Two key Democratic politicians turn their focus to South Carolina with upcoming visits
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and California Congressman Ro Khanna, both Democrats, will visit the Palmetto State this week. Both candidates join a long list of politicians who choose to stop in South Carolina for a chance to connect with voters as they build traction on a national political stage.
South Carolina is a notable state every election cycle because it is the first Southern state to hold a primary, which can significantly boost a candidate's campaign momentum. The Palmetto State was credited with playing a significant role in sending former President Joe Biden to the White House in 2020, following a landslide win that gave him an edge over competitors Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg.
More: Gavin Newsom speaks in the Upstate as part of a SCDP event to engage with rural voters
Beshear will start his two-day South Carolina tour at the AC Hotel in Greenville for the state's American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) convention. He will speak at 10:45 a.m. and is expected to discuss a new initiative aimed at combating anti-union laws in South Carolina.
He will later meet with the chairs of the Greenville County Democratic Party and the Spartanburg County Democratic Party before heading to Columbia, Charleston, and Pawleys Island.
Beshear's name gained national prominence amid speculation that former Vice President Kamala Harris was considering him as a potential running mate in 2024. Beshear said he would "take a look at" a run for office in 2028 during an appearance on NBC, according to a report from USA Today.
Khanna has served as the representative of California's 17th congressional district since his election in 2016. He has spent 2025 touring across the country and holding town halls in red districts to mobilize voters.
Khanna will stop in two South Carolina cities — Goose Creek and Greenville — as part of his "Benefits Over Billionaires" tour. He will first meet with State Rep. JA Moore (D-Charleston) in Goose Creek on July 19 before landing in Greenville for an event to engage with Black voters.
He said he chose Greenville because it was the birthplace of civil rights leader, the Rev. Jesse Jackson. One of Jackson's sons, Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-Illinois), will join Khanna in Greenville as they urge people to get involved in elections.
"I was inspired by his (Rev. Jackson's) campaigns in 1984 and 1988," Khanna said. "Reverend Jackson ran, saying we need Medicare for all. We need to have a living wage. We need to make sure we are helping the working class."
Khanna said his tour is centered on states where more people rely on Medicaid and plans to address the federal reconciliation bill, which cut roughly $1 trillion from the program.
"It (South Carolina) is a state that has a high population that needs Medicaid and that has a high population on food assistance," Khanna said. "We want to highlight a place that people are getting hurt."
He said he is stopping in the districts of Republican Representatives Nancy Mace and William Timmons to hold them accountable for their vote in favor of a bill that harms their constituents. He also wants event attendees to leave each town hall feeling motivated for the upcoming elections.
The Greenville town hall will be held at the Mountain View Baptist Church at 5:30 p.m. on July 20. Organizers with Pastors United for Action and Parish House Community Development are hosting their "Unite Our Vote" event immediately preceding the town hall, featuring voter registration booths and civic engagement resources.
Bella Carpentier covers the South Carolina legislature, state, and Greenville County politics. Contact her at bcarpentier@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Democratic party leaders Beshear, Khanna plan visits to Greenville
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