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Greenwood SC Politics & Government

Greenwood SC Politics & Civic News

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

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POLITICS NOW
POLITICSHistoric Sites Advocates Warn on Federal Review Bill ◆ POLITICSJoe Wilson Holds SC 2nd District in Narrow Midterm Win ◆ POLITICSGriffin, Allison, Bishop Keep Greenwood Council Seats ◆ POLITICSVoters Pass $175 Million School Bond in Greenwood ◆ POLITICSSpartanburg Council Advances Three Data Center Deals ◆ POLITICSAlan Wilson Wins South Carolina Governor Race ◆ POLITICSSC House Democrats Gain Seats, Break GOP Supermajority ◆ POLITICSGreenwood County Backed Graham as Andrews Won SC Senate Seat ◆ POLITICSBrooks Unseats Gibson in Greenwood-McCormick House District ◆ POLITICSGreenwood Voters Give Mayor Brandon Smith a Third Term ◆ POLITICSSmith Outraises Long as Greenwood Mayor Race Nears Vote ◆ POLITICSMcCravy, Wise Face Off for House District 13 in Greenwood ◆

Greenwood 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, Greenwood County Council, Greenwood City Council, and school district boards — each a separately elected body covering its own geographic slice of the county.

Greenwood’s federal delegation includes US Rep. Sheri Biggs (SC District 3) and Senators Darline Graham and Tim Scott. In Columbia, Greenwood is represented by Sen. Billy Garrett (District 10) and Reps. Daniel Gibson (District 12) and John R. McCravy III (District 13).

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

HERE Greenwood covers Greenwood County Council meetings, Greenwood 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 Greenwood County is governed, it’s HERE.

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Live Political Feed HERE Greenwood · Politics Category
Nov 5 Historic Sites Advocates Warn on Federal Review Bill
Nov 5 Joe Wilson Holds SC 2nd District in Narrow Midterm Win
Nov 6 Spartanburg Council Advances Three Data Center Deals
Nov 5 Griffin, Allison, Bishop Keep Greenwood Council Seats
Nov 5 Voters Pass $175 Million School Bond in Greenwood
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NATIONAL 188 responses

What do you think: Herzog Accepts Israel Vote Results?

Strongly support — this is overdue 31%
Cautious support — depends on the details 26%
Skeptical — need to see the cost first 19%
Oppose — not the right direction for Greenwood 24%
Based on our coverage · November 5, 2026
NATIONAL 366 responses

What do you think: Amish Shah Claims Win Over Jay Feely in Arizona House Race?

Strongly support — this is overdue 41%
Cautious support — depends on the details 25%
Skeptical — need to see the cost first 19%
Oppose — not the right direction for Greenwood 15%
Based on our coverage · November 5, 2026
Political Coverage

Local & State Political News

Greenwood, Greenwood County, & South Carolina Capitol
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Historic Sites Advocates Warn on Federal Review Bill
Nov 5, 2026
Historic Sites Advocates Warn on Federal Review Bill
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Local and national preservation groups are warning that a permitting overhaul now queued in Washington could shrink the say communities have when federally backed projects touch historic ground in South Carolina. Senate bill S. 5653 — known as the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act — lands on the Nov. 9 calendar
Joe Wilson Holds SC 2nd District in Narrow Midterm Win
Nov 5, 2026
Joe Wilson Holds SC 2nd District in Narrow Midterm Win
WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — Rep. Joe Wilson eked out another term in South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday, surviving the closest general-election scare of his long House career. Unofficial returns with counties reporting put the Republican at 147,620 votes, about 49.8% of the total. Democrat Zyon Khalifa finished with 144,593, about 48.8%. Workers Party
Griffin, Allison, Bishop Keep Greenwood Council Seats
Nov 5, 2026
Griffin, Allison, Bishop Keep Greenwood Council Seats
GREENWOOD, S.C. — Three sitting Greenwood County Council members held their seats in Tuesday's election, each finishing with more than 95% of the unofficial vote after facing no major-party opposition. District 1 stayed with Democrat Teresa Griffin, who collected 1,911 votes (95.03%) while write-in names drew 100. District 2 stayed with Republican Mark Allison at
Voters Pass $175 Million School Bond in Greenwood
Nov 5, 2026
Voters Pass $175 Million School Bond in Greenwood
GREENWOOD, S.C. — Greenwood County voters on Tuesday gave Greenwood School District 50 the go-ahead to borrow up to $175 million for new schools and building upgrades across the district. Election night returns showed the measure passing by a wide margin, 13,923 votes to 4,957. District officials have said the general obligation borrowing should not
Spartanburg Council Advances Three Data Center Deals
Nov 6, 2026 · SC Statewide · HERE Greenville
Spartanburg Council Advances Three Data Center Deals
Via HERE Greenville: SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Spartanburg County Council moved three data center development agreements through second reading at a special meeting, clearing the way for final votes later this month. The largest package covers Valara Holdings, a NorthMark Strategies subsidiary planning a campus on South Pine Street with its own roughly 450-megawatt power plant. Council voted 4-2 […]
Alan Wilson Wins South Carolina Governor Race
Nov 4, 2026
Alan Wilson Wins South Carolina Governor Race
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Attorney General Alan Wilson will be South Carolina's next governor after the Republican defeated Democratic state Rep.…
SC House Democrats Gain Seats, Break GOP Supermajority
Nov 4, 2026
SC House Democrats Gain Seats, Break GOP Supermajority
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Republicans will still run the South Carolina House when lawmakers return in January, but Tuesday's election cost…
Greenwood County Backed Graham as Andrews Won SC Senate Seat
Nov 4, 2026
Greenwood County Backed Graham as Andrews Won SC Senate Seat
GREENWOOD, S.C. — Greenwood County voters sided with Republican Sen. Darline Graham on Tuesday, but the rest of South Carolina…
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Look up your SC Senate, House, and Congressional districts after the latest redistricting.
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Elected Officials

Your Greenwood Reps

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

SC State Senate — Greenwood County
State Senate
Billy Garrett
State Senator
District 10
R
SC House of Representatives — Greenwood County
State House
Daniel Gibson
State Representative
District 12
R
State House
John R. McCravy III
State Representative
District 13
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
Politics of Data

Data Center Greenwood

DATA CENTER: NEWS, INFORMATION & RESOURCE CENTER FOR GREENWOOD

Full resource center →

HERE Greenwood has been following data-center decisions that reach Greenwood — the stories are below, along with every official body that would have a say.

A data center in or near Greenwood would first need local land-use approval through City of Greenwood, and Greenwood County Council weighs in on land outside city limits and on tax incentives. The Public Service Commission of South Carolina is the state utility regulator; it reviews rates and large-customer power contracts for the utilities it oversees. Air and water permits come from the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services.

National context: Federal energy researchers estimate data centers used about 4.4% of all U.S. electricity in 2023 and could use 6.7% to 12% by 2028, which is why utility commissions, local boards, and voters are now central to where these campuses land. U.S. Department of Energy report

What’s on file near Greenwood

  • On file so farNo local data-center campus vote is on file for Greenwood yet; here is HERE Greenwood's reporting so far.

HERE Greenwood data center coverage

Who decides: zoning, councils, utility regulators & permits

Zoning & Planning

County

State Utility Regulator

Environmental, Water & Air Permits

From across the HERE network

Full Data Center Resource Center for Greenwood →Questions & answers
HERE Greenwood · Politics of Data Brief
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A plain-language briefing on who decides, what the power contracts mean for your bill, and which communities near Greenwood are next. Leave your email and HERE Greenwood will send it as soon as it is published.

Building data centers, or organizing around them? Use the same form to get more information or to get your message out to Greenwood readers.

No spam. Industry, utility, and business inquiries go to our advertising team; everyone else joins the HERE Greenwood newsletter list.

Updated weekly. Last updated Nov 6, 2026.

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Local government news, voting alerts, and civic updates — free every weekday morning for Greenwood County residents.

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Quick Resources

Official links for Greenwood County civic engagement
Data Center Resource Center for Greenwood→ Greenwood County Council → South Carolina General Assembly → Find Your US Rep → City of Greenwood Official Site → Rep. Sheri Biggs · SC District 3 → Sen. Darline Graham · US → Sen. Tim Scott · US →
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POLITICS NEWS NEAR GREENWOOD SC

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Greenwood is in Greenwood County, South Carolina. Mayor, City of Greenwood: Brandon A. Smith; City Manager, City of Greenwood: Julie Wilkie; County Manager, Greenwood County: Toby Chappell.

Latest Greenwood Politics News

  1. Griffin, Allison, Bishop Keep Greenwood Council Seats

    GREENWOOD, S.C. — Three sitting Greenwood County Council members held their seats in Tuesday's election, each finishing with more than 95% of the unofficial vote after facing no…

  2. Voters Pass $175 Million School Bond in Greenwood

    GREENWOOD, S.C. — Greenwood County voters on Tuesday gave Greenwood School District 50 the go-ahead to borrow up to $175 million for new schools and building upgrades across…

  3. Greenwood County Backed Graham as Andrews Won SC Senate Seat

    GREENWOOD, S.C. — Greenwood County voters sided with Republican Sen. Darline Graham on Tuesday, but the rest of South Carolina did not, and Democrat Annie Andrews won the…

  4. Abbeville Council Adds Two Members, District 4 Runoff Set

    ABBEVILLE, S.C. — Two new members will join Abbeville City Council in January after Tuesday voting, and a third seat will be settled in a runoff. Ellen Earle…

  5. Brooks Unseats Gibson in Greenwood-McCormick House District

    GREENWOOD, S.C. — Democrat Jumelle Brooks captured the Greenwood-area seat in South Carolina House District 12 on Tuesday, turning Republican Rep. Daniel Gibson out of office two years…

  6. Greenwood Voters Give Mayor Brandon Smith a Third Term

    GREENWOOD, S.C. — Brandon Smith will stay on as mayor of Greenwood after city voters handed him a third term Tuesday, giving him more than twice as many…

  7. Smith Outraises Long as Greenwood Mayor Race Nears Vote

    GREENWOOD, S.C. — Greenwood Mayor Brandon Smith heads into Tuesday’s city election with more than twice the campaign money reported by challenger James Long, according to reports both…

  8. McCravy, Wise Face Off for House District 13 in Greenwood

    GREENWOOD, S.C. — Two longtime Greenwood lawyers are on the ballot Tuesday, Nov. 3, for South Carolina House District 13, where Republican Rep. John McCravy is seeking another…

  9. Herzog Accepts Israel Vote Results

    JERUSALEM — Israeli President Isaac Herzog has signed off on the official count from the Oct. 27 parliamentary election and opened consultations with party leaders over who should…

  10. Amish Shah Claims Win Over Jay Feely in Arizona House Race

    PHOENIX, Ariz. — Amish Shah, the Democrat, has claimed the win against Republican Jay Feely in Arizona's 1st Congressional District, a Scottsdale-area seat that both parties spent heavily…

  11. Colom Holds Narrow Lead Over Hyde-Smith

    JACKSON, Miss. — Democrat Scott Colom held a lead of just over 1,100 votes over Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith early Thursday, with the Mississippi U.S. Senate race still…

  12. Historic Sites Advocates Warn on Federal Review Bill

    CHARLESTON, S.C. — Local and national preservation groups are warning that a permitting overhaul now queued in Washington could shrink the say communities have when federally backed projects…