Latest news with #WinthropPoll
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ralph Norman plans announcement about SC governor run. Can he win in 2026?
A York County name is in the mix of prospective candidates for South Carolina governor. Rep. Ralph Norman said in a Queen City News interview he will announce whether or not he plans to run on July 27. A spokesperson for his office told The Herald that Norman will 'have more to say about that at the end of July' but stopped short of confirming Norman's plans. Norman has represented South Carolina's 5th Congressional District since 2017. It covers 10 counties, including all of York, Chester and Lancaster. The 72-year-old real estate developer easily won reelection in 2024 to a two-year term in what's considered a safe district for Republicans. Term limits prevent Gov. Henry McMaster from seeking reelection, meaning the state's top post will be up for grabs in November 2026. Longtime Attorney General Alan Wilson and State Sen. Josh Kimbrell of Spartanburg County were the first to announce their bids for the Republican nomination earlier this week. Other high-profile Republicans believed to be gearing up for a run, but who have not yet confirmed their intention, include U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace of Charleston, State Sen. Sean Bennett of Summerville and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette. Political analysts say Norman could bring something different to the field, but he has ground to make up on name recognition. Here's how they think he might fare in a gubernatorial campaign. It's tough to know with certainty how Norman might fare without a final field of candidates, said Adolphus Belk, a political analyst and professor at Winthrop University. If candidates offer a strong contrast in their policies or ideology, Norman could carve out a position for himself relative to the others, Belk said. If the candidates are too similar to differentiate themselves on policy, it becomes a personality contest. Belk sees 'a lot of overlap' between the current top contenders. Scott Huffmon, a political science professor and director of the Winthrop Poll, said Norman benefits from an apparent ongoing feud between Wilson and Mace. The two have leveraged social media to hurl insults at one another. 'One of the things he'll bring to the race is, he'll come across as a calm and solid presence,' Huffmon said. Norman also brings a more measured and traditional approach to politics, said Alex Harper, a Democrat vying for Norman's congressional seat. Harper thought he would be running against Norman when he launched his campaign. The Democrat attributes Norman's local success in part to the fact nobody has run a strong opposition campaign against him. 'I think that he's got a niche in that race. It's not a niche that I particularly enjoy,' said Harper, who works as a prosecutor at the 16th Circuit Solicitor's Office. 'Alan Wilson is obviously the top prosecutor of the state. He's going to run on law and order all day long … Nancy Mace is obsessed with bathrooms and hating liberals. That's kind of her brand, and she's well liked for that in those circles.' Harper predicts Norman will stake his campaign instead on pro-business and small government values, which could help him stand out from what's shaping up to be a crowded pool of Republican primary candidates. Norman has an 'enormous reputation' in York County and has built a national profile as a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus who sticks to his beliefs and fights to convert them into policy, Belk said. He is a bona fide conservative with a record to prove it, Belk said. Still, South Carolinians outside of his district might not know much about him. 'This field of candidates will have to fight through that general inattention to build name recognition and familiarity,' Belk said. Evette, Wilson and other potential contenders who ran successful statewide races have a leg up in that regard. Norman must target areas with similar demographics to the voters he's performed well with in his district, Belk said. 'If he comes out strong from the gate, does the typical statewide tours, then he could make up a lot of ground in name recognition,' Huffmon said. 'And let me add, just because people are very familiar with a name does not translate to automatic support.' Endorsements are oftentimes overplayed, Belk said, but they can prove critical under the right circumstances. Belk highlighted former Gov. Nikki Haley, for example, who entered her race with less name recognition than her competitors before winning in 2010. She secured an endorsement from Mitt Romney, who became the 2012 Republican nominee for president, signaling to donors that her candidacy was viable. That brought money, Belk said. A second endorsement from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin brought energy and support from social conservatives who were part of the popular Tea Party movement. Haley enjoyed strong popularity as governor and still has considerable sway in South Carolina, Huffmon said, so landing her endorsement could bring Norman needed recognition outside of his district. He's a likely candidate for her endorsement, too, since he threw his support behind Haley during her 2024 presidential campaign, Huffmon said. 'Ralph Norman has been a consistent supporter of Nikki Haley,' Huffmon said. 'He may be hoping to call in that favor.' But Trump is even more popular, Belk said. His endorsement will be highly sought by the pool of candidates — many of whom have expressed ardent support for the president.
Newsweek
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Lindsey Graham Gets Bad Polling News Ahead of Reelection Campaign
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. Senator Lindsey Graham is running for a fifth term, though his approval numbers pale in comparison to other Republicans lawmakers from South Carolina, according to recent polling. Newsweek reached out to Graham's campaign via email for comment. Why It Matters Graham has been one of the most consistent GOP faces in the Senate and remains a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump and his agenda. South Carolina has typically supported Republicans in federal elections and keeping Graham's seat is vital as 33 of 100 Senate seats are being contested on November 3, 2026. Of those, 20 are currently held by Republicans. What To Know A Winthrop University poll conducted in late May shows Graham's approval ratings trailing Republican figures such as Trump (45 percent), South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster (42 percent) and Senator Tim Scott (41 percent). Graham's rating is 34 percent. About 40 percent of respondents disapprove with how Graham is handing his duties, compared to 34 percent who approve and 25 percent who said they weren't sure. Senator Lindsey Graham speaks as Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies about proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the State Department on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 20, 2025. Senator Lindsey Graham speaks as Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies about proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the State Department on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 20, 2025. ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty Images On the flip side, for the other U.S. senator from the state, Scott has 41 percent approval while 31 percent are not sure and 27 percent disapprove. About 1,211 general population South Carolinians were surveyed from May 23-31, with a margin of error of 2.82 percent and a 95 percent confidence level in weighted data. Scott Huffmon, director of the Winthrop Poll, told Newsweek via phone on Thursday it's important to note that the survey includes the general population and not just likely voters. "[Graham's] certainly more ripe [for a challenge] than any of the others, say, Tim Scott would be," Huffmon said. "However, he's got a massive war chest and he knows when to hoist his sails and get into the prevailing winds so that he prevails in a primary. He's done it before, even when he was less popular than other statewide Republicans. He's going to be be looking to do it again." Part of that will depend on statewide and national issues mostly out of Graham's control, notably tariffs, Huffmon said. But even on that divisive issue, he said Graham is "an expert at reading the landscape." Graham won his last Senate race in 2020 by 10 points against Democrat Jaime Harrison. The poll was taken as a new Democratic challenger, Annie Andrews, entered the 2026 Senate race. Andrews, a doctor, ran in 2022 against South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace and lost by 14 percentage points. But whether it's ultimately Andrews or another Democrat challenging Graham or another Republican, it's an uphill battle and would require "a broad collapse" either by Trump or the party as a whole. "To defeat Graham statewide, a Democrat would have to thread quite a few needles with no margin of error," Hoffmon said. "There would almost certainly need to be some type of catastrophe or crash in support for President Trump and Republicans in general. "There would have to be a surge in turnout among Democrats. Obviously, we have a significant African American population. They're simply outvoted. So, all white Democrats, all Black Democrats would have to be at the polls. Republicans would have to be sort of more disengaged from an election and turn out in lower numbers." What People Are Saying Annie Andrews told the Associated Press last month about Graham: "He's changed his position on nearly every issue over that time and that's because, in my view, he doesn't stand for anything or believe in anything other than what it takes to get reelected." What Happens Next About 46 percent of South Carolinians think things in the United States are on the wrong track, per the poll, falling strongly along partisan lines. About 72 percent of Republicans believe it's headed in the right direction while 77 percent of Democrats say the opposite. About the same number of South Carolinians, 45 percent, said their state is headed in the right direction, including 71 percent of Republicans, while 56 percent of Democrats saying the opposite.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SC split on Trump as he nears 100-day mark, Winthrop poll shows
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after signing executive orders in the Oval Office on April 23, 2025. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon look on. (Photo by) Almost 100 days into his second term, President Donald Trump has seen his approval in South Carolina dip slightly, according to a Winthrop Poll released Monday. Still, favor for Trump in the state outperformed his ratings on the national stage. The poll, published on the eve of his 100th day in office, found that 49.8% of people who had an opinion approved of Trump's work thus far, a more than three percentage point drop since March. Scott Huffmon, a political science professor at Winthrop and the poll's director, told the SC Daily Gazette that the rapid slicing of the federal government, a slew of executive orders and tariffs increased Trump's polarization, especially as some start feeling the direct impact of those decisions. 'We're seeing more people get used to Trump the president and not Trump the candidate,' he said. Whether or not respondents looked favorably upon the president's performance to date tracked heavily along party lines. Among self-identified Republicans, who made up roughly a third of all respondents, Trump's approval rating sits at 80% — largely unchanged since March. Meanwhile, disfavor among self-identified Democrats, who made up a quarter of all respondents, grew four points to 85%. The remaining 42% of all respondents identified as independent or declined to name a political affiliation. (Voters don't register by party in South Carolina, and the poll was not limited to likely voters.) Tariff-induced trade war could spell double trouble for SC auto industry Similarly, the Winthrop poll found that 47% of South Carolinians believe the country is on 'the wrong track.' Eighty-one percent of Democrats hold that sentiment. Inversely, Republicans think the opposite, with 69% of respondents saying it is trending in the right direction. 'People's opinions on the direction the country is headed depend heavily on whether their side holds power,' Huffmon said. 'This is true at both the national and state level.' Despite increased skepticism, Trump, who received more than 58% of the vote in November in South Carolina, remains more popular in the Palmetto State than he does nationwide. A survey from Pew Research Center released on April 23 found the president's national approval rating to be at 40%. Gallup has Trump at 44%, according to its most recent poll. 'South Carolina approval for President Trump among those with an opinion is notably higher than his national support but struggles to break into a clear majority,' Huffmon said. On average, Trump's approval rating sits at 44% as of Monday, according to a New York Times aggregation of numerous polls around the country. On Feb. 17, the president had an average approval of 50%. In a Truth Social post Monday morning, Trump said not to believe the numbers. He specifically criticized a trio of polls, saying they should be investigated for election fraud. He mentioned a joint survey done by ABC, The Washington Post and Ipsos, which concluded Trump had a 39% approval rating. He also railed against a New York Times-Siena Poll where 42% of respondents approved of him, as well as a Fox News survey that placed his favorability at 44%. 'They are Negative Criminals who apologize to their subscribers and readers after I WIN ELECTIONS BIG, much bigger than their polls showed I would win,' Trump wrote. The Winthrop Poll also took South Carolinians' temperature on other GOP politicians — notably U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, who is seeking his fifth term in the Senate in 2026. At 44%, Graham's approval rating among partisan Republicans who expressed an opinion was noticeably lower than two other statewide officials included in the poll — U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and Gov. Henry McMaster. McMaster and Scott, the co-chairs for Graham's 2026 re-election campaign, had a 58% and 56% approval rating among Republicans. Graham has $15.9 million cash on hand, according to the latest FEC filings and already secured Trump's endorsement for next year's election. 'Senator Graham has a large campaign war chest and is not underwater approval-wise with his party,' Huffmon said. 'This is a decent foundation upon which one could build a strong re-election campaign. Still, many on the right may view the fact that Graham's numbers are substantially lower than those of his GOP colleagues as an invitation for a primary challenge.' Graham has drawn multiple primary challengers in his last two Senate bids. Mark Lynch, a Greenville businessman, announced a bid to challenge Graham in February. He moved more than $5 million of his own money into his campaign account in March, according to FEC filings. The latest Winthrop poll was conducted online and via telephone between April 4 and April 12 from a sampling of South Carolina adults; 1,546 people responded. The results were weighted to align with South Carolina's demographics for race, sex and age based on census data. Findings using all respondents have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.49%. The margin of error increases to 4.29 points with Republican respondents and 5.05 points with Democratic respondents.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How South Carolinians feel about Trump nearly 100 days in, according to new poll
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – South Carolinians are split on how President Donald Trump is handling his job as he nears the 100-day mark, according to a new poll. A Winthrop University poll released Monday found Trump's approval rating among the general population of South Carolina is 44 percent, while 45 percent of respondents said they disapprove of the president's job performance. Looking only at those who expressed any opinion at all, the approval rating for Trump's presidency so far jumps to nearly 50 percent. When broken down by party, however, a deeper divide emerges. Among those who self-identify as Republicans, 80 percent approve of Trump. As for self-identifying Democrats, 85 percent disapprove of Trump's handling of the job. 'We are seeing increased polarization, certainly in South Carolina, as well as around the nation, and that, of course, is stark in opinions about many things related to the Trump presidency but certainly Trump himself,' said Dr. Scott Huffmon, the Winthrop Poll director. Still, the poll shows little change in South Carolinians' attitudes toward the president as his term has gone on. A February general population poll put Trump's approval rating at 45 percent among all respondents and 53 percent among those who gave an opinion. 'Their attitudes over the past couple of months have remained consistent because it's based entirely on Trump and his persona,' Huffmon posited. 'The people who voted for him generally didn't do a deep dive into the economic policies that he was putting forward. It was far more about culture, and he was a culture warrior for people like them, and that's the main reason they supported him, and the people who opposed him pretty much felt the exact opposite.' 'So the reason we see a continuity in attitude is those feelings haven't changed, and this flurry of policies that he's enacted over the 100 days, most of them haven't been felt by the average citizen,' he continued. Tuesday will mark the 100th day of Trump's second term, a benchmark typically used to measure the early progress of a new administration. Most national polling on Trump's first 100 days shows his approval rating hovering in the mid-to-low 40s – slighter higher than his first term but still lower than where previous presidents were at similar points. 'That's because we are so polarized,' Huffmon said. 'It's also because he was president before, so the grace period that a new president might get, he's really not having the chance to take advantage of that.' The weeks since Trump returned to office have been a whirlwind of activity to show Americans that his administration is relentlessly pursuing his promises. Trump's first 100 days: Steamrolling government, strong-arming allies and igniting trade wars Among those promises was Trump's pledge to root out what he called waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. That effort, led by billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency, has become one of the most polarizing and consequential pieces of Trump's first months in the Oval Office. Musk said last week that he plans to take a step back from DOGE starting in May. His company, Tesla, has seen profits plunge since January, and its dealerships and charging stations have become targets for vandalism as people protest Musk's effort to slash government funding and drastically cut the size of the federal workforce. 35 percent of all respondents said they have a very positive or somewhat positive view of Musk, while 45 percent said they had a very or somewhat negative view. His favorability numbers among South Carolinians have dropped since February, a sign Huffmon said of Musk's increasing divisiveness. 'In February, a lot of people really weren't sure of why he was so involved with Trump, what he was going to do with the administration,' Huffmon noted. 'As that has become more clear, we've seen polarization increase, and the people that like it liking it more, the people that don't like it disliking it more.' That divide is illustrated through people's feelings toward DOGE, specifically. While nearly two-thirds of Republicans expressed positive feelings toward the initiative, more than half of Democrats said the opposite. But, more Democrats (13 percent) indicated they did not know well enough or were unsure of their opinion than Republicans (7 percent). 'DOGE still isn't clear, except among the strongest partisans, the people who are paying most attention to the news,' Huffmon said. 'But the average citizen, it's not real clear, and it won't be until it affects their lives directly that their opinions will begin to solidify.' The poll surveyed 1,546 adult residents of South Carolina online and by telephone, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.49 percent. The results were weighted on sex, race, and age based on U.S. Census data. It offers a snapshot of where South Carolinians as a whole stand on a range of issues, from their attitudes on transgender issues to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs to illegal immigration. The results can be useful in understanding what all people in the Palmetto State care about, not just those who are consistent or likely voters, Huffmon argued. 'Just because South Carolina is ruby red in elections, that's really a reflection of who turns out in elections,' he said. 'When we take a look at what all residents of South Carolina, it's a lot more evenly split than we would realize just looking at the partisan politics that go on.' The Associated Press contributed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Continuing the ‘legacy' of SC's CEO important to lieutenant governor as she mulls own bid
From right, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Gov. Henry McMaster and first lady Peggy McMaster pose for a photo during a press conference at the S.C. Governor's Mansion on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (File photo by Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA — As she mulls a 2026 gubernatorial bid, South Carolina's lieutenant governor says her decision is guided by a desire to build on the state's economic growth under Gov. Henry McMaster using her own business experience. Pam Evette has served alongside McMaster since the 2018 election, the first in the state with candidates for governor and lieutenant governor running on the same ticket. McMaster, the state's oldest and longest-serving elected governor in state history, can't run again. 'That plays a factor in this, making sure that legacy continues on, so I'm seriously considering (running),' Evette told the SC Daily Gazette on Wednesday. She did not give a timeline for a decision. Evette, who joined McMaster's team as his running mate in November 2017, said the accomplishments she's proud of include using the governor's bully pulpit to promote the career paths available to students through the state's technical colleges. Her roles have included leading South Carolina's 2020 Complete Count Committee, which had the unexpected task of getting an official tally of residents amid a pandemic. The 57-year-old accountant will be aided by the political action committee Patriots for South Carolina. Made up of allies of President Donald Trump, the PAC has already secured $5 million dollars in donor commitments for Evette, The Post and Courier first reported. It's a boost she'll need to stand out among an expectedly crowded field for the Republican nomination. Despite her travels across the state as the governor's ambassador and her frequent appearances beside McMaster at news conferences, Evette is an unknown to many voters, as shown by the latest Winthrop Poll. Although no one is officially in the race, Republicans considering a bid include Attorney General Alan Wilson, U.S. Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, and state Sens. Sean Bennett and Josh Kimbrell. Unlike any of them, Evette's bid for governor would be her first solo run for elected office. Mace, who constituents criticized for not attending a town hall in her district last Friday, was at the Statehouse on Wednesday and told reporters 'things are looking very positive' for her decision on a gubernatorial announcement. She added that she was meeting with House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, about the 'future of the state.' The First District congresswoman has made repeated jabs at Evette on social media. However, the lieutenant governor said the comments don't bother her much. 'That's what you see in Washington (D.C.) politics, and that's why we are where we are in Washington with an unbalanced budget and things not getting done,' Evette said. One question is who in the potential field might get Trump's endorsement. In January, Mace told reporters that Trump's opinion on her potential run would be a crucial factor in her decision. Evette said she's not relying on his endorsement, though she called Trump an inspiration. She's described herself as a 'Trump girl' since 2017. It was at a reception in Washington, D.C., for Trump's inauguration where she first met McMaster. Last week, Evette traveled to Washington at the invitation of the White House for an event celebrating Women's History Month. Mace was also among attendees. Originally from Ohio, Evette moved to South Carolina two decades ago and made the Palmetto State her adopted home, she said. It's where she raised her three children and grew her business. When McMaster picked Evette, the political novice was the president and CEO of Quality Business Solutions, an outsourcing payroll and human resources firm operating out of Travelers Rest for clients nationwide. (Her husband became president when she joined McMaster's team.) Her business credentials and desire to cut bureaucratic red tape remain the key component of her potential sales pitch to voters. During her conversation with the SC Daily Gazette, Evette said she'd want to put her 'own stamp' on the state with a company-like approach to the governor's office. Sounding a lot like former Gov. Nikki Haley, who also had an accounting background and crafted her reputation as the 'jobs governor,' Evette said she'd focus on making South Carolina the most business-friendly state in the nation — if she were to run, of course. As a former business owner, now equipped with more than six years in office, Evette says she has a unique understanding of how to help the state's business community. 'When you believe that the government can run efficiently like a business in the private sector, who's better to do that than a businessperson that's had to live with it every day in the private sector,' she said. She also wants to continue a push for technical college education, which she says would 'create the workforce of tomorrow.' She touted the success of the state's Workforce Industry Needs Scholarship, better known as SC WINS, that covers expenses for students at South Carolina's 16 technical colleges.
