Dowe Enters Greenville Mayoral Race
Greenville City Councilwoman Dorothy Dowe becomes the second council member to seek the city's top job as Mayor Knox White steps aside.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Elections
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Greenville City Councilwoman Dorothy Dowe announced her run for mayor at the Rupert Huse Veteran Center on November 9, 2026. She joins Councilmember Wil Brasington, who announced his own mayoral run on September 22, 2026.
Why it matters
Mayor Knox White is not seeking another term, so Greenville will elect its first new mayor since 1995. A new state law also requires nonpartisan elections in municipalities over 39,000 residents, meaning candidates will run without party labels.
Two of Greenville's city council members have now declared for mayor, with the candidate filing period set for March 16 to March 30, 2027. The number of additional candidates who will file during that window has not been disclosed.
The players
Dorothy Dowe
Dowe is a Greenville City Councilwoman who was first elected in 2019 and serves as mayor pro tem.
Wil Brasington
Brasington is a Greenville City Councilmember who was the first council member to announce a run for mayor.
Knox White
White is the current mayor of Greenville, who is not seeking another term in office.
The details
Dowe, who was first elected to council in November 2019 and holds one of two at-large seats, also serves as mayor pro tem. Brasington announced his candidacy on September 22, 2026, and Dowe followed on November 9, 2026, at the Rupert Huse Veteran Center.
Timeline
September 22, 2026: Wil Brasington announces his mayoral run.
November 9, 2026: Dorothy Dowe announces her mayoral run at the Rupert Huse Veteran Center.
March 16 to March 30, 2027: Candidate filing period for city elections.
Political Context
The state's new law mandating nonpartisan municipal elections for cities above 39,000 residents shapes how the Greenville race will be run. Supporters and critics of nonpartisan local elections have debated whether removing party labels changes voter behavior in city contests.
Greenville voters will choose a new mayor in a race where candidates will not appear with party labels on the ballot. Residents who want to participate should track the March 16 to March 30, 2027 filing period to see the full field of candidates.
The takeaway
Greenville's first mayoral race in decades is taking shape early, and the nonpartisan rules mean voters will judge candidates on their records and platforms rather than party affiliation. Following candidate announcements through the spring filing period will show how crowded the field becomes.
What happens next
The candidate filing period for Greenville city elections runs from March 16 to March 30, 2027.
Further reading
For more on how local races are decided, explore Elections coverage on Wisevoter.
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