SC Democratic chairman decides not to seek another term as party leader

South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Trav Robertson will not seek another term leading the state party, ending his six years at the party’s helm.

Robertson said he would back former state party Executive Director Christale Spain, who is seeking to become the first Black female chair of the state party.

“I believe she has the experience, leadership and professionalism to grow the party in making South Carolina a better place for everyone,” Robertson said in statement.

Robertson’s tenure ends on a high note, as South Carolina has secured the first-in-the-nation Democratic presidential primary for the 2024 election.

“With the hard work of our leadership — with the teamwork of many — we have made so much progress. I look forward to building on these relationships and serving South Carolina into the future,” Robertson said in a statement.

But 2020 and 2022 were difficult elections for South Carolina Democrats. They lost five seats in the state Legislature in 2020 and eight seats in the House in 2022. Gubernatorial nominee Joe Cunningham in November lost to incumbent Gov. Henry McMaster by nearly 18 points. The Democrats have not won the governor’s office since 1998.

After the 2022 elections, the party was criticized on whether it did enough to promote candidates running for office. The party also struggled to turn out voters in 2022 after it did not have a coordinated campaign to knock on doors to encourage people to go to the polls.

The party has had some successes in recent years, including flipping the 1st Congressional District blue in the 2018 election, electing the state’s first female sheriff in Charleston County in 2020 and flipping a Richland County state House seat blue in 2022.

Robertson, a 40-year-old Anderson native who lives in Columbia, became party chairman in 2017 and often has taken the blame for losses and poor showings during elections while giving praise to others for successes.

“We fought every day to make South Carolina stronger for all our citizens. Though we always want more, I am proud of what we accomplished together,” Robertson said.

Before becoming chairman, Robertson was campaign manager for Vincent Sheheen’s 2010 campaign for governor when he lost by less than 5 percentage points to Nikki Haley. Robertson also managed Mia McLeod’s successful 2016 campaign for the state Senate.

“I remember when Trav was praised for running a razor close 2010 S.C. gubernatorial campaign. I remember when he was lauded after we picked up a congressional seat in 2018,” Jalen Elrod, the third vice chairman of the state Democratic Party, tweeted Wednesday. “Despite unfair recent criticism, Trav has served us well as Chair. I couldn’t be prouder.”

The race to replace Robertson so far has two candidates: Spain, a former state party executive director, and Brandon Upson, the party’s Black Caucus chairman who is running with a slate of candidates seeking vice chair positions.

The election for the next party chair, who will hold a two-year term, is expected to take place this spring.