Folly Beach, South Carolina, is holding a special nonpartisan city council election today, February 17, 2026, to fill the vacancy left by Chris Bizzell, who won the mayoral runoff against Elton Culpepper on November 18, 2025. The two candidates are DJ Rich, a former council member with 14 years of experience who previously ran for mayor, and John McFarland, who advocated for short-term rental caps via Save Folly’s Future and ran unsuccessfully for council in 2025.
Election Details
Voting occurs at Folly Beach Baptist Church (77 Center Street) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early voting ran from February 2 to February 13 at designated centers open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The winner serves until November 2027.
Candidate Backgrounds
- DJ Rich leverages his long council tenure, focusing on experience after earning 23% in the mayor’s race.
- John McFarland emphasizes community advocacy, notably on rental regulations.
