This Democratic state representative is now formally exploring a run for governor
State Rep. Jermaine Johnson, D-Richland, announced Saturday, the day when Democrats hold their state convention, he his forming an exploratory committee on whether to run to be the state's top executive.
Johnson, who was elected to state House in 2020, spoke at the convention, where he received a standing ovation.
'For years, I've worked to uplift our communities — not just with words, but with action,' Johnson said in a news release. 'From expanding economic opportunity and improving education to advocating for criminal justice reform and protecting working families, I've stood side by side with South Carolinians through every challenge.'
Forming an exploratory committee sets up Johnson to travel the state to see if he has enough support to mount a bid for the Democratic nomination for governor in a reliably red state.
Johnson is a charismatic speaker and was on a list of potential lieutenant governor running mates in 2022 when former U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham was the Democratic nominee for governor.
Johnson previously ruled out a run for governor even after going on a statewide tour last year. But he has since been reconsidering as he received encouragement to run.
In March, Johnson gave a floor speech against anti-diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the State House that went viral. That type of energy could help boost out-of-state donations and boost enthusiasm among Democrats in South Carolina who have not won a statewide election since 2006.
In this election, President Donald Trump won't be on the ballot and the party that controls the White House generally sees losses during midterm elections. If a Democratic candidate at the top of the ticket energizes the base, it could help those candidates down the ballot possibly flip state House seats, all of which are up for election in 2026.
'South Carolina is at a crossroads,' Johnson said in his release. 'We need leadership that listens, leads with integrity, and puts people before politics. I believe in a South Carolina where every child, every family, and every community has the opportunity to thrive — and I'm ready to explore how we make that vision a reality.'
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