Latest news with #ChristaleSpain
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Newsom traveling in South Carolina next week to meet voters amid 2028 speculation
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) will be in South Carolina next week, where he will meet with voters and visit some of the state's more rural counties, as speculation continues about a potential presidential run in 2028. Newsom, during the two-day trip announced by the South Carolina Democratic Party, will visit Florence, Marion, Chesterfield, Kershaw, Oconee, Pickens and Laurens counties. The tour, dubbed 'On the Road With Governor Gavin Newsom,' will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. 'Governor Newsom leads the largest economy in America and the fourth largest in the world, and he's coming to meet folks in towns that have been hollowed out by decades of Republican control,' the state party chair, Christale Spain, said in a statement on Thursday. 'This is about building partnerships, uplifting communities, and showing rural voters they aren't forgotten.' Newsom previously visited the Palmetto State in early 2024, where he stumped for then-President Biden, who was running for reelection. South Carolina was voted in 2022 to be the first voting state in the party's presidential nominating calendar starting with the 2024 presidential election. Newsom has often been floated as one of the top contenders to become the Democrats' 2028 presidential nominee. The California governor has clashed with President Trump in recent months over the protests that have kicked off in response to immigration raids in Los Angeles and has seen his stock go up. 'Our strategy isn't about chasing cable news coverage, it's about showing up and building trust, town by town, county by county, that is our path back to power. We're proud of the gains we are making, but we're even more focused on what's ahead,' Spain said in the news release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
California governor plans to tour 8 GOP-leaning SC counties in effort to engage rural voters
The governor of California is touring several South Carolina cities as part of a Democratic Party-led effort to connect with rural voters in Republican-leaning communities. California Gov. Gavin Newsom will stop in several Palmetto State cities on July 8 and 9 as part of the South Carolina Democratic Party's (SCDP) "On the Road With Governor Newsom." This tour will make stops in eight South Carolina counties, connecting with communities that face economic and environmental challenges, while building political connections in traditionally red districts, according to the SCDP. SCDP said it chose Newsom for his leadership in California, the state with the largest economy in the country. The party highlighted his efforts to launch a state tax refund in 2022 and establish a program offering two years of free tuition to community college students. "As governor of the nation's most populous state, Newsom has delivered real results for working families in rural communities," SCDP wrote in a press release. "His record shows what's possible when leaders invest in working families." Christale Spain, the chair of the SCDP, said in a press release that this series is about "showing up and building trust." 'We're proud of the gains we are making, but we're even more focused on what's ahead," Spain said. Newsom will speak in several Upstate counties on July 9, including Laurens, Pickens, and Oconee. He also plans to stop in Marion, Chesterfield, Florence, Kershaw, and Chesterfield counties. SCDP said the counties Newsom will visit have faced obstacles such as job loss and devastation from natural disasters, including wildfires and hurricanes. Several Upstate counties faced severe damage from Hurricane Helene in September 2024 and the Table Rock Complex Fire in March 2025. More: What started the Table Rock Fire? Wildfire now measures over 11,000 acres, 9 percent containment Each of these SC counties on the tour also holds a strong Republican voter base. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance won roughly 76% of the votes in Pickens County, 70% in Laurens County, and 81% in Oconee County. Trump held a massive rally in Pickens in 2023 as he campaigned for the presidency, with thousands cramming into a rural city with a population of just over 3,000. The Secret Service informed news outlets that approximately 5,000 people were able to pass through the event gate in the hours leading up to the rally, while roughly 10,000 others were still waiting in line. SCDP said bringing Newsom to these Republican stronghold districts is part of its focus on grassroots organizing, local empowerment, and building long-term political connections throughout the state. More: Donald Trump in Pickens SC: Trump rally concludes after tens of thousands flood downtown "He's coming to meet folks in town that have been hollowed out by decades of Republican control," Spain said in a press release. "This is about building partnerships, uplifting communities, and showing rural voters they aren't forgotten." Bella Carpentier covers the South Carolina legislature, state, and Greenville County politics. Contact her at bcarpentier@ This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom to speak in 8 Republican SC counties
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gavin Newsom is making a strategic visit to a key primary state, raising eyebrows
California Gov. Gavin Newsom heads to South Carolina this week to spend two days meeting with voters in the state that officially held the first primary in the Democrats' 2024 calendar. The trip by the term-limited governor with a large national profile is sure to spark plenty of 2028 speculation, since Newsom is considered a potential contender for the next Democratic presidential nomination. The South Carolina Democratic Party, which announced the two-day swing, said Newsom will take part Tuesday and Wednesday in meet and greets, to shake hands and take questions, during eight stops in cafes, coffee shops and churches. Twenty-one Democrats Who May Want To Run For The White House In 2028 "The SCDP presents On The Road with Gavin Newsom. We're making stops across the state to talk with families all over SC. It's your chance to connect, be heard, and feel seen," the state party wrote in a social media post last week. It's part of the state party's effort to bring national Democrats to parts of South Carolina that they say have long been overlooked and "left behind" by Republican officials in the GOP-dominated state. Read On The Fox News App Succeeding Trump In 2028: Six Republicans To Keep Your Eyes On "Governor Newsom leads the largest economy in America and the fourth largest in the world, and he's coming to meet folks in towns that have been hollowed out by decades of Republican control," state party chair Christale Spain said in a statement. Newsom stopped in South Carolina in January of last year to campaign on behalf of then-President Joe Biden during the state's 2024 presidential primary. Newsom also traveled to Nevada, another early-voting state in the party's primary calendar. And Newsom also traveled last summer on behalf of Biden to New Hampshire, the state that for a century has held the first-in-the-nation presidential primary. The former president was the Democrats' 2024 standardbearer before dropping out of the race last July following a disastrous debate performance against now-President Donald Trump. Vice President Kamala Harris replaced Biden at the top of the Democratic national ticket. South Carolina, New Hampshire and Nevada are vying for the lead-off position in the next presidential election cycle, and the Democratic National Committee is expected to decide on their 2028 calendar by early 2027. Newsom has long been thought to harbor national ambitions and is considered one of many Democrats who may make a run for the party's 2028 presidential nomination. The two-day swing through South Carolina will give Newsom an opportunity to make connections not only with voters, but also with local party and elected officials. The relationships forged this week could possibly pay dividends down the road for Newsom if he eventually decides to launch a 2028 presidential article source: Gavin Newsom is making a strategic visit to a key primary state, raising eyebrows
Fox News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Gavin Newsom is making a strategic visit to a key primary state, raising eyebrows
California Gov. Gavin Newsom heads to South Carolina this week to spend two days meeting with voters in the state that officially held the first primary in the Democrats' 2024 calendar. The trip by the term-limited governor with a large national profile is sure to spark plenty of 2028 speculation, since Newsom is considered a potential contender for the next Democratic presidential nomination. The South Carolina Democratic Party, which announced the two-day swing, said Newsom will take part Tuesday and Wednesday in meet and greets, to shake hands and take questions, during eight stops in cafes, coffee shops and churches. "The SCDP presents On The Road with Gavin Newsom. We're making stops across the state to talk with families all over SC. It's your chance to connect, be heard, and feel seen," the state party wrote in a social media post last week. It's part of the state party's effort to bring national Democrats to parts of South Carolina that they say have long been overlooked and "left behind" by Republican officials in the GOP-dominated state. "Governor Newsom leads the largest economy in America and the fourth largest in the world, and he's coming to meet folks in towns that have been hollowed out by decades of Republican control," state party chair Christale Spain said in a statement. Newsom stopped in South Carolina in January of last year to campaign on behalf of then-President Joe Biden during the state's 2024 presidential primary. Newsom also traveled to Nevada, another early-voting state in the party's primary calendar. And Newsom also traveled last summer on behalf of Biden to New Hampshire, the state that for a century has held the first-in-the-nation presidential primary. The former president was the Democrats' 2024 standardbearer before dropping out of the race last July following a disastrous debate performance against now-President Donald Trump. Vice President Kamala Harris replaced Biden at the top of the Democratic national ticket. South Carolina, New Hampshire and Nevada are vying for the lead-off position in the next presidential election cycle, and the Democratic National Committee is expected to decide on their 2028 calendar by early 2027. Newsom has long been thought to harbor national ambitions and is considered one of many Democrats who may make a run for the party's 2028 presidential nomination. The two-day swing through South Carolina will give Newsom an opportunity to make connections not only with voters, but also with local party and elected officials. The relationships forged this week could possibly pay dividends down the road for Newsom if he eventually decides to launch a 2028 presidential campaign.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tim Walz encourages SC Democrats to redefine the party with action on policy, not promises
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called for a shift in Democratic Party values and making concrete changes during a meeting of South Carolina Democrats on May 31. Thousands of voters and political leaders crammed into the Goodman Building at the state fairgrounds to hear Walz at the South Carolina Democratic Party convention, a two-day event in Columbia. The convention started with the Palmetto Blue Dinner on May 30, where Maryland Gov. Wes Moore was the featured speaker. More: Gov. Tim Walz to headline South Carolina Democrat convention More than 1,700 delegates representing each of South Carolina's counties attended this year's convention to strategize and get energized for future elections. Greenville County had 180 delegates at the convention. Walz was welcomed with a standing ovation on the convention's second day. Walz was catapulted onto the national stage after running for vice president in 2024 alongside the party's presidential nominee, then-Vice President Kamala Harris. He has since emerged as a leader in the national Democratic Party and has been touring the country speaking at town halls in Republican-leaning congressional districts. South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain introduced Walz onto the convention stage, where he was greeted with cheers and energetic applause from the crowd. He started off by saying it is essential for the Democratic Party to reorganize. He said the party is losing support by electing people who don't turn ideas into action when they get into office. 'Democrats, we have no shortage of good ideas,' Walz said. 'But when we get into power, we have no idea how to get stuff done.' He said it is important for the party to move forward after a loss in the 2024 presidential race and come back stronger for the midterms next year. 'This is a moment,' Walz said. 'This is a moment not just to win the election. This is a moment to transform back to the Democratic Party.' South Carolina earned the nickname 'First in the South,' which means it is often the first Southern state to hold its presidential primary. Charles Morris, the third vice chair of the Greenville County Democratic Party, said that this makes South Carolina an important player in the presidential race, particularly in former President Joe Biden's 2020 win. Biden swept the South Carolina Democratic Presidential Primary race in 2020, which gave him momentum leading into Super Tuesday as he competed against Bernie Sanders. 'We can't look at it that South Carolina is a red state,' Morris said. 'South Carolina can vault candidates to the presidency.' He said that it is important for the state's Democratic Party to focus on bringing in young voters who may have stayed home or voted Republican in the 2024 election. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-South Carolina) also spoke during the convention and called for Democrats to put in the work right now to flip more seats. 'We are going to have to start that change this year,' Clyburn said. 'We cannot wait until next year.' Spain ran unopposed for the state party's top office and will stay in her leadership role for another two years. She said her focus over the past two years has been on getting more Democratic candidates to win seats in smaller elections, like city council and school board races. 'We've got work to do, and I am going to stay the course,' Spain said. 'I am going to lay it all on the line.' Jaime Harrison, a former Democratic National Committee chair and South Carolina native, said he wants to see more Democrats run for office in the Palmetto State. 'To every single Democratic county party in this room,' Harrison said, 'my charge to you is to recruit a Democrat to run in every single race. Leave not one race uncontested.' Laura DiSabatino is originally from Pennsylvania but moved to South Carolina. This was her first time attending the state's Democratic convention as a Greenville County delegate. 'I felt like it was time for me to get involved,' DiSabatino said. 'Bringing us together is the most important part of this.' In one of the last speeches of the day, State Rep. Jermaine Johnson (D-Richland) said he has assembled an exploratory committee and is considering a run for governor. Johnson said he wants to hear from South Carolinians first to gauge their feelings about him running for office. 'I've gotten calls from Democrats nationwide about considering this opportunity,' Johnson said. 'I don't want to do anything or make any rash decisions without hearing from the people of South Carolina.' More: Judge denies bond for Greenville County resident accused of threatening congresswoman While no one has officially filed to enter the race, U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) hinted at a possible run for governor several times, including at a bond hearing for a Greenville County resident accused of threatening her online. Gov. Henry McMaster, who has been in office since 2017, ends his second and final term in 2026. Bella Carpentier covers the South Carolina legislature, state, and Greenville County politics. Contact her at bcarpentier@ This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Tim Walz gives keynote address at South Carolina Democratic convention
