Democrats Lead in 3 Key Charleston County House Races

Democrats hold leads in key Charleston County statehouse races

Democrats are positioned to potentially flip two seats in the South Carolina House of Representatives as election night results continue to trickle in from Charleston County. The shifts are centered in districts covering West Ashley and the barrier islands, including Folly Beach, Kiawah, and Johns Island, according to reporting from The Post and Courier.

As of 10 p.m., the political landscape in these coastal and suburban corridors is shifting. Of the four contested seats in these areas, three have the potential to flip party control. The results currently reflect a mix of incumbent defense and challenging new leadership, though all figures remain unofficial until certified by election officials later this week.

Contested seats and current margins

The race in District 115, which encompasses Folly Beach, Kiawah, Seabrook, and parts of James and Johns islands, is a primary focal point. Because Democratic Representative Spencer Wetmore is not seeking reelection, the seat is open. Democrat Nick Uricchio holds a significant lead with 60.8 percent of the vote against Republican Johnnie Garmon.

According to Democrats: Charleston is in Colleton County. There’s an empty county north of Berkeley County. This map 🤦🏻‍♂️👇🏻 https://t.co/s1Ah61UxDJ

— https://x.com/cjwestfall/status/2107651628237210023

In District 116, which covers West Ashley, Johns Island, Wadmalaw Island, and several surrounding areas like Ravenel and Edisto Island, Democrat Clay Middleton leads Republican incumbent James Teeple with 56.5 percent of the vote. Middleton has centered his platform on the intersection of infrastructure and community stability.

The following table summarizes the reported margins for the contested districts as of 10 p.m.:

District	Area Covered	Leading Candidate	Leading Candidate %	Opponent
114	West Ashley / S. Dorchester	Gary Brewer (R)	~51%	Kelly Hough (D)
115	Folly Beach / Kiawah / Islands	Nick Uricchio (D)	60.8%	Johnnie Garmon (R)
116	West Ashley / Johns / Edisto	Clay Middleton (D)	56.5%	James Teeple (R)
119	West Ashley / James / Johns	Leon Stavrinakis (D)	65.4%	Lee Edwards (R)

Infrastructure and housing drive the coastal debate

While the numbers show a Democratic surge in several districts, the underlying policy debates remain focused on the pressures of rapid regional growth. For candidates like Middleton and Uricchio, the conversation has moved beyond simple road repair to a broader definition of community viability.

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Middleton has emphasized that infrastructure must include water, power, and broadband access to ensure communities remain affordable and capable of responsible growth. Similarly, Uricchio has identified the growing unattainability of home ownership and the need for increased infrastructure funding as critical hurdles for the district.

Incumbents are also fighting to maintain their focus on these same issues. Republican Gary Brewer, who currently leads in District 114, noted the tightness of the race and expressed gratitude for the voter turnout in Charleston and Dorchester counties. His stated priorities include land preservation, affordability, and infrastructure improvements.

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“It’s a pretty tight race,” Brewer said. “We were glad to have worked as hard as we could and hopefully we end up pulling this one out.”

In District 119, incumbent Democrat Leon Stavrinakis holds a commanding 65.4 percent lead. If reelected, Stavrinakis intends to target out-of-control local growth, energy bill increases, and tax burdens, while seeking to expand access to healthcare and affordable housing.

The tension in these races highlights a fundamental disagreement over how to manage the economic expansion of the Lowcountry. While Democrats are leaning into solutions for housing affordability and public education, Republicans like Brewer are focusing on the preservation of land and the mechanics of infrastructure to manage that same growth.

The final outcome of these contests depends on the remaining uncounted votes. Official certification will take place later this week following the verification of all ballots by election authorities.