In Pickens County, the local Republican Party is undergoing significant changes, leaving some longtime members feeling disconnected. Representative Davey Hiott, who has served the area for many years, remarked that many people no longer recognize the party.
For those like Mitchell, currently the head of Moms for Liberty in Pickens County, being a Republican involves focusing on core issues and fostering discussions to tackle everyday challenges. She emphasized, “We all want to make a difference,” noting that negative behavior within the party pushes people away from involvement in local politics.
Mitchell’s sentiments are shared by others. Clay Counts, a 31-year-old Pickens resident, has recently stepped away from Hiott’s campaign team after seeing a shift in priorities. Counts identifies himself as a “very conservative” Republican who believes that party chapters should encourage a range of viewpoints rather than create divisions among members. He ultimately resigned to lead a new group called the Pickens County Republican Club alongside fellow Republicans Tate and Allan Quinn.
By May 2024, Counts’ new club had attracted 400 members. Thanks to donations, the organization focuses on educating voters and has held six candidate forums since January, covering everything from congressional races to local school board elections. While he disagrees with the county party’s hardline approach, he clarified that he sees them not as malevolent but as expressing frustration with the political climate.
This sense of frustration is not limited to Pickens County. Across South Carolina, a strong ultraconservative sentiment has taken hold, particularly in counties like Greenville, where loyalty to former President Trump drives the local Republican agenda. Jeff Davis, the leader of the Greenville GOP, even ran for state party chair in 2021, showcasing the fervor within the GOP ranks.
