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Residents of South Carolina’s Holy City have voted for their next mayor – narrowly choosing challenger William Cogswell over two-term incumbent John Tecklenburg according to the unofficial tally.
“I am humbled by the results, I am excited for the future of our city, and I have to say thank you, thank you, thank you!” Cogswell told a jubilant crowd of supporters as the results rolled in.
With more than 27,000 votes counted, Cogswell led Tecklenburg by less than 600 ballots in the race to become the next mayor of Charleston, S.C. If that count holds, it would put the race just outside the window of a mandatory recount.
Here are the latest vote totals courtesy of the S.C. Election Commission (SCVotes.gov) …
WILLIAM COGSWELL – 13,930 (51.04 percent)
JOHN TECKLENBURG* – 13,361 (48.96 percent)
*Incumbent
Tecklenburg entered Tuesday’s vote having defeated runoff challengers in both of his previous elections. But this time Cogswell – a real estate developer and former state representative – garnered a larger share of the initial vote than either of Tecklenburg’s former opponents.
The race, originally a six-way competition, has featured dark-money allegations and surprising endorsement decisions. According to this news outlet’s founding editor, it also featured a mainstream media outlet in the tank for the incumbent.
Tecklenburg’s path to victory required him to win the votes of a large portion of third-place finisher Clay Middleton‘s and fifth-place finisher Mika Gadsden‘s supporters.
(Click to View)
As noted earlier today, that was going to be a tall task as many characterized this election as a referendum on Tecklenburg. Also, while Middleton endorsed Tecklenburg, his campaign manager Angela Kouters backed Cogswell – and Gadsden emphatically denounced Tecklenburg in her endorsement of Cogswell.
In his victory speech, Cogswell made it clear winning over those who supported other candidates would be a top priority of his administration.
“If you didn’t vote for me, I hope to earn your trust and respect as your next mayor,” he said.
(Click to View)
Tecklenburg and Cogswell publicly cast their ballots this morning, and visited polling locations throughout the day in an attempt to rally their supporters.
As I noted in my initial coverage of this race, Tecklenburg’s tenure as mayor – and his campaign for a final term in office – were predominantly focused on the issue of water management. Specifically, keeping Charleston from becoming South Carolina’s version of Venice, Italy.
Cogswell also focused on water management issues – but hammered Tecklenburg over lapses in public safety, especially the looting and destruction of more than 150 King Street business during the George Floyd riots in May 2020.
(Click to View)
While the voting is done, the closeness of the race prevented SCVotes from calling it. The margin of Cogswell’s victory in the unofficial count? A mere 2.08 percent.
Meanwhile, it seems as though some who fought against the incumbent have no intention of letting their foot off the gas when it comes to holding him accountable for what they allege was malfeasance in office.
“The corruption and criminal behavior displayed by John Tecklenburg and his inner circle still absolutely must be exposed,” one political operative told this media outlet as the ballots were being counted.
Count on FITSNews to keep our audience up to speed as the results roll in …
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
(Via: Travis Bell)
Dylan Nolan is the director of special projects at FITSNews. He graduated from the Darla Moore school of business in 2021 with an accounting degree. Got a tip or story idea for Dylan? Email him here. You can also engage him socially @DNolan2000.
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4 comments
I’ll tell you who my entire family plans on voting against, and that’s Laurens County Council Chairman Brown Patterson.
This cheese bucket told all of his fellow councilmen that they would be in big trouble if he attended a local recognition ceremony and dinner for fallen Laurens County first responders. None attended, but well over 200 others did!
Laurens City Mayor Nathan Senn did the same thing. Not a single city or county councilman/councilwoman was in attendance.
These folks have to go.
What does this have to do with the Charleston mayoral race?
“ While the voting is done, the closeness of the race”
Dylan, you might want to read over one time before you post.
Nicely done, D.