Your SC politics briefing
Welcome to your weekly South Carolina politics briefing, a newsletter curated by The State’s politics and government team.
This week, Javon L. Harris explored why South Carolina remains one of only two states without a hate crimes law, even as bills in honor of non-black crime victims have sailed through the Legislature.
Since 2016, two bills in South Carolina have become law following the death of a white person, including the Tucker Hipps Transparency Act and the Samantha L. Josephson Rideshare Safety Act. And last month, Gov. Henry McMaster signed a bill — Gavin’s Law — following the death of an Hispanic crime victim.
Meanwhile, repeated calls for a hate crimes law — particularly after nine Black people, including a state senator, were killed in 2015 at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston — remain unanswered.
On two occasions, The Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act cleared the House but stalled in the Senate, including this year.
Some lawmakers point to Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey as the singular cause for the bill’s continual blockage.
But Massey, while personally opposed to a hate crimes bill, says the measure it’s not something the majority of his Republican caucus in the Senate wants.
(Photo via The AP’s Jeffrey Collins)
S.C. Republicans pick a primary date
South Carolina in February will be center of the political world for 18 days.
18!
The S.C. GOP’s executive committee picked Feb. 24 for its presidential primary election, 18 days after the Nevada nominating contest.
Remember Iowa and New Hampshire kick off the nominating process for Republicans and will probably hold their contests in January.
Yes, that puts the First in The South primary fourth in the process, but it also gives the Palmetto State all of the attention, from national media, activists and presidential candidates for more than two weeks.
“This is a great opportunity for South Carolina Republicans and for our candidates and the voters in South Carolina to get to interact one-on-one, not just in large masses,” S.C. GOP Executive Director Hope Walker told the Associated Press.
Another aspect to keep in mind: South Carolina’s primary will come 10 days before Super Tuesday, giving candidates a time to fan out across the country.
The S.C. GOP decision still needs formal approval by the Republican National Committee, which is expected to vote on the primary calendar in October.
And the primary brings a potential economic windfall to the state.
After the 2012 primary, former S.C. GOP chairman Matt Moore did an analysis of the economic impact on the state and found the primary led to $50 million worth of economic activity and marketing value for the state. And that’s when South Carolina held it’s primary 11 days after New Hampshire.
“This will provide a great economic boom to our state and I look forward to welcoming all of the candidates to the Palmetto State and participating in the historic First In The South Primary,” said S.C. GOP Chairman Drew McKissick.
Read more: Who would win SC GOP presidential primary if it were today? Here’s how candidates rank
2024 Bites
▪ NBC News: Inside the $100 million door-knocking effort to boost Ron DeSantis
▪ Politico: The new Trump acolyte no one saw coming: Nancy Mace
▪ The AP: Florida Gov. DeSantis picks up backing from 15 South Carolina lawmakers as he makes a campaign swing
▪ The State: DeSantis praises SC’s 6-week abortion ban, but would he back national ban? Here’s what he said
▪ The State: SC’s Haley strikes back at Obama for criticizing Republicans going soft on race issues
▪ The Texas Tribune: Will Hurd, a moderate Texas Republican and Trump critic, announces run for president
▪ Washington Post: Senate Republicans love Tim Scott. They just can’t say so politically.
▪ Washington Post: Tracing the power of Casey DeSantis. As Ron DeSantis pursues the presidency, his wife’s role is limitless.
▪ Post and Courier: Sen. Lindsey Graham has message for Donald Trump: Stop focusing on grievance politics
(Photo via the Charlotte Observer’s David T. Foster III)
Buzz Bites
▪ Ann Warner, CEO of the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network, in Columbia, is stepping down from the role. She has been CEO for eight years. “While this decision was not easy for me, I know that it is time to pass the torch,” Warner said. “WREN has done so much so far, and has an enormous and profoundly important opportunity ahead to shape the future of South Carolina.”
▪ State Rep. J.A. Moore, D-Berkeley, launched his bid to complete the unfinished term of state Sen. Marlon Kimpson.
▪ Gov. Henry McMaster signed off on nearly the entire $13.8 billion spending plan adopted by lawmakers. McMaster only vetoed $1.5 million saying lawmakers provided adequate amount of information about how the money will be spent, especially on the member-initiated earmarks.
▪ One of the expenditures in the budget is $500,000 in annual money for Prichard’s Island, which is run by the USC-Beaufort.
▪ McMaster also asked colleges and universities to cut costs after lawmakers put in more money for higher education than the governor requested, the Post and Courier reported.
▪ The governor also signed the a bond reform bill this week that directs the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to develop comprehensive standards for electronic monitoring companies and bail bondsmen and to strictly enforce compliance. But McMaster doesn’t believe the bill goes far enough saying the General Assembly needs to enhance “existing penalties for illegal gun possession and (close) the ‘revolving door’ for repeat offenders and career criminals.”
▪ Lexington 1 and the conservative S.C. House Freedom Caucus settled a lawsuit over whether the district teaches critical race theory. One teacher at River Bluff High School says the district office “flushed 10 years of work ... down the toilet by surrendering” to the Freedom Caucus.
▪ Josie Duda, an 11-year-old Fort Mill girl found a flaw in the current all-male make up of the state Supreme Court, so she sent petition to her state senator. “There should be equal representation because everyone’s voice and opinion should be able to collaborate together.”
(Provided photo)
Mark Your Calendar
June 27
State Supreme Court oral arguments on six-week abortion ban
July 1
Former President Donald Trump visits Pickens
Aug. 5
Trump headlines Silver Elephant Gala
Oct. 31
Deadline to file for the S.C. GOP Presidential Primary
Feb. 3, 2024
S.C. Democratic Party Presidential Primary
Feb. 24, 2024
S.C. GOP Presidential Primary
(Photo The State’s Tracy Glantz)
Before we adjourn
I want to use this space to welcome Anna Wilder, the newest reporter to the State newspaper’s state government and politics team.
Be sure to give her a follow on Twitter at @anna_wilderr.
You’ll start to see her contributions to this newsletter soon. She joins Javon Harris, who started with the paper in January and myself, covering politics for The State.
Anna is a recent graduate from the University of Florida and interned at the Politico.
Oddly enough Javon also is a University of Florida grad. No word yet if they plan on buying tickets for the football game on Oct. 14 between the Gators and Gamecocks.
And many of you already know I’m originally from Miami, but this is not a Florida takeover of South Carolina political coverage. I can promise you that.
Our team has gone through some turnover in the last few years, most recently with the departure of politics Editor Maayan Schechter.
During my years in journalism, turnover is natural. Reporters and editors will come and go. But this team will remain dedicated in reporting stories from state government, politics and the run-up to the South Carolina presidential primary.
(And yes, John Monk is still a part of our team covering courts. He just was on vacation this week and not available for the team photo).
Pulling the newsletter together this week was Joseph Bustos, reporter on The State’s politics and state government team. You can keep up with him on Twitter and send him tips on Twitter at @JoeBReporter or by email jbustos@thestate.com.
To stay on top of South Carolina politics and election news, you can chat with us on Facebook, email us tips and follow our stories at scpolitics.com.
This story was originally published June 21, 2023 at 4:17 PM.
