It is easy to generalize all politicians as those that sit in high towers looking down upon the very people who voted them in, and in many cases this generalization holds true. House District 117, on the other hand, is fortunate enough to have the exemption to that rule in the form of Representative Krystle Matthews.
Representative Matthews has made quite a name for herself ever since her 2018 defeat of Republican incumbent Bill Crosby who had held the Lowcountry seat for eight years prior. In a win that we deemed a sign of better things to come for southern Democrats, House District 117 not only elected its first African-American representative in Krystle Matthews, but also its very own champion of working parents and fierce advocate for women’s rights.
Representative Matthews’ fight for women empowerment has been an impressive constant since her very first day in office. From marching against domestic violence to working to eliminate the tampon tax, Matthews has served as a powerful voice for South Carolina women in the State House. No doubt in part due to her advocacy against the state’s unconstitutional fetal heartbeat bill, Matthews has also been awarded the Planned Parenthood Freshman Courage Award as one of the few single mothers within the State House and as a persistent champion of reproductive justice
With all of this work in mind, it is not surprising that her reelection campaign has been endorsed by organizations such as Planned Parenthood and Democratic trailblazers like former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.
Notably, Matthews’ work is not relegated to one side of the aisle. The Lowcountry representative has been applauded for her ability to act beyond the legislature’s partisan divide and dedicates her time to working for what is best for the people of her district rather than the political machine.
Representative Krystle Matthews represents a breath of fresh air in an environment that is dominated by career politicians who could not be further from the average South Carolinian. Beyond the factor of relatability, Matthews is an easy choice for District 117 voters who are looking for real results on the important issues, as evidenced by just these past two years in office. Matthews is more than deserving of reelection to a term which is bound to hold even more success for this standout newcomer.