Your SC politics briefing
Welcome to your weekly South Carolina politics briefing, a newsletter curated by The State’s politics and government team.
Following a lawsuit and a shouting match last week between Richland County Legislative delegation members during a meeting regarding the status of county judge seat, the South Carolina Supreme Court found the delegation broke the law in blocking Judge Joseph Strickland’s reappointment as master-in-equity.
At issue in the case was whether Richland County delegation members could refuse to send a judicial candidate’s name to the governor for appointment when there is only one candidate deemed qualified by the Judicial Merit Selection Commission.
The court said no, holding that the delegation had a statutory obligation to forward Strickland’s name to the governor as he was the only qualified candidate reported out.
The court’s decision is the latest in a string of controversial events surrounding Strickland and his position as Richland County’s master-in-equity, a role he’s held for more than 30 years.
“We are going to abide by the direction of the Supreme Court,” said state Rep. Leon Howard, who chairs the Richland County Legislative Delegation. “We’re getting ready to send (Strickland’s) name to the governor and see where things go.”
(Photo via The State’s Joshua Boucher)
How does Nikki Haley and Tim Scott differ?
With the slew of similarities between Republican presidential candidates Nikki Haley and Tim Scott, sharing similar backgrounds and often siding on the same issues, some South Carolina voters may struggle to understand what truly differentiates the two.
If you can relate to the struggle, don’t worry. The State’s politics team has you covered.
This week, Politics and Legislative Reporter Anna Wilder took a detailed look at how Haley and Scott differ on some of the biggest topics in 2024, including abortion, China and the war in Ukraine.
With both candidates polling around 3% of support among potential GOP primary voters, neither Haley nor Scott have targeted one another in their campaigns thus far.
Anna points out that while the duo are occasionally referenced as South Carolina’s brother and sister, the sibling pair now facing off for the 2024 presidential race do have differences. And, in fact, their stances are becoming sharper as the first Republican debate draws near this month, allowing the two to zero in on what they would do as president.
(Photo via AP’s John Bazemore)
Trump headlines SC GOP dinner
A crowd of more than 1300 GOP supporters including lawmakers, party officials and voters gathered Saturday at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds for a dinner featuring former president and presidential candidate, Donald Trump.
It was the 56th Annual Silver Elephant Gala — a fundraiser for the state Republican Party and an opportunity to speak in front of a conservative crowd who will cast ballots in the First in the South presidential primary — that prompted Trump’s appearance.
In his remarks, Trump promised South Carolina conservatives a revitalized economy by dismantling what he calls “Bidenomics,” an approach that he says has caused excessive inflation, surges in gas prices and a steady rise in mortgage and interest rates.
For those who weren’t at the gala, Gov. Henry McMaster had the honor of introducing Trump. And in his remarks, he repeated one of his favorite jokes he often rolls at political events.
It’s a story about how he asked First Lady Peggy McMaster if she had “ever, in her wildest dreams, seen me standing here nominating Donald Trump for president.”
According to the governor, Peggy replied, “I hate to tell you, but I’ve never seen you in any of my wildest dreams.”
McMaster repeats it often enough that those of us who cover him, could see it coming and even recite it along with the governor.
“I think everybody has heard that one. I think if I roll that one out one more time, Peggy is going to run out of the house,” McMaster said Wednesday with a laugh.
(Photo via The State’s Joshua Boucher)
Read more: In electric vehicle hotspot, SC’s McMaster defends market for cars that Trump questioned
2024 Bites
▪ The Hill: Trump’s criminal trials prompt GOP political doomsday alarms
▪ NY Times: Previously secret memo laid out strategy for Trump to overturn Biden’s win
▪ Florida Politics: Poll: Ron DeSantis drops to 3rd place in national survey of GOP primary
▪ Politico: Trump says he won’t sign RNC loyalty pledge ahead of first debate
▪ Politico: Trump, Christie feast on insults in New Hampshire
▪ The Washington Post: The GOP’s belated — but growing — admission that Trump lost
Buzz Bites
▪ South Carolina’s Department of Social Services, which has been in a settlement agreement since 2016 over how it cares for foster children, has received it’s first formal job well done from the federal judge overseeing the settlement.
▪ Court arguments over whether Attorney General Alan Wilson could award $75 million in lawyer fees to two Columbia law firms for work on the $600 million Savannah River Site Settlement were scheduled for this week. But arguments were delayed.
▪ State Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, who was the first woman elected to S.C. State Senate, has been named to Forbes’ 50 over 50 Impact list. Former Governor, and presidential candidate Nikki Haley, also made the list.
(Photo via The State’s Joshua Boucher)
Mark your calendar
Aug. 17
S.C. Chamber of Commerce Washington Night
Aug. 19
Vivek Ramaswamy speaks at Dorchester County GOP’s Faith, Family & Freedom Dinner
Aug. 23
Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee
Aug. 28
DeSantis headlines Jeff Duncan’s 12th Annual Faith & Freedom BBQ in Anderson
Sept. 27
Republican presidential debate in Simi Valley at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
Oct. 11
U.S. Court hears oral arguments in SC-1 redistricting case
Oct. 31
Deadline to file for the S.C. GOP Presidential Primary
Nov. 1-10
Filing period for the S.C. Democratic Presidential Primary
Nov. 7
State Senate District 42 special election
Feb. 3, 2024
S.C. Democratic Party Presidential Primary
Feb. 24, 2024
S.C. GOP Presidential Primary
Before we adjourn
We’re sending our condolences to the family of Scott Malyerck, who served as South Carolina Republican Party executive director from 2005-2007.
The Newberry-based political strategist who was a principal at Momentum National, died Tuesday. He was 61.
Malyerck may not be a household name outside of political circles, but he’s someone who left a mark on South Carolina politics.
He helped form the Alliance Party, a movement created by three other political parties — American Moderates Party, the Modern Whig Party and the American Party of South Carolina — that wanted to create an alternative to the Democratic and Republican Parties.
Jim Rex, who was the last Democrat to win a statewide office, worked with Malyerck on Alliance Party efforts and called his death a major loss. Malyerck had the ability to talk to progressives and conservatives, Rex said.
“He was an important voice in South Carolina,” Rex said. “Those voices are few and far between.”
Malyerck, who also worked in the state treasurer’s office, also helped with efforts to standardize the Palmetto tree and placement of the crescent on the state’s flag.
“I considered him to be one of my closest friends,” said state Sen. Ronnie Cromer, R-Newberry. “He was just such a great guy to be around.”
South Carolina wasn’t the only early presidential primary state he worked in. Malyerck, a Granite State native, also was executive director of the New Hampshire Republican Party from Sept. 1987 to Jan. 1989. The University of South Carolina graduate also worked for former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu.
Malyerck’s influence on the vernacular in the state’s politics remains. And he brought about a term we hear at least every four years.
Former S.C. GOP Chairman Katon Dawson, who hired Malyerck to be executive director, said Malyerck came up with the branding of “First in the South” in 2008 and it has allowed the state to have an even more outsized influence on the national stage.
Malyerck was aggressive in keeping South Carolina’s spot in the primary order and used his contacts in New Hampshire to make it happen, Dawson said.
But Dawson added Malyerck was creative and that didn’t let anything drag him down.
“He really made it fun. Scott had the ability to make politics fun,” Dawson said.
(Provided photo)
Pulling the newsletter together this week was Javon L. Harris reporter on The State’s politics and state government team. You can keep up with him on Twitter and send him tips on Twitter at @JavonLHarris_JD or by email at jaharris@thestate.com. He is not related to the Charleston County state representative.
To stay on top of South Carolina politics and election news, you can chat with us on Facebook, email us tips and follow our stories at scpolitics.com.
