Mac Deford, candidate for Congress in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, announced that he will hold his first public town hall of 2026 on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at Mount Pleasant Town Hall, located at 100 Ann Edwards Ln., Mount Pleasant.
Deford is the only candidate, Republican or Democrat, to have held a series of open, in-person town halls. Between August and October 2025, Deford hosted several public forums across the district, answering unscripted questions and engaging directly with voters about the challenges facing the Lowcountry and the nation.
“This campaign has always been about the people of the Lowcountry and showing up, listening, and being accountable to the people I seek to represent,” Deford said. “At a moment when trust in government is at historic lows, the answer is not fewer public conversations. It is more.”
His campaign said the Feb. 12th town hall will focus on several of the most pressing issues facing the Lowcountry and the nation, including:
- The economy, cost of living, and health care
- Corruption and accountability in Washington
- Community safety, drug trafficking, and border security
- Infrastructure, growth, and long-term resilience in the Lowcountry
Deford is a former U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement officer whose service included protecting the Lowcountry waterways. After his military service, he became an attorney and went on to serve as a top legal advisor for local governments in the 1st congressional district, working on infrastructure projects, affordable housing, public safety, and community development projects.
“At a time when our politics feel chaotic and unserious, leadership requires steadiness, experience, and respect for the public,” Deford said. “I’ve spent my career making decisions that affect real people in the Lowcountry, not chasing headlines or serving distant interests. If we want to restore confidence in government, leaders have to be willing to stand in front of the public, answer tough questions, and lead with calm and conviction.”
The town hall is open to the public. To register, visit https://defordforcongress.com/events/