Nearly 564,000 South Carolinians had cast ballots by 3 p.m. Monday, surpassing the previous early-voting record for a gubernatorial election, set in 2022, by more than 2,000 votes. Early voting continues through Saturday, Oct. 31, with each county required to offer at least one location from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The total remains below the nearly 1.5 million ballots cast early in the 2024 presidential election.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to campaign in Rock Hill on Thursday, less than two weeks after rallying in the Upstate for Republican Sen. Darline Graham. Graham, appointed to the seat after her brother Lindsey Graham’s death, faces Democrat Annie Andrews in a race rated “lean Republican” by the Cook Political Report. Rock Hill is home turf for former congressman Ralph Norman, whose supporters are important to Graham’s effort to consolidate Republican backing.
Former South Carolina governors Jim Hodges, a Democrat, and David Beasley, a Republican, have endorsed Democratic Senate candidate Annie Andrews over incumbent Darline Graham. The endorsements come as outside groups pour new spending into the closely watched contest. Andrews, a Lowcountry pediatrician, is challenging Graham for the seat’s full term beginning in January.
Democrat Tiffany Boozer and Republican Mike Burkhold are competing to become South Carolina’s next comptroller general, the state’s chief accountant. The election follows the discovery of a $3.5 billion overstatement caused by years of double-counting public-college revenue, which led Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom to resign in 2023 and prompted a federal investigation. Boozer, a CPA who joined the office in 2025, says she would strengthen internal checks and use automated tools; both candidates support making financial reporting easier for the public to understand.
Greenville City Council gave final approval to use about $10.8 million from the city’s parking fund for property acquisitions and related costs for the planned Falls Park Conference District. The city has purchase-and-sale agreements covering about six acres along Falls Street and Camperdown Way, with closings expected by year’s end and construction planned to begin in early 2027. Council also advanced a separate $1.6 million settlement payment to the Parker Sewer and Fire Sub-District, though a council member requested further discussion of the funding source.
The city is developing a plan for about seven acres along Church Street in the Haynie-Sirrine neighborhood, land it acquired through purchases of 40 parcels in 2024 and 2025 for more than $11 million. The proposal is intended to include affordable housing, open space and connections to the Swamp Rabbit Trail, while reflecting neighborhood priorities. Zoning allows buildings of up to five to seven stories along Church Street, transitioning to lower-intensity classifications near existing homes; city staff expect to present a plan by the end of January 2027.
Greenwood School District 50 is asking voters to approve a $175 million bond on Nov. 3 to address aging facilities. The proposal would fund a new Benjamin E. Mays Elementary School, combine Lakeview and Pinecrest elementary schools, and pay for major renovations at Rice and Hodges elementary schools. District leaders say the plan would not result in a projected tax increase.
Newberry Health is the first site for Project Lifeline 250, a federal pilot bringing cybersecurity services from private technology companies to a rural hospital at no charge. The six-month initiative is overseen by the Office of the National Cyber Director and SLED’s cybersecurity arm, with participating firms including Microsoft, Cisco and Palo Alto Networks. Federal officials said hospitals face growing exposure across their connected devices, while rural providers often lack the resources of larger systems; the pilot’s launch announcement did not detail how the program would be sustained or expanded.
The Palmetto Cash 5 jackpot climbed to a record $1.246 million after rolling over 47 times since it was last won on Sept. 8, state lottery officials said. The state-run game’s top prize is the largest ever offered for Palmetto Cash 5. Tickets cost $1 per play.
Herbert Leon Kimble, 60, was sentenced in Columbia to 20 years in prison for orchestrating an international scheme that prosecutors say generated $1.2 billion in fraudulent Medicare claims. His operation marketed medical braces to older and disabled people, then used a network of medical professionals who allegedly approved prescriptions without examining patients. Kimble must repay more than $199 million; more than 80 people have been charged in the case.
A wildfire in Georgetown County had burned about 300 acres and was roughly 80% contained as of Monday, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission. The fire had rekindled amid unseasonably dry conditions and high winds, prompting Lowcountry fire officials to warn about brush-fire risk. The conditions are intensifying the region’s wildfire season as crews work to contain active fires.
Gov. Henry McMaster signed Senate Bill 405, expanding South Carolina’s homicide-by-child-abuse statute to cover victims under age 18. McMaster joined legislators, law enforcement officers and prosecutors at a ceremonial signing in Columbia. The measure changes the statute’s age coverage; the available report did not provide further details about its implementation.