Beaufort County elects Doug Seifert sheriff, its first new leader in over 20 years
The gist
Republican Doug Seifert won the Beaufort County sheriff race with 59.52 percent, replacing retiring Sheriff P.J. Tanner.
The vote ends a 28-year tenure and also decided a penny transportation tax.
How it unfolded
- Nov 3, 2026Polls closed across Beaufort and Jasper counties at 7:00 p.m.; Beaufort County voters chose a new sheriff, filled eight County Council seats and decided seven school board contests, plus Transportation Sales Tax questions.
- Nov 3, 2026Jean Felix, director of Beaufort County's Board of Voter Registration, said 46,300 ballots were cast before election day, against a goal of 35,000 voters for Election Day.
- Nov 3, 2026Doug Seifert declared victory in the sheriff race, becoming the department's first new leader in more than 20 years.