League of Women Voters Charleston Will Hold Democratic and Republican Primary Forums for SC 1st Congressional District, in partnership with Silence is Not an Option (SINO)
Forums to be held on Saturday, May 16.
CHARLESTON – The League of Women Voters of the Charleston Area, in partnership with Silence is Not an Option (SINO), will host two candidate forums on Saturday May 16, one featuring the Democratic Party candidates and the other featuring the Republican Party candidates in the Primaries for the SC 1st Congressional District. Both will be held at Circular Congregational Church at 150 Meeting Street, Charleston. The forums will be moderated by award-winning broadcast journalist Victoria Hansen, Lowcountry reporter for SC Public Radio.
The Democratic Forum will be held from 10:30 - 12:30 pm. Six of seven candidates on the Primary ballot will participate.
The Republican Forum will be held from 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm. Six of eleven invited candidates on the Primary ballot currently plan to participate.
These forums are intended to provide voters with an opportunity to hear directly from candidates about their priorities and positions in a respectful, informative, and nonpartisan setting, and are timed to take place before the start of Early Voting on May 26. The format will allow candidates to respond to a set of questions about timely issues. It is not a debate.
Members of the public are invited to attend one or both events. Attendance is free, and seating is on a first come basis.
Each forum will be recorded. The videos will be posted in their entirety, unedited, within 48 hours on LWVCharleston.org and on LWV Charleston Area’s YouTube page and also posted to the Circular Church YouTube page.
League of Women Voters Charleston Area is also planning online candidate forums for several SC House seats across the tri-county area and for a Charleston County Council seat, to be held between May 11 and May 20 pending confirmation from candidates. Updated information will be forthcoming and events posted on LWVCharleston.org.
The League of Women Voters also provides a comprehensive online voter election guide on VOTE411.org. Candidates for all tri-county primary races have been asked to contribute answers to topical questions for publication on the site. These will appear online as soon as they are submitted. Voters are encouraged to visit the site to get to know their candidates and to register, check their registration status, polling place, and personalized ballot before going to the polls.
The League of Women Voters (lwvus.org), a national nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. League of Women Voters of the Charleston Area, a nonprofit organization, is the local League whose membership spans Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties. Candidate forums are an important part of the League's mission to empower all people to exercise their right to vote and ensure that the voices of all voters are heard.
For more information, see lwvcharleston.org.
Silence is Not an Option (SINO), founded in Charleston in 2025, is a nonpartisan group created to unite, engage, inform and empower all concerned citizens to take action in defense of our democracy. We are a grassroots community connected to ensuring that the rights of future generations are protected by fostering inclusive spaces where every voice is heard and valued. Through education, advocacy and collective action, we support all engaged Americans in
leading the charge toward social, economic, and political equity. For more information, see sinochs.com.
