Seifert Leads Beaufort County Sheriff Straw Poll with 51% at Republican Party GOTV Rally
In an informal poll of 187 attendees at the Beaufort County Republican Party Get Out The Vote rally, Doug Seifert finished ahead of JoJo Woodward in the race for Beaufort County Sheriff, with three weeks remaining until the June 9 Republican Primary.
Watch: Doug Seifert's Straw Poll Victory Recap
From the 5/17/26 Beaufort County GOP GOTV Rally
Final Straw Poll Tally
A Snapshot of Grassroots Republican Support
The Beaufort County Republican Party conducted the straw poll at its Get Out The Vote rally on Saturday, May 17, 2026, where county GOP voters, activists, and party officials gathered ahead of the June 9 primary. Doug Seifert finished first with 51% of the 187 ballots cast, with JoJo Woodward receiving 31% and 18% of attendees remaining undecided.
Straw polls do not determine elections. They offer an early read on the room — which candidate has the strongest grassroots organization, which message is resonating, and where the energy is heading. At a GOTV event, the audience tilts toward the most engaged Republican voters in the county. That makes the result a useful signal of momentum among the people most likely to actually show up at the polls on June 9.
A 20-point lead among the county’s most engaged Republican voters, with three weeks to go.
For the Seifert campaign, the result reinforces what the team has been hearing across Beaufort County since Doug filed in March: voters want a Sheriff with the experience to lead on day one. With 20 years inside the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and a six-point plan focused on community engagement, deputy retention, violent crime, fraud response, traffic enforcement, and drug interdiction, the campaign believes that message is connecting.
The path forward remains the same: meet voters across the county, answer their questions, and show up at every event between now and Election Day. The only poll that matters is the one on June 9.
About This Poll
This is a straw poll, not an official election result. Straw polls are informal preference votes taken at political events. They are not scientific surveys, are not binding, and do not determine the outcome of any election. The official Republican Primary for Beaufort County Sheriff is Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
Results were announced by the Beaufort County Republican Party on its official Facebook page following the GOTV Rally on May 17, 2026.
View Original Post on FacebookFrequently Asked Questions
Doug Seifert won the straw poll with 51% support from the 187 Republican attendees who cast ballots at the Beaufort County Republican Party GOTV Rally on May 17, 2026. JoJo Woodward received 31% and 18% of attendees remained undecided.
A straw poll is an informal preference vote taken at a political event to gauge candidate support among attendees. It is not an official election result, is not scientifically conducted, and does not determine the outcome of any election. Straw polls are used as early indicators of grassroots support, campaign organization, and momentum.
The Republican Primary is Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Polls open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The Republican Primary winner advances to face Democratic nominee Alphonso Small Jr. in the November 2026 general election. See voting options →
The straw poll was conducted by the Beaufort County Republican Party at its Get Out The Vote (GOTV) Rally on May 17, 2026. Official results were announced on the Beaufort County Republican Party’s Facebook page.
Straw polls are not predictive of final election outcomes. They reflect the preferences of attendees at a specific event and are typically tilted toward the most engaged voters from one political party. The official Beaufort County Sheriff election will be decided in the Republican Primary on June 9, 2026 and the general election in November 2026.
The Only Poll That Matters Is on
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Straw polls show momentum. Elections decide outcomes. Polls open 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, June 9. Bring a valid Photo ID. Make a plan, bring a friend, and vote.
Keep the Momentum Going
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