In a recent statement, Phil Ford, a consultant for the group Priority Six, expressed concerns about the current state of governance in South Carolina. He noted that Republican lawmakers appear to be selecting their voters instead of allowing the public to choose their representatives through elections.
The political landscape in the Upstate region is shifting, and Democratic leaders are seizing the moment to pursue ambitious objectives that once seemed impossible. While state legislative elections can be challenging to predict, Kathryn Harvey’s campaign for Congress stands out, having raised significantly more funds than typical Democratic candidates.
Among the nine legislative campaigns under Priority Six, six candidates have already amassed at least $17,000 each. Octavia Amaechi, a physician running for the open Senate District 12 seat, has collected nearly $27,000, while entrepreneur Taylor Culliver has raised over $52,000 in his effort to take on Senator Ross Turner in District 8.
Shauna Johnson, who is challenging Representative Bruce Bannister for S.C. House District 24, has gathered nearly $89,000, although a substantial portion of that comes from a personal loan. In S.C. House District 33, veteran and business owner Clemson Turregano has raised around $20,000 as he competes against Travis Moore.
Ultimately, it will be the voters who decide the fate of these campaigns. However, party leaders are feeling more optimistic than they have in years. Signs of renewed enthusiasm among Democratic voters are evident, especially following President Joe Biden’s decision to step back from the race for the upcoming election.
According to local party leader Petty, attendance at recent meetings has surged, with many new faces showing up. “We’ve not seen this level of excitement or enthusiasm in decades,” he remarked. “There were so many people that we literally ran out of chairs, and it was standing room only.”
