COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Democrats have reason to feel optimistic as they convene Friday in a state dominated by Republican leadership.
The Democratic Party is hosting events just days after the Republican-controlled state Senate defeated a redistricting proposal supported by President Donald Trump that would have redrawn congressional boundaries to benefit the GOP in upcoming elections. The plan specifically targeted longtime Rep. Jim Clyburn, South Carolina’s only Democratic House representative and an influential party leader who has served since 1993.
Friday’s activities begin with the Blue Palmetto Dinner, the party’s annual fundraising event that traditionally features potential White House candidates and prominent Democratic figures. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear will serve as the main speaker.
Following the dinner is Clyburn’s signature “World Famous Fish Fry” event. What started as a way to thank campaign volunteers has evolved into a must-attend gathering for presidential hopefuls. Candidates get one minute to deliver their pitch alongside Clyburn, whose endorsement has helped propel presidents to victory.
These gatherings occur while early in-person voting continues for South Carolina’s June 9 primary. Voters will select candidates for various positions including governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House. If state Senate Republicans had approved the White House-pushed redistricting plan, congressional voting would have been postponed and new primaries scheduled under different district maps.
The state Senate redistricting vote failed Tuesday, coinciding with the first day of early voting, with several senators arguing it was too late to modify district boundaries.
Clyburn, who is Black, criticized the White House-driven initiative, saying it aimed at “zeroing Democratic voters, zeroing African American voters out of the process.”
“I know the state, and I am embarrassed that so many people in our legislature will allow strangers in Washington to tell them what to do, when to do it and how to do it,” Clyburn stated while voting in Orangeburg on Tuesday.
South Carolina’s political situation reflects a broader Republican approach to redraw electoral maps favoring the GOP as they work to maintain their narrow House majority in midterm elections. Republicans have acted swiftly to capitalize on a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that reduced minority protections under the federal Voting Rights Act.
For the time being, Clyburn’s district remains intact, along with his role as the Democratic leader White House contenders seek out for advice on connecting with the state’s voters.
Biden was among 21 presidential candidates who appeared at Clyburn’s fish fry in 2019, later overcoming early primary setbacks to win decisively in South Carolina after receiving Clyburn’s endorsement.
At 85, the senior member of South Carolina’s Democratic delegation is pursuing an 18th term representing the 6th District, a goal that appears secure following the redistricting defeat.
However, Clyburn, one of the eldest Democrats in Washington, has described it as an “open question” whether this term might be his final one, and a large field of Democratic candidates is expected to emerge whenever he decides to step down.
The end of November’s midterm elections will unofficially launch the 2028 presidential primary season. While the Democratic voting sequence won’t be determined for months, the early competition for attention has already intensified across multiple states — including South Carolina — that candidates hope will be crucial in selecting party nominees.
Beshear appears to be positioning himself among potential candidates. He has concentrated much of his efforts on building relationships with labor leaders who supported Biden’s successful 2020 campaign. This year alone, the two-term governor has delivered keynote remarks at the New Hampshire Democratic Party convention, raised funds for local Democrats and participated in discussions at AFL-CIO headquarters.
Last summer, he visited South Carolina for two days, speaking at an AFL-CIO convention and meeting with party officials throughout the state.
Beshear isn’t the only national figure attending. California Rep. Ro Khanna, who has also made multiple recent trips to South Carolina, will headline Saturday’s state convention and attend Friday’s dinner.
South Carolina’s annual gathering takes place as the Democratic National Committee considers its 2028 primary schedule. The state is campaigning to maintain its first-in-the-nation status, though party leaders say they wouldn’t consider it a defeat if another state opened the calendar.
The crucial element, they emphasize, is preserving South Carolina’s position as an early primary state, which brings regular attention — and campaign dollars — from Democrats to a state that typically supports Republicans in general elections.
On Thursday, Democratic party leaders from five southern states sent a letter to DNC officials encouraging them to again select South Carolina for the opening primary slot.
