Serving Barnwell County and its neighbors since 1852
Candidate filing for the 2026 election cycle is underway, with several individuals already submitting paperwork to run for federal, state and local offices in Barnwell and Allendale counties.
The filing period opened at noon on March 16 and will remain open until noon on Monday, March 30.
The upcoming election includes a wide range of races—from governor and Congress to county-level offices—that will shape policy, representation and local governance across the region.
The District 91 State House race is shaping up to be a three-way contest, with longtime incumbent Lonnie Hosey, a Democrat who lives in Barnwell, facing Republican challengers Daniel Alexander of Barnwell and Tyler Morgan of Orangeburg.
As of March 24, the following candidates have filed for offices in Barnwell County, according to filing records:
In Barnwell County, incumbents David Kenner (District 2) and Harold Buckmon (District 6) have both filed for re-election on county council and, as of March 24, remain unopposed, though additional candidates could still enter those races before the filing deadline.
For the District 4 seat, local attorney Carson Alexander is the only candidate to file as of press time. The seat is currently held by her brother-in-law, Daniel Alexander, who did not file for re-election since he’s seeking the District 91 seat in the S.C. House of Representatives.
Candidates must file with the Barnwell County Board of Voter Registration and Elections, located at 367 Fuldner Road, Barnwell, during normal business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
As of March 24, the following candidates have filed for offices in Allendale County:
In Allendale County, County Council District 2 is shaping up as a contested race, with incumbent James White Jr. seeking re-election against Richard Dean Allen.
Candidates must file with the Allendale County Board of Voter Registration and Elections, located at 158 McNair Street, Allendale. The Allendale elections office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
A special election for Allendale mayor will be held May 12 to fill the remainder of the current term after the previous mayor, Tom Carter, stepped down. Candidate filing is underway through April 3 at noon.
With several races already taking shape, more candidates are expected to file before the noon March 30 deadline. Once filing closes, voters will get a clearer picture of which races are contested and who will appear on the ballot in November.
