first time ever, had all schools rated as Excellent or Average. During my term, I will work with Dr. Johnson and the administration to continue the progress.”
At the county level, Republican Peggy Sorrell retained her position as Probate Judge with 58.73% of the vote. Democratic incumbents Shanita Brangman (Clerk of Court) and Jacqueline Blackwell (Coroner) ran unopposed, securing their respective positions.
Moye Graham, Clarendon County Republican Chairman, attributed the party’s success to persistent outreach and messaging. “Trump’s promises to restore the economy and ‘Make America Great Again’ resonated with rural communities like ours. We worked hard to keep our county red, and it paid off.”
As Clarendon County transitions into a new era of leadership, both Republican and Democratic candidates are emphasizing the importance of unity and collaboration to serve all residents. This election has solidified the shift in the county’s political identity, reflecting a national trend of rural areas increasingly aligning with conservative leadership.
