FlorenceNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Florence City Council Election 2026

4 of 7 council seats are on the ballot, with 5 candidates running. Updated Oct 6, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 2 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Early voting ends (Oct 31): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Voters citywide choose the at-large seat and each district seat is chosen by that district's voters; only District 3 has two candidates on the November ballot.

Early voting ends · Oct 31

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

  • Governor
    • Michael Addison · United Citizens
    • Walid Hakim · Green
    • Alan Wilson · Republican
    • Jermaine Johnson · Democratic
    Official candidate list, in its order
  • U.S. Senate
    • Darline Graham · Republican
    • Kasie Whitener · Libertarian
    • Annie Andrews · Democratic
    • Mark Hackett · Constitution
    Official candidate list, in its order
  • Also statewideSecretary of State · State Treasurer · Attorney General · Comptroller General · State Superintendent of Education · Commissioner of Agriculture
  • U.S. HouseDistrict 7
  • State House of RepresentativesDistrict 63 (54% of Florence residents) · District 59 (30%) · District 60 (10%) · District 55 (6%)
Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

What the next council decides

01Annexation and rezoning for denser housing3 sourced facts

Where it standsCouncil passed an annexation and townhome-allowing rezoning on Toscanna Drive on first reading in May 2025 over neighbors' objections.

What's on the tableHow council weighs property-owner requests against neighboring residents' concerns as the city's boundaries grow.

02Water, sewer and stormwater costs3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe budget passed June 8, 2026 raises stormwater fees and water and sewer rates to fund infrastructure upgrades.

What's on the tableHow quickly utility rates rise to pay for aging water, sewer and stormwater systems.

  • The stormwater fee rises $0.75 per residential unit per month, the first stormwater adjustment since 2021. Post and Courier
  • Water and sewer rates rise 9 percent inside city limits and 11 percent for county customers this year. Post and Courier
  • Council members passed a budget of $157,995,410 with no tax increases. Post and Courier
03New local rules for businesses2 sourced facts

Where it standsTwo zoning amendments, on in-home child care and window signs, were deferred by council in March 2026.

What's on the tableWhether to adopt, revise or drop proposed limits on in-home child care facilities and window signage.

04Funding for outside agencies2 sourced facts

Where it standsIn the June 2026 budget, council moved $80,000 from Florence Regional Airport funding to the Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority.

What's on the tableWhich regional organizations the city funds in future budgets.

  • The reallocation left the transportation authority with $361,000 in city funding. Post and Courier
  • Councilman George Jebaily was the only council member to oppose the reallocation. Post and Courier
3 notes on these statements

George D. Jebaily, the at-large councilman first elected in 2014, lost the June 9, 2026 Democratic primary to Lanika Shelly Williams and is not on the November ballot. Post and Courier

Lanika Shelly Williams will be unopposed in the November general election for the at-large seat. Post and Courier

LaShonda NeSmith-Jackson in District 1 and Lawrence Chipper Smith in District 2 are running unchallenged. Post and Courier

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Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. When a landowner asks the city to annex and rezone a small parcel for townhomes next to single-family homes, what should council do?

  2. 2. When staff propose new limits on local businesses, what should council do?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted1 council decision, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.New · How Florence is runWho runs Florence, and what it costsWho the city manager is, council pay, whether the city is in the red, and where your property tax goes.

Key dates

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Lethonia Barnes, Chaquez T. McCall, Zach McKay4 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

  • Florence has a council-manager form of government with a mayor and six council members. City of Florence
  • Three council members are elected by districts and three are elected at-large. City of Florence
  • The elected mayor presides over meetings and votes as a member of council. City of Florence
  • Council appoints a city manager, who administers council's policy and oversees day-to-day operations. City of Florence

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