Charleston, South Carolina marks a historic moment with the election of its first Republican mayor since the 1870s. State Rep. William Cogswell emerged victorious, defeating incumbent Mayor John Tecklenburg by a narrow two percentage points in a runoff election on Tuesday.
A mere 566 votes separated the two candidates, as reported by the South Carolina Election Commission.
In the general municipal election earlier this month, Cogswell secured the most votes but did not obtain a majority, leading to the need for a runoff election, according to the Associated Press.
Sen. Tim Scott, among other key figures in the GOP, endorsed Cogswell, who confidently declared victory on Tuesday night, emphasizing a new direction that transcends labels for the benefit of pragmatic solutions.
Tecklenburg, in his concession speech, called for unity and support for the incoming mayor, acknowledging the honor of serving as mayor for eight years.
The recent election in Charleston marks a pivotal moment, with the city embracing a Republican mayor for the first time in over a century. This shift mirrors a similar change in Columbia, making Charleston the second traditionally Democratic city in South Carolina to elect a Republican mayor in recent years.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) also celebrated Cogswell’s victory on social media, highlighting the monumental nature of this election for Charleston.
The Associated Press contributed.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
