Republican incumbent Bill Herbkersman has won reelection, defeating Democratic newcomer Charity Owens in the race for South Carolina’s District 118, which includes central and western Bluffton, Sun City and parts of Okatie.
With all 30 precincts counted by 12:10 a.m., Herbkersman won 15,514 votes or 65.4% of the unofficial tally. This victory extends Herbkersman’s tenure in office, marking his 12th term since he was first elected in 2002.
Owens received 34.5% with 8,189 votes.
Herbkersman expressed gratitude to his opponent for for stepping up to run and hopes to meet her in the future. He also thanked all the voters of District 118 for their support.
Herbkersman ran on a platform focused on enhancing resources for workforce housing, supporting local educational institutions like the Technical College of the Lowcountry and the University of South Carolina Beaufort and advocating for seniors and their families. Throughout his campaign, he highlighted his role in securing funding for nursing home and in-home care, with a particular emphasis on improving mental health services for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients.