Greenville City Council Approved Nonpartisan Elections

The city council voted 5-1 to adopt new rules requiring candidates to run without political party affiliations.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in City Hall

Greenville City Council Approved Nonpartisan Elections

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The Greenville City Council moved to change local election procedures, approving an ordinance that will end partisan candidate races. This shift follows a state mandate requiring nonpartisan elections for municipalities with more than 39,000 residents.

Why it matters

The change stems from state legislation that forces larger cities to remove political party labels from local ballots. These rules aim to standardize election processes across qualifying municipalities, beginning with the 2027 election cycle.

The ordinance mandates nonpartisan elections for all cities exceeding the 39,000 population threshold. A second reading of the measure is required before the new process formally becomes law.

The players

Greenville City Council

This is the governing legislative body responsible for the city ordinances and local policy decisions of Greenville.

Lillian Brock Flemming

She serves as a member of the Greenville City Council and cast the sole dissenting vote against the new nonpartisan election ordinance.

Wil Brasington

He is a Greenville City Council member who opted to recuse himself from the vote regarding the election ordinance.

Knox White

He has served as the Mayor of Greenville since 1995 and has announced he is not seeking reelection in the upcoming cycle.

The details

Under the new ordinance, candidates must file for office directly with the Greenville city clerk rather than through political parties. If more than two candidates enter a race, the city will hold a nonpartisan primary election on the second Tuesday in June.

January 1, 2027: The state mandate for nonpartisan elections takes effect.
March 16, 2027: The candidate filing period for city offices begins.
March 30, 2027: The candidate filing period officially closes.
June 2027: A nonpartisan primary will occur if more than two candidates file for a seat.
2027: The city will hold its next mayoral and council elections under the new rules.

Need to Know

The ordinance aligns local procedures with the South Carolina nonpartisan municipal election mandate, which regulates electoral structures for cities surpassing 39,000 residents.

Residents will notice a shift in the ballot structure during the 2027 municipal elections, as candidates will no longer carry party designations. This change also creates a new primary process that voters may need to participate in if more than two candidates file for office.

The takeaway

This transition marks a significant change for local political engagement, as residents will evaluate candidates based on individual platforms rather than party affiliations. Voters should prepare for an adjusted electoral calendar, specifically the potential for June primary elections starting in 2027.