PINEVILLE - With Election Day drawing closer after an already eventful 2026 election cycle, Berkeley County Council District 7 candidate Ralph Prioleau Jr. is bringing politics beyond the traditional campaign rally and into a space deeply rooted in the community: the church.
On Saturday, September 12, Prioleau will host “Our Hope, Our Voice,” a gospel concert and campaign fundraiser designed to pair an evening of music with a broader message about civic participation, representation and the power local voters hold heading into November.
The event comes as candidates enter a critical stretch of the election season and voters across Berkeley County consider decisions that will shape local leadership and the future of one of South Carolina's fastest-growing counties.
“Our Hope, Our Voice is about more than a campaign and more than one election,” Prioleau said. “It is about reminding people that their voices matter. The decisions made by local government affect our roads, our neighborhoods, our businesses, our families and the future of our communities. We want people to leave encouraged, but we also want them to leave understanding the power they have as voters.”
The event will feature national recording artists Overseer H.E. Dixon and Min. Jarell Smalls, along with Pastor Monica Ross and Family, Brandon Robinson & NGOP, Patricia Johnson and Voice of Praises Community Choir, and other musical guests.
Statewide Democratic candidates and other political and community leaders are also expected to participate.
For Prioleau, the event represents an effort to reach voters outside of conventional political spaces at a time when public attention is increasingly focused on the November election.
Rather than center the evening solely on speeches and campaign messaging, organizers say the program is intended to connect civic participation with community, faith and shared responsibility.
“People don't only engage with their communities at political rallies,” Prioleau said. “They engage at churches, community events, schools, family gatherings and places where they already feel connected. If we want more people involved in the decisions that affect their lives, we have to be willing to meet them where they are.”
Prioleau is seeking election to Berkeley County Council District 7. He currently serves as Third Vice Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party and has emphasized community representation and responsive local government as central themes of his campaign.
The September 12 gathering also offers reporters an opportunity to speak directly with voters, candidates and community leaders about the issues driving political engagement as the general election approaches.
EVENT DETAILS
WHAT: Our Hope, Our Voice Gospel Concert & Fundraiser
WHO: Ralph Prioleau Jr., candidate for Berkeley County Council District 7, along with statewide Democratic candidates, community leaders and musical guests
WHEN: Saturday, September 12, 2026. Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Antioch Baptist Association Multipurpose Building, 133 Omega Ladson Court, Pineville, SC 29468
FEATURED PERFORMERS: National recording artists Overseer H.E. Dixon and Min. Jarell Smalls, Pastor Monica Ross and Family, Brandon Robinson & NGOP, Patricia Johnson and Voice of Praises Community Choir, and additional guests