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CLINTON, SC · UPSTATE EDITION · THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2026
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Clinton SC Politics & Government

Clinton SC Politics & Civic News — Page 5

Covering Clinton City Council, Laurens County Council, South Carolina General Assembly, and your federal representatives in Washington, D.C. Accountability journalism for Laurens County residents.

City Council County Council SC Senate SC House US Congress Elections Civic Issues

Laurens County sits inside one of the most layered governmental structures in the region. Residents answer to at least five levels of elected authority simultaneously: the federal government, statewide offices, Laurens County Council, Clinton City Council, and school district boards — each a separately elected body covering its own geographic slice of the county.

Laurens’s federal delegation includes US Rep. Sheri Biggs (SC District 3) and Senators Darline Graham and Tim Scott. In Columbia, Clinton is represented by Sen. Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III (District 9) and Rep. Leon D. "Doug" Gilliam (District 42).

Laurens County Council controls property tax millage, land-use zoning outside city limits, and fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreements. Downtown zoning decisions and the Clinton Police Department budget run through Clinton City Council. State funding for schools, roads, and Medicaid flows from the South Carolina General Assembly. The Laurens County Elections and Voter Registration Office administers local balloting under SC Election Commission oversight.

HERE Clinton covers Laurens County Council meetings, Clinton City Council sessions, South Carolina General Assembly session, federal delegation votes and town halls, school board meetings, and candidate filing windows. We also pull FOIA-sourced travel records and contracts at both the city and county level. If it shapes how Laurens County is governed, it’s HERE.

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NATIONAL 522 responses

What do you think: Russia Frees Jailed Michigan Man After Trump Appeal to Putin?

Strongly support — this is overdue 29%
Cautious support — depends on the details 23%
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NATIONAL 375 responses

What do you think: Kagan Says Court Election Rulings Have Hurt Democracy?

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Political Coverage

Local & State Political News

Clinton, Laurens County, & South Carolina Capitol
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SC Early Voting Opens With Nearly 98,000 First-Day Ballots
Oct 21, 2026
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina voters wasted little time once in-person early ballots became available for the 2026 general election, with 97,968 people casting ballots statewide on Monday, Oct. 19, according to a turnout report from state election officials. The heaviest opening-day traffic came from the state's largest counties. Charleston County led with 9,389 voters,
Trump Rallies for Graham as SC Senate Race Moves to Lean GOP
Oct 21, 2026
CLEMSON, S.C. — President Donald Trump heads to the Upstate on Wednesday night to campaign for U.S. Sen. Darline Graham, a stop that comes one day after a national election handicapper moved South Carolina's Senate race a notch closer to a toss-up. The 7 p.m. rally is set for the T. Ed Garrison arena, a
SC 2026 Ballot Guide: Governor, Senate and the 1st District
Oct 21, 2026
COLUMBIA, S.C. — With early voting open, South Carolina voters are deciding three contests that will shape the state for years: an open governor's office, a U.S. Senate seat drawing national attention and a coastal U.S. House district both parties think they can win. Governor. For the first time since 2017, the state will get
Clinton Voters Can Cast Early Ballots in Laurens Through Oct. 31
Oct 20, 2026
CLINTON, S.C. — Clinton residents who want to vote before Election Day have one place to do it this year. Laurens County is running all of its in-person early voting out of a single site, the county's voter registration and elections office in Laurens, found at Suite B of 105 Bolt Drive. The two-week window
Clinton Planning Commission Puts Two Housing Annexations on Hold
Oct 15, 2026
CLINTON, S.C. — Two tracts on the edge of Clinton that could be brought into the city for high-density housing…
Laurens County Council Leaders Back Shealy for House 14
Oct 14, 2026
LAURENS COUNTY, S.C. — The two top leaders of Laurens County Council have endorsed Republican Rick Shealy in the race…
Greenwood District 50 Puts $175M School Bond on Ballot
Oct 13, 2026
Greenwood, S.C. — This fall, Greenwood School District 50 voters will decide whether the district may borrow as much as…
Greenville, S.C., County OKs Mountain Creek overlay
Oct 10, 2026
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Greenville County Council has created the Mountain Creek Community Overlay District, locking tighter subdivision rules onto about…
Elected Officials

Your Clinton Reps

Every official with a vote on Clinton's future — pulled live from our roster.

SC State Senate — Laurens County
State Senate
Daniel B. "Danny" Verdin III
State Senator
District 9
R
SC House of Representatives — Laurens County
State House
Leon D. "Doug" Gilliam
State Representative
District 42
R
US Congress — SC
US House
Sheri Biggs
US Representative
SC District 3
R
US Senate
US Senate
Darline Graham
US Senator
South Carolina
R
US Senate
Tim Scott
US Senator
South Carolina
R
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Clinton is in Laurens County, South Carolina. Mayor, City of Clinton: Comer H. "Randy" Randall; City Manager, City of Clinton: Joey Meadors.

Latest Clinton Politics News — Page 5

  1. Laurens GOP to host Summer BBQ & stump meeting

    The Laurens County Republican Party is scheduled to host its Summer BBQ and stump meeting on Thursday, September 10, at 6 p.m. The event, titled Stumping for Victory:…

  2. Graham secures GOP Senate nomination

    Darline Graham secured the Republican nomination for the upcoming US Senate term, with the runoff election called on August 11, 2026. Graham received 52% of the vote against…

  3. President Trump Renames Lake Ontario Amid Trade Dispute

    President Donald Trump signed an executive order today, August 28, 2026, to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America. This action is part of an escalating trade dispute between…

  4. Laurens County Republicans Host Summer BBQ and Stump Meeting

    The Laurens County Republican Party is preparing to host its Summer BBQ and stump meeting, titled Stumping for Victory: Road to November, on Thursday, September 10, at 6…

  5. Senators Press for Hearing on USS Lincoln Deployment

    Senate Armed Services Committee Democrats asked the committee chairman on August 24, 2026 to convene a public hearing on extended military deployments, the latest congressional demand tied to…

  6. US Widens Iran Sanctions as Hormuz Passage Risk Grows

    A notice published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 91 FR 54957 formalised the indefinite suspension of five long-standing authorisations under the Iranian Transactions…

  7. New Brief Presses Court to Void Ballroom Injunction

    The fight over a new ballroom at the White House moved back to the Supreme Court this week rather than to a construction stoppage. On Tuesday, August 25,…

  8. Graham edges Norman in SC Senate primary runoff

    South Carolina Republicans resolved a statewide fight over their United States Senate nomination on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, when a special primary runoff gave Senator Darline Graham a…

  9. Darline Graham Wins South Carolina GOP Senate Primary Runoff

    Senator Darline Graham secured a victory in South Carolina's Republican Senate primary runoff on August 25, 2026, defeating Representative Ralph Norman. This outcome marks a significant endorsement win…

  10. Darline Graham wins SC GOP Senate runoff

    Darline Graham, a political newcomer, secured a victory in the special Republican primary runoff on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, to replace her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, on…

  11. CIA Director Visits Moscow Amid Stalled Ukraine Talks

    CIA Director John Ratcliffe has reportedly made an unannounced visit to Moscow, a development that comes as US-brokered talks aimed at ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine have stalled.…

  12. Supreme Court Allows Trump Mail Voting Order to Proceed

    The Supreme Court on Monday, August 24, cleared the way for President Donald Trump's executive order restricting mail-in voting to move forward, though the extent of its implementation…