Latest news with #SCDP
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
California governor plans to tour 8 GOP-leaning SC counties in effort to engage rural voters
The governor of California is touring several South Carolina cities as part of a Democratic Party-led effort to connect with rural voters in Republican-leaning communities. California Gov. Gavin Newsom will stop in several Palmetto State cities on July 8 and 9 as part of the South Carolina Democratic Party's (SCDP) "On the Road With Governor Newsom." This tour will make stops in eight South Carolina counties, connecting with communities that face economic and environmental challenges, while building political connections in traditionally red districts, according to the SCDP. SCDP said it chose Newsom for his leadership in California, the state with the largest economy in the country. The party highlighted his efforts to launch a state tax refund in 2022 and establish a program offering two years of free tuition to community college students. "As governor of the nation's most populous state, Newsom has delivered real results for working families in rural communities," SCDP wrote in a press release. "His record shows what's possible when leaders invest in working families." Christale Spain, the chair of the SCDP, said in a press release that this series is about "showing up and building trust." 'We're proud of the gains we are making, but we're even more focused on what's ahead," Spain said. Newsom will speak in several Upstate counties on July 9, including Laurens, Pickens, and Oconee. He also plans to stop in Marion, Chesterfield, Florence, Kershaw, and Chesterfield counties. SCDP said the counties Newsom will visit have faced obstacles such as job loss and devastation from natural disasters, including wildfires and hurricanes. Several Upstate counties faced severe damage from Hurricane Helene in September 2024 and the Table Rock Complex Fire in March 2025. More: What started the Table Rock Fire? Wildfire now measures over 11,000 acres, 9 percent containment Each of these SC counties on the tour also holds a strong Republican voter base. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance won roughly 76% of the votes in Pickens County, 70% in Laurens County, and 81% in Oconee County. Trump held a massive rally in Pickens in 2023 as he campaigned for the presidency, with thousands cramming into a rural city with a population of just over 3,000. The Secret Service informed news outlets that approximately 5,000 people were able to pass through the event gate in the hours leading up to the rally, while roughly 10,000 others were still waiting in line. SCDP said bringing Newsom to these Republican stronghold districts is part of its focus on grassroots organizing, local empowerment, and building long-term political connections throughout the state. More: Donald Trump in Pickens SC: Trump rally concludes after tens of thousands flood downtown "He's coming to meet folks in town that have been hollowed out by decades of Republican control," Spain said in a press release. "This is about building partnerships, uplifting communities, and showing rural voters they aren't forgotten." Bella Carpentier covers the South Carolina legislature, state, and Greenville County politics. Contact her at bcarpentier@ This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom to speak in 8 Republican SC counties
USA Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
California governor plans to tour 8 GOP-leaning SC counties in effort to engage rural voters
The governor of California is touring several South Carolina cities as part of a Democratic Party-led effort to connect with rural voters in Republican-leaning communities. California Gov. Gavin Newsom will stop in several Palmetto State cities on July 8 and 9 as part of the South Carolina Democratic Party's (SCDP) "On the Road With Governor Newsom." This tour will make stops in eight South Carolina counties, connecting with communities that face economic and environmental challenges, while building political connections in traditionally red districts, according to the SCDP. Why SC Democratic Party chose California Gov. Gavin Newsom SCDP said it chose Newsom for his leadership in California, the state with the largest economy in the country. The party highlighted his efforts to launch a state tax refund in 2022 and establish a program offering two years of free tuition to community college students. "As governor of the nation's most populous state, Newsom has delivered real results for working families in rural communities," SCDP wrote in a press release. "His record shows what's possible when leaders invest in working families." Christale Spain, the chair of the SCDP, said in a press release that this series is about "showing up and building trust." 'We're proud of the gains we are making, but we're even more focused on what's ahead," Spain said. Why were these SC counties chosen for this tour? Newsom will speak in several Upstate counties on July 9, including Laurens, Pickens, and Oconee. He also plans to stop in Marion, Chesterfield, Florence, Kershaw, and Chesterfield counties. SCDP said the counties Newsom will visit have faced obstacles such as job loss and devastation from natural disasters, including wildfires and hurricanes. Several Upstate counties faced severe damage from Hurricane Helene in September 2024 and the Table Rock Complex Fire in March 2025. More: What started the Table Rock Fire? Wildfire now measures over 11,000 acres, 9 percent containment Each of these counties holds a strong Republican voter base Each of these SC counties on the tour also holds a strong Republican voter base. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance won roughly 76% of the votes in Pickens County, 70% in Laurens County, and 81% in Oconee County. Trump held a massive rally in Pickens in 2023 as he campaigned for the presidency, with thousands cramming into a rural city with a population of just over 3,000. The Secret Service informed news outlets that approximately 5,000 people were able to pass through the event gate in the hours leading up to the rally, while roughly 10,000 others were still waiting in line. Gavin Newsom's tour to focus on grassroots organizing SCDP said bringing Newsom to these Republican stronghold districts is part of its focus on grassroots organizing, local empowerment, and building long-term political connections throughout the state. More: Donald Trump in Pickens SC: Trump rally concludes after tens of thousands flood downtown "He's coming to meet folks in town that have been hollowed out by decades of Republican control," Spain said in a press release. "This is about building partnerships, uplifting communities, and showing rural voters they aren't forgotten." Bella Carpentier covers the South Carolina legislature, state, and Greenville County politics. Contact her at bcarpentier@
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gavin Newsom is making a strategic visit to a key primary state, raising eyebrows
California Gov. Gavin Newsom heads to South Carolina this week to spend two days meeting with voters in the state that officially held the first primary in the Democrats' 2024 calendar. The trip by the term-limited governor with a large national profile is sure to spark plenty of 2028 speculation, since Newsom is considered a potential contender for the next Democratic presidential nomination. The South Carolina Democratic Party, which announced the two-day swing, said Newsom will take part Tuesday and Wednesday in meet and greets, to shake hands and take questions, during eight stops in cafes, coffee shops and churches. Twenty-one Democrats Who May Want To Run For The White House In 2028 "The SCDP presents On The Road with Gavin Newsom. We're making stops across the state to talk with families all over SC. It's your chance to connect, be heard, and feel seen," the state party wrote in a social media post last week. It's part of the state party's effort to bring national Democrats to parts of South Carolina that they say have long been overlooked and "left behind" by Republican officials in the GOP-dominated state. Read On The Fox News App Succeeding Trump In 2028: Six Republicans To Keep Your Eyes On "Governor Newsom leads the largest economy in America and the fourth largest in the world, and he's coming to meet folks in towns that have been hollowed out by decades of Republican control," state party chair Christale Spain said in a statement. Newsom stopped in South Carolina in January of last year to campaign on behalf of then-President Joe Biden during the state's 2024 presidential primary. Newsom also traveled to Nevada, another early-voting state in the party's primary calendar. And Newsom also traveled last summer on behalf of Biden to New Hampshire, the state that for a century has held the first-in-the-nation presidential primary. The former president was the Democrats' 2024 standardbearer before dropping out of the race last July following a disastrous debate performance against now-President Donald Trump. Vice President Kamala Harris replaced Biden at the top of the Democratic national ticket. South Carolina, New Hampshire and Nevada are vying for the lead-off position in the next presidential election cycle, and the Democratic National Committee is expected to decide on their 2028 calendar by early 2027. Newsom has long been thought to harbor national ambitions and is considered one of many Democrats who may make a run for the party's 2028 presidential nomination. The two-day swing through South Carolina will give Newsom an opportunity to make connections not only with voters, but also with local party and elected officials. The relationships forged this week could possibly pay dividends down the road for Newsom if he eventually decides to launch a 2028 presidential article source: Gavin Newsom is making a strategic visit to a key primary state, raising eyebrows
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Gavin Newsom Is Heading to a Key 2028 State
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. California Governor Gavin Newsom is heading to South Carolina, likely to be a key Democratic primary state, amid speculation he plans to run for president in 2028. Newsweek reached out to Newsom's office for comment via email. Why It Matters Newsom has long been believed to be a potential presidential candidate for Democrats, and his trip to early-voting South Carolina is likely to continue to fuel that speculation. Newsom has cast himself as a leading rival to President Donald Trump amid his second term in office. Several prominent Democrats are expected to jump into the race. While the primary is still more than two years away, potential candidates are already making early moves with the goal of giving themselves an advantage among Democratic primary voters. What to Know The South Carolina Democratic Party (SCDP) announced a multi-county tour with Newsom across some of the most "economically challenged and environmentally vulnerable rural counties in South Carolina" next week. Several of these counties have experienced "hardship" from job loss, wildfires and hurricanes, the SCDP wrote in a statement, adding that the rural areas have been "left behind" by Republican leaders in the state. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference on March 26, 2025 in Los Angeles. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference on March 26, 2025 in Los Angeles. Frazer Harrison/WireImage via Getty Images It will also give Newsom the opportunity to engage with voters in what is likely to be an early-voting state. South Carolina voted first in the 2024 primary but has long been among the four first states to vote—along with Iowa, Nevada and New Hampshire. Whether the schedule may change remains unclear at this point. The statement, however, makes no mention of his potential 2028 ambitions. SCDP Chair Christale Spain wrote in a statement that Newsom "leads the largest economy in America and the fourth largest in the world" and is "coming to meet folks in towns that have been hollowed out by decades of Republican control." "This is about building partnerships, uplifting communities, and showing rural voters they aren't forgotten," Spain wrote. Gavin Newsom's Chance of Winning 2028 Primary—Polls Newsom has been among the leading candidates in most polls of the 2028 primary, along with former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The latest Morning Consult poll of the potential 2028 field showed that Newsom's standing doubled after the Los Angeles protests over Trump's immigration policies and mass deportations. Eleven percent said they planned to support him, up from 5 percent in March. Still, 34 percent said they leaned toward Harris. Seven percent said they planned to vote for Buttigieg and Ocasio-Cortez. The poll surveyed 1,000 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents from June 13 to June 15, 2025. An Emerson College poll last month showed Newsom with 12 percent support, compared to 16 percent for Buttigieg, 13 percent for Harris and 7 percent for Ocasio-Cortez. The poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters from June 24 to June 25, 2025, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. What People Are Saying Spain wrote in the press release: "Our strategy isn't about chasing cable news coverage, it's about showing up and building trust, town by town, county by county, that is our path back to power. We're proud of the gains we are making but we're even more focused on what's ahead." Newsom told The Wall Street Journal in June: "I'm not thinking about running, but it's a path that I could see unfold." What Happens Next Typically, most candidates do not begin announcing presidential runs until after the midterm elections. Newsom has not confirmed plans to run for president.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to headline South Carolina Democrats' Blue Palmetto Dinner
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) — Maryland's Democratic Governor Wes Moore will join South Carolina Democrats in Columbia at the end of May for the party's annual fundraising dinner. Moore was invited to be the guest speaker for the Blue Palmetto Dinner on May 30, party leaders announced Friday. The 46-year-old veteran and former CEO of an anti-poverty nonprofit in New York City was elected Maryland's first Black governor in 2022. In 2024, he unveiled a ten-point plan for his state focused on issues such as education reform, ending child poverty, affordable housing, advancing infrastructure, and job creation, among other priorities. He has also been a leader on cannabis reform, signing an executive order last June that pardoned 175,000 Maryland convictions for misdemeanor simple possession. South Carolina Democratic Party (SCDP) leaders said Moore's message of 'building a state that leaves no one behind' resonates with Democrats throughout the Palmetto State. 'He demonstrates daily bold, progressive, and compassionate leadership,' said SCDP Chair Christale Spain in a statement. 'We are thrilled to welcome Governor Moore to South Carolina as we continue to build momentum, inspire action, and prepare to win up and down the ballot in 2026. His story and leadership will energize and unite us for the work ahead.' Democrats divided over how to battle a weakened Trump South Carolina's standing as an early primary state means the annual fundraiser has played host to current and aspiring officeholders in recent years, including Vice President Kamala Harris in 2022 and U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) in 2024. The dinner occurs the same weekend as U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn's 'World Famous' Fish Fry, a three-decade-old tradition widely viewed as a must-stop for presidential hopefuls. Clyburn is credited with helping to propel former President Joe Biden to the White House after endorsing him in the 2020 primary. However, Moore, seen as a rising star within the Democratic Party, insisted in a May 1 interview on ABC's 'The View' that he is not running for president in 2028. The Blue Palmetto Dinner will begin at 7 p.m. on May 30 at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
