Sheriff Graziano concedes after losing reelection bid

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Charleston County Sheriff Kristin Graziano conceded Wednesday after losing her re-election bid against former Mount Pleasant Police Chief Carl Ritchie.

Sheriff Graziano said Tuesday night’s results were not what they hoped for but didn’t stop short of congratulating Ritchie on his win.

Graziano has served as Charleston County’s top law enforcement leader since she was elected in 2020, defeating longtime sheriff Al Cannon.

During a news conference Wednesday morning, she expressed gratitude to her supporters and her team at the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office. Graziano encouraged the agency to keep shining brightly, said the movement they started would continue, and asked the community to choose kindness and rise above the negativity.

“I am an elected official, and you all have held me accountable. I’ve been proud to stand up here, sometimes not so proud to own the things that have happened in our agency, in our profession, but I’ve been honest, and I’ve stood before you all with the utmost integrity. I don’t like that that was challenged at all in this election cycle. I think that’s reckless, and it’s put a target on the backs of law enforcement, and I will not tolerate that.”

As for what is next, Sheriff Graziano said she still has two months in the position and that it’s too soon to say what her future holds.