BEAUFORT, S.C. (WSAV) - The race for the next mayor of Beaufort will be held on the Nov. 5 general election in South Carolina, and two candidates are vying for the seat. Incumbent Mayor Phillip Cromer and Councilman Josh Scallete are running for mayor, both with experience in municipal politics. Incumbent Mayor Phillip Cromer (City of Beaufort) Mayor Cromer took office following a victory in the special election held in December 2023 to replace former Mayor Stephen Murray, who resigned from the seat earlier that year. Before that, Cromer served on the City Council from 2014 to 2022. He is running a re-election campaign based on "fiscal responsibility," tighter scrutiny of city assets and public transparency in the office. Councilman Josh Scallete (City of Beaufort) Councilman Scallete was elected to the Beaufort City Council in 2022. Before that, he was a real estate agent with the HomesFinder Realty Group and became a lieutenant in the Lady's Island St. Helena Fire District, a position he maintains today. The three pillars of Scallete's campaign are "fostering a transparent council, boosting community involvement, and advocating for enhanced safety measures throughout the area." Early voting began Monday in South Carolina. For more information on how and where to vote before Election Day, click here.