South Carolina Lede

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for November 3, 2026: we bring you host Gavin Jackson’s recap of the final days of the 2026 campaign trail.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for October 31, 2026: we’re recapping the final week of the 2026 campaign trail with a major Republican confab in Myrtle Beach on Monday, headlined by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan; we take this opportunity to look at the big question of GOP unity in a time when fractures could cost them big at the ballot box; we also have new ratings, final polls, and money numbers; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for October 27, 2026: we bring you our final candidate profile of the 2026 cycle with a look at the two candidates running for the U.S. Senate—Republican incumbent Sen. Darline Graham and Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a pediatrician; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for October 24, 2026: Trump rallied for Sen. Darline Graham in the Upstate, getting a boost from the Governor and House Speaker Murrell Smith this week; we hear from voters at the fair, the Upstate, and Trump supporters; Maayan Schechter has an interview with State Election Commission Director Conway Belangia as we close out the first week of early voting; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for October 20, 2026: we caught up with Rep. James Clyburn, who was casting his vote early in Orangeburg; Sen. Darline Graham breaks with Pres. Trump over his move to give Russia a break on oil sanctions; we look deeper into whether a Democrat like Dr. Annie Andrews can win in this red state; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for October 17, 2026: we’re less than three weeks away from election day, with early voting starting Monday. Host Gavin Jackson sits down with First Congressional District candidates vying to replace outgoing Congresswoman Nancy Mace; we talk with Republican Charleston County Councilwoman Jenny Honeycutt and Democrat retired Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for October 13, 2026: we take you to the debate stage for the only U.S. Senate debate between Democrat Dr. Annie Andrews, Republican Sen. Darline Graham, and Libertarian Kasie Whitener; we stay on the Senate trail and head to Charleston where U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, NRSC Chairman Tim Scott, and Sen. Graham participated in a fundraiser last week; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for October 10, 2026: we have some highlights from the one and only governor’s debate; we look at money flowing into the U.S. Senate race, and derogatory comments the President made toward Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews; we’re on the midterm trail with another national Democrat, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for October 6, 2026: it’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and this podcast will focus exclusively on that; we have host Gavin Jackson’s interview with Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, along with Monique Garvin, director of the Violence Against Women Act programs at the SC Attorney General’s office; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for October 3, 2026: Gov. Henry McMaster and others were at the third annual nuclear summit in Columbia Tuesday to discuss South Carolina’s energy future; several big name Democrats will be floating around the state on Friday, including Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, and California Rep. Ro Kahanna; new zoning is raising concerns among residents over the placement of a major data center; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for September 29, 2026: we look at the candidates running for S.C. Attorney General; both Republican 8th circuit solicitor David Stumbo and Democrat lawyer Richard Hricik discuss what they want to do with the office, which has been occupied by S.C. AG Alan Wilson for nearly 16 years; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for September 26, 2026: we’re getting back to some roots for a moment; we’re talking infrastructure, we’re talking economics, we’re talking a little bit of politics; and more!

On this episode of the Lede for September 22, 2026: we talk with Winthrop political science professor Dr. Scott Huffmon about the state of play for the midterm elections; new polling for the US senate race; and more.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for September 12, 2026: we continue our look at the Democrats in South Carolina ahead of the November election; we’re continuing our time on the campaign trail with Dr. Annie Andrews and hear again from national figures like Pete Buttigieg and Gavin Newsom; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for September 9, 2026: we hear from Congressman Jim Clyburn who was on Meet the Press discussing a variety of issues, including what it would take for Dr. Annie Andrews to win in November; we have comments from California Gov. Gavin Newsom who was at several events during his two-day swing last week; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for September 5, 2026: host Gavin Jackson brings you his exclusive one-on-one interview with former South Carolina Supreme Court Justice John Cannon Few in his first interview since losing the support of the General Assembly this past March in his attempt to get reelected to a second, 10-year term to the state Supreme Court; they talk about his career, his legacy, and the circumstances around that election process, as well as his thoughts on judicial elections; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for September 1, 2026: the Associated Press reports that on Congress’ to-do list is likely a stopgap funding bill to keep things funded through early December; we may see the Senate-approved, expanded Russian sanctions bill, named after Sen. Lindsey Graham; we’ll also be watching to see how Congress handles the pending deadline for the recriminalization of hemp-derived THC products; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for August 29, 2026: Sen. Darline Graham has won the U.S. Senate Republican nomination, defeating 5th District Congressman Ralph Norman in the special primary runoff; Graham will now face off against Democrat Dr. Annie Andrews, as well as libertarian and constitution party candidates in November; we hear from Norman, Graham, and supporters, and find out how she did it with analysis from communications strategist Rob Godfrey; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for August 25, 2026: we take you to Pres. Donald Trump’s rally for Sen. Darline Graham in Myrtle Beach last Friday; we also talk with the voters of Horry County about the election, who they’re backing, and their big issues; Gavin talks with NBC News’ Chief Data Analyst Steve Kornacki about pathways to victory in Tuesday’s runoff between Graham and Congressman Ralph Norman; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for August 22, 2026: we bring you highlights from the special U.S. Senate Republican primary runoff debate from this week.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for August 18, 2026: we are in the sprint to the August 25th U.S. Senate Republican special primary runoff between Sen. Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman; we have more analysis of the race from USC's Dr. Kirk Randazzo; Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy was in town stumping for State Sen. Wes Climer, who was running for the 5th Congressional District; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for August 15, 2026: we are heading to the August 25 special U.S. Senate Republican primary runoff between Sen. Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman; we hear from the two of them on election night; we also get analysis and a look ahead with political communications strategist Rob Godfrey; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for August 11, 2026: you’ve already heard from the candidates, now you’re going to hear from the voters on this special election day; we’ll also discuss Pres. Donald Trump’s influence on this race; host Gavin Jackson brings you clips from his visit to Joint Base Charleston, now Joint Base Lindsey Graham, on Monday; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for August 8, 2026: host Gavin Jackson introduces you to the top five candidates vying for the republican nomination for U.S. Senate on August 11 in the Senate special republican primary.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for August 4, 2026: we recap for you all the major moments from the celebrations of Sen. Lindsey Graham’s life in Washington and in Columbia over the past few days; we also look at the race to replace Graham on the November ballot, with nine certified candidates all vying for the nomination on August 11, and more likely the August 25 runoff; we have highlights from those candidates, who held their first stump on Saturday; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for July 25, 2026: we continue our look at the life and legacy of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham; we also look at the next steps for this senate seat, including the upcoming special primary election on August 11 where several people have already filed to run, with others expected; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for July 22, 2026: we look back at the life of and some moments of Sen. Lindsey Graham’s 30-plus years in public office, comments from his friends, family, and colleagues, and the people who are already looking to become the nominee in a lightning-quick special primary election.

Stand by: host Gavin Jackson is back from Europe and working on the next South Carolina Lede. Check back soon for the latest episode!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for July 14, 2026: We bring you part two of Pulitzer prize winning author Jon Meacham’s recent speech and conversation at the two-day, Revolutionary Ideas symposium at Dock Street Theatre in Charleston on June 25, 2026.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for July 7, 2026: we bring you part one of Pulitzer Prize winning author Jon Meacham’s recent speech and conversation at the two-day, Revolutionary Ideas symposium at Dock Street Theatre in Charleston on June 25, 2026.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for July 4, 2026: we take time to reflect on the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America; we’ll visit a key battlefield and talk with veterans excavating another; we’ll also hear from Pulitzer Prize winning author and historian Jon Meacham; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for June 30, 2026: we give you an update on what happened in the statehouse last week when both the Senate and House came back for a day to take up conference committee reports.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for June 27, 2026: we take you on the final two weeks of the gubernatorial runoff primary trail; we also look at how Attorney General Alan Wilson won a decisive victory in securing the Republican nomination over Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for June 23, 2026: we have segments from host Gavin Jackson’s most recent interviews with Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and A.G. Alan Wilson; Gavin also caught up with Wilson moments after Pres. Donald Trump also endorsed him, in addition to Evette, just days before the runoff; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for June 20, 2026: we bring you some highlights from the Republican gubernatorial runoff debate between Lt. Gov. Pam Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson; we also have some cuts from the 1st Congressional District Republican runoff between Charleston County Councilwoman Jenny Costa Honeycutt and state Rep. Mark Smith; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for June 16, 2026: we look at the ongoing endorsement game leading up to the June 23 runoff; we also continue to look at the runoff races in the First Congressional District; we have highlights from a May forum the Democrats participated in; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for June 13, 2026: we look at what happened on primary election night; we hear from folks on the trail, including the two republican gubernatorial candidates in the June 23 runoff; we also have analysis from Winthrop University political science professor Dr. Scott Huffmon and strategic communications consultant Rob Godfrey; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for June 9, 2026: host Gavin Jackson takes you through his last week on the 2026 gubernatorial campaign trail.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for June 6, 2026: we bring you highlights from the Republican and Democratic gubernatorial debates that Gavin Jackson moderated this week as we enter the sprint to the June 9 primary.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for June 2, 2026: we look at the last Republican gubernatorial debate; Lt. Gov. Evette got Pres. Trump’s endorsement, and he let the cat out of the bag on who her running mate MAY be; we look at new polling and early voting numbers: and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 30, 2026: we bring you the highlights from the attorney general debate that host Gavin Jackson moderated on May 27.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 26, 2026: the Senate kills the redistricting effort after the chamber failed to block a Democratic backed filibuster; 14 Republicans joined the 12 Democrats to kill the bill on the White House’s redistricting push to change South Carolina’s congressional map; we take you from where we last left off to how it died Tuesday afternoon; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 23, 2026: we talk with several Statehouse reporters about the latest redistricting action from the week as the House spent long days moving the new congressional map through to the Senate, where it’s currently being debated; we look at what else happened during this session; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 20, 2026: we continue our focus on the congressional redistricting debate in the special session called by the governor; as of our taping, early Tuesday afternoon, the House is poised to give a key second reading to the new map this evening after a rules change was passed largely along party lines Monday evening; we also have analysis from Winthrop University Political Science Professor Scott Huffmon; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 16, 2026: we are post-sine die, but are in a rare extra session that has been called by the governor for lawmakers to continue the effort to change the state’s seven congressional districts at the behest of President Donald Trump. We, again, dedicate the pod to exactly what is happening because, unlike past redistricting efforts, the public has been shut out from this process as military and absentee ballots continue to be cast ahead of the June 9 primaries.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 12, 2026: we talk a little bit more about redistricting ahead of moves this week; we also bring you more of our candidate conversations with Republican Rom Reddy who’s looking to be the next governor of our fair state; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 9, 2026: we’re bringing you everything we have right now on an expedited redistricting push by Statehouse Republicans, all at the behest of the White House, with a week left in the legislative session.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede forMay5,2026:we continue our look at the Republican gubernatorial field with Attorney General Alan Wilson; we also talk with the new state election commission director Conway Belangia about the upcoming primaries; we look atthe agreement the state has signed with the U.S. Dept. of Justice over sensitive voter information; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 2, 2026: we look at what happened in this third-to-last week of the legislative session; will a U.S. Supreme Court decision on Louisiana’s congressional maps lead to mid-cycle redistricting here? We hear from Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey and House Speaker Murrell Smith on the final six legislative days of session; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for April 28, 2026: we’re looking at two of the Republican candidates running for the party’s nomination on June 9 and for the win in November, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and 5th District Congressman Ralph Norman; while we are in a full sprint to sine die, we wanted to look at these two candidates as we start rolling out our profiles on several statewide candidates; and more!