This upcoming weekend South Carolina Democrats will select a new party chair to replace out going chair, and newly announced employee of the Democratic National Committee, Jamie Harrison. While Harrison has received praised from national party leaders and leading liberal cable news personalities, his tenure as chair from South Carolina Democrats has received mixed reviews…mainly due to his focus on national politics and failures to win races at the county and statehouse levels. However, most party activist believe Harrison did bring a high level of energy and integrity to the office.
The person who will replace Harrison will face a party at maybe it’s weakest position in recent history with many challenges to overcome, but also a party whose activist core is highly motivated and engaged, and a party whose leadership in the SC General Assembly that are true political rockstars, with credibility and influence that reach across partisan lines. Because of these factors we are witnessing one of the more competitive party chair races in recent memory. We thought it would be a good time to give the “Tale of the Tape” on the candidates looking to lead South Carolina Democrats over the next 2-4 years.
Trav Robertson
Experience: Former State Deputy Treasurer,Barack Obama 2008 State Campaign Manager,Vincent Sheheen Gubernatorial Campaign Manager 2010,Executive Director Oklahoma Democratic Party
Platform Focuses: Party Building, Fundraising,Candidate Recruitment, Increased Field Staff
Notable Endorsements:
Congressman John Spratt,Inez Tenenbaum (fmr SC Superintendent of Education) , Senator Marlon Kimpson, Senator Mia McLeod, Senator John Matthews, Senator Brad Hutto, Representative Russell Ott
Fmr Representative Anton Gunn, Don Fowler (fmr Democratic National Committee Chairman) ,Clay Middleton (South Carolina Primary Director, Hillary for America; DNC Member),Chris Covert (South Carolina Director, Bernie 2016),Tyler Jones (South Carolina Director, O’Malley for President; President & CEO, SPEAK Strategic)Alycia Albergottie (South Carolina General Election State Director, Hillary for America; Chair, Richland County Party),Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, fmr Columbia Mayor Bob Coble,Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott,Remle Beard (Abbeville County Democratic Party Chair),Michael Kay (Anderson County Democratic Party Chair),Blaine Lotz (Beaufort County Democratic Party Chair),Ken Hasty (Calhoun County Democratic Party Chair), Brady Quirk-Garvan (Charleston County Democratic Party Chair), Randy Herald (Lexington County Democratic Party Chair),Dedric Bonds (Georgetown County Democratic Party Chair),Paulette Keffas-Chassin (Oconee County Democratic Party Chair), Betty Henderson (Orangeburg County Democratic Party Chair),Daniel Correll (Pickens County Democratic Party Chair), Jeannie Brown-Burrows (Williamsburg County Democratic Party Chair), Carol Fowler (DNC Member; former Chair, SCDP),Kaye Koonce (1st Vice Chair, SCDP; DNC member)Lauren Bilton (3rd Vice Chair, SCDP) Will Maxey (fmr 3rd Vice Chair, SCDP)Joseph Oppermann (fmr 3rd Vice Chair, SCDP),Abe Jenkins (fmr Political Director, SCDP; State Field Director, Obama for America), Kendra Dove (Deputy Treasurer, Richland County; Treasurer, SCDP), Marcia Noonan (2nd Vice Chair, Lexington County Party),Joyce Rose Harris (SCDP Executive Committee member, Richland County),Joe Wilson (SCDP Executive Committee Member, Pickens County),Lindsey Maxwell Pitts (former Finance Director, SCDP),Elaine Gentry (former Chair, Greenwood County Democratic Party), Paula Kauffmann (SCDP Alternate State Executive Committee member, Lexington County), Carole Dwyer (Executive Committee member, Horry County Democratic Party),Christine Long (Secretary, Abbeville County Democratic Party),Joetta Chewning (former Chair, Florence County Democratic Party),Gretchen Munroe (SCDP Executive Committee member, Sumter County),Abbie Cook (SCDP Executive Committee member, Lexington County),Debbie Dorn, former Chair, Anderson County Democratic Party),Betty Fant (former Chair, Lexington County Democratic Party),Barbara Bowman (1st Vice Chair, Sumter County Democratic Party) See more here.
Susan Smith
Experience: President of S.C. Democratic Women’s Council, Southern regional director of the National Federation of Democratic Women,Member of State Democratic Party executive committee and executive council,, Vice Chairman of the Board with SC Equality, Board Member of Planned Parenthood-South Atlantic 2016, Delegate to 2008 and 2012 Democratic National Conventions , 2014 South Carolina Democratic Party “Democrat of the Year”
Platform Focuses: Building strong grassroots, Supporting elected officials, Recruiting the best candidates, Aggressive fundraising, Coalition Building,Working with House and Senate Democrats.
Notable Endorsements:
Former Governor Jim Hodges, General Assembly: Senator Gerald Malloy,House Minority Leader, Todd Rutherford, Legislative Black Caucus Chair John King, Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter, Representative Justin Bamberg, Representative Chandra Dillard, Representative Pat Henegan, Representative Leola Robinson-Simpson, Representative Joe Jefferson, Representative Jimmy Bales, Representative Lonnie Hosey, Representative Lucas Atkinson, Representative Mandy Powers Norrell, Representative Cezar McKnight, Representative Patsy Knight, Representative Mike Anthony, Representative David Mack, Representative John King, Senator Margie Bright Matthews, Representative Jerry Govan, Representative Leon Howard, Representative Carl L. Anderson, Senator Mike Fanning County Party Chairs: Ethel D. Campbell, Phyllis Lloyd Harris, Harold Crawford, Ann Stevens, Sarah Lisenby, Keith Gray, Rep. Walt McCleod Other Key Leaders: Linda Ketner, Vida Miller, Chester Willis, Sue Willis, John Giles, David Smalls, Debbie Clark Trolson, Marvin Pendarvis, Vic Rawl, Erin McKee, Dr. Rev. Betty Deas Clark, Deborah Adams, Jessica Bright, Jonathan Metcalf, Marcurius Byrd, Rob Groce, Ritchie Tabachnick, Michele Horne, Bob Aubin, Michael McCord, Dr. George Tempel, Dr. Carol Stoj Tempel, Debbie Gardner Morrow, Eva Sieupersad, Joan Furlong, Adam Zerbst, Donna Dewitt, Mike Evatt, Barbara Jo Mullins, Peggy Franklin, John Brisini, Carole Benson, Bobbie Rose, Beth Young, Debbie Clark Trolsen, Jonathon Sweeney, Gareth Fenley, Lee Bolick Burkett, Mattie Thomas, Jane Pulling, Pastor Thomas Dixon, Flo Rosse, Dora Graham, Keith Grey Sr., Jerome Brown, Teresa Harper, Charles Brave, Jr. ,South Carolina Equality, Planned Parenthood Votes! – South Atlantic, South Carolina AFL-CIO, Dorchester County Democratic Party, Union County Democratic Party, Aiken County Democratic Party, Berkeley County Democratic Party, Labor/Progressive Caucus, SCDP, Cherokee Indian Tribe of South Carolina, Our Revolution, See more here.
Cedric Blain-Spain
Experience:2016 Democratic National Convention Delegate, Horry County Democratic Party Executive Chairman
Platform Focuses: Running under the slogan “Unite 46”, Emphasis on Grassroots,Innovative Campaigns and Technology
Notable Endorsements: None publicly listed
Tell us what you think about the candidates. Our endorsement later this week…