Aiken County, South Carolina

North Augusta, South Carolina, has shifted its City Council and mayoral elections from odd-year April votes to the even-year November general election, aligning them with state and federal races. Three Republicans—incumbent David Buck, former Councilwoman Jenafer McCauley, and newcomer Tabitha Waldrop—are running unopposed for three open seats after winning a contested June primary; no Democrats filed. The change aims to boost turnout, which historically ran just 10-15% in standalone local elections versus 70-80% in general elections. Aiken County voters will also decide an uncontested District 5 council race and a referendum on financing wastewater treatment infrastructure, including an expansion of the Horse Creek plant. Early voting began October 19 ahead of the November 3 election.

The Aiken County Branch NAACP held its 45th annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Sept. 25, marking the branch's 108th anniversary under the theme "We the People." Bishop Eric J. Freeman of The Meeting Place Church of Greater Columbia served as keynote speaker, addressing efforts throughout history to silence Black voices and the importance of organizing to be heard. NAACP Youth Council President Prince Julian Broughton, 13, also spoke about the power of youth voices in pushing for change.

The event featured the unveiling of a historical marker commemorating the 1926 lynching of Bertha Lowman Cheatham and Damon and Clarence Lowman, who were taken from the Aiken County Jail and killed following a disputed conviction tied to the 1925 death of a sheriff during a liquor raid. A formal dedication is set for Oct. 6 at the Aiken County Courthouse. The banquet also recognized community members, including Christina Cue, James Gallman Sr., and Louisiana Wright-Sanders, for service and leadership.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom capped a multi-state "take it back tour" with eight public events across South Carolina, plus stops in Alabama and North Carolina, intensifying speculation about a 2028 Democratic presidential run. In North Carolina, Newsom campaigned for U.S. Senate candidate Roy Cooper in Charlotte and rallied Labor Day weekend crowds in Monroe, urging Democrats to focus on the 2026 midterms rather than 2028. He accused Trump of ruthlessness, corruption and attempting to "nationalize" elections through mail-in voting restrictions, telling supporters it's time to "fight fire with fire." Newsom told the Associated Press a 2028 decision could come before year's end.

Voters and strategists increasingly frame California itself as Newsom's central liability, with critics warning his state's liberal image could hurt him against rivals like Josh Shapiro and Pete Buttigieg. Republicans, including North Carolina Senate candidate Michael Whatley and local officials, mocked the visits with "Wrong Coast" signs and accused him of trying to "California" their states. Newsom's team counters that his progressive record on health care, wages and climate could be an asset in a Democratic primary. South Carolina, hosting Democrats' first 2028 primary, remains a key early proving ground alongside hopefuls like Cory Booker.

South Carolina reports more than 30,000 intimate partner violence cases annually and has ranked among the top 10 states for the rate of women murdered by men in 23 of the past 25 years. Since 2009, at least 37 officers and 99 civilians have been injured or killed responding to domestic violence calls statewide, including Columbia Officer Christopher DeLong, fatally shot in August by a man accused of violating a restraining order.

While overall domestic violence reports fell 5 percent in 2024, intimate partner homicide rates climbed 3.3 percent that year and 23 percent over the past two decades. Greenville County recorded the most officer-involved shootings tied to domestic calls (42 since 2009) and the most intimate partner homicides in 2024. Black women face more than twice the homicide risk of white women in these cases, and nearly half of female homicides between 2017 and 2021 stemmed from intimate partner violence. Advocates note many incidents go unreported due to fear, financial dependence, or shame. Officers now undergo extensive academy training, including scenario-based exercises, to prepare for the unpredictable nature of these calls.