Soda City News - Politics https://www.sodacitynews.com South Carolina Statehouse, General Assembly, and civic elections. en-us 2026-09-26T05:47:37Z SC Statehouse Leaders Advance $110M Bipartisan Clean Water & Regional Stormwater Bond https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/politics-sc-general-assembly-clean-water-bond-advance-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/politics-sc-general-assembly-clean-water-bond-advance-2026 2026-09-26T06:45:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Jonathan Reynolds, Statehouse Bureau) Politics Bipartisan legislative coalition agrees to accelerate culvert expansions and flood mitigation across the Midlands and Pee Dee corridors. SC Statehouse Leaders Unveil Landmark $400M Modernized Public School Formula Overhaul https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/politics-sc-general-assembly-bipartisan-education-funding-overhaul-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/politics-sc-general-assembly-bipartisan-education-funding-overhaul-2026 2026-09-25T07:20:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Jonathan Reynolds, Statehouse Bureau) Politics Bipartisan legislative committee reaches historic accord restructuring base student costs and rural district facility grants. Columbia City Council Approves $15M Municipal Affordable Housing Revolving Trust Fund https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/politics-columbia-mayoral-task-force-affordable-housing-trust-fund-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/politics-columbia-mayoral-task-force-affordable-housing-trust-fund-2026 2026-09-25T06:50:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Municipal Politics Desk) Politics Capital fund will incentivize workforce apartments and first-time homebuyer down payment grants in urban neighborhoods. U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Nomination of Columbia Jurist to Federal Fourth Circuit https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/politics-us-senate-judiciary-committee-midlands-judicial-nominee-hearing-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/politics-us-senate-judiciary-committee-midlands-judicial-nominee-hearing-2026 2026-09-25T06:20:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Federal Judicial Bureau) Politics Veteran South Carolina federal judge earns bipartisan committee recommendation for vacant appellate seat in Richmond. SC State Election Commission Finalizes 140 Early Voting Centers for Upcoming General Election https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/politics-sc-election-commission-early-voting-polling-centers-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/politics-sc-election-commission-early-voting-polling-centers-2026 2026-09-25T05:50:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Elections & Democracy Desk) Politics Registered voters can cast ballots at any designated county center for two full weeks preceding Election Day. SC State Ethics Commission Mandates Clear Watermarks for AI-Generated Political Advertising https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/politics-sc-ethics-commission-adopts-ai-political-campaign-transparency-rules-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/politics-sc-ethics-commission-adopts-ai-political-campaign-transparency-rules-2026 2026-09-25T05:20:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Ethics & Governance Reporter) Politics New state regulations require conspicuous disclaimers on all synthetic audio, video, or deepfake political campaign ads.