South Carolina Republicans headed to the polls Tuesday to choose their party’s nominee to lead the fastest-growing state in the nation.
<a href="https://votes.decisiondeskhq.com/races/2026-06-09/south-carolina-governor-republican-primary">With 41% of the vote counted</a>, Trump-endorsed candidate Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette leads the crowded field with 29% of the vote, followed by Attorney General Alan Wilson’s 26% vote share. With no candidates passing the 50% threshold, Evette and Wilson are projected to face off again in a June 23 runoff. Decision Desk HQ called the race at 8:26 p.m. ET. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Decision Desk HQ projects Pamela Evette and Alan Wilson advance in SC Governor Republican Primary<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/DecisionMade?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DecisionMade</a>: 8:26 PM EDT <a href="https://t.co/BoDlI7JwSb">pic.twitter.com/BoDlI7JwSb</a>
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) <a href="https://x.com/DecisionDeskHQ/status/2064505105697669179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
Seven Republicans competed to replace Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, including Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, U.S. Representatives Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, State Senator Josh Kimbrell, and businessman Rom Reddy. 
<a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/governor/republican-primary/2026/south-carolina">Polling showed a tight race</a> with a large share of undecided voters. Kimbrell, who consistently polled in the single digits, <a href="https://www.wyff4.com/article/state-senator-josh-kimbrell-drops-from-sc-governors-race/71488701">dropped out</a> of the race this week
The results offer the latest sign of President Trump’s endorsement power, who recently intervened in the wide-open race.  
“Highly Respected and very popular Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, Pam Evette, is an America First Patriot who has been with me from the very beginning. She never wavered, never let me down, and was the only South Carolina Gubernatorial Candidate to Endorse me as soon as I launched my 2024 Presidential Campaign,” Trump said in a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116660051960105935">May 29 Truth Social Post</a>. 
“Pam Evette is a good friend, fighter, and WINNER, and will be a terrific Governor of South Carolina. Pam has my Complete and Total Endorsement — SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
Trump’s endorsement appeared to blindside other Republicans in the race, including Congresswoman Mace, who chalked up the decision as political retaliation. 
“I knew it was on the line when I voted to release the Epstein files, and I&#8217;m a survivor, but if the price to pay for an endorsement was to not release those files, I would never, I would never pay it,” <a href="https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2063582903037030428?s=20">Mace told Fox</a>. “So I knew it was on the line, and I disagree with this endorsement, and I&#8217;m going to vote for myself.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Rep. Nancy Mace tells Fox News Digital that she believes President Trump refused to endorse her in South Carolina&#8217;s gubernatorial race because of her vote in Congress to push for the release of the Epstein files.
&#8220;If the price to pay for an endorsement was to not release those… <a href="https://t.co/pVQgg1vFfA">pic.twitter.com/pVQgg1vFfA</a>
— Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2063582903037030428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
GOP frontrunner Evette pushed back on that characterization. 
“Congresswoman Mace has crossed the President many times we have seen since her time in DC,” Evette said in an interview. “She probably has a list of reasons why she was not on President Trump&#8217;s list of people he felt earned and deserved his endorsement.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
NEW: <a href="https://x.com/PamelaEvette?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PamelaEvette</a> responds to <a href="https://x.com/NancyMace?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NancyMace</a>&#8216;s claim that her push to release the Epstein files cost her Trump&#8217;s endorsement.
&#8220;Mace has crossed the President many times&#8230; She probably has a list of reasons why she was not on President Trump&#8217;s list.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/vR9is8BHkI">https://t.co/vR9is8BHkI</a> <a href="https://t.co/v8XB4MAln1">pic.twitter.com/v8XB4MAln1</a>
— Ryan Schmelz (@RyanSchmelzFOX) <a href="https://x.com/RyanSchmelzFOX/status/2063709036046877046?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
The next governor faces myriad challenges, including <a href="https://infrastructurereportcard.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/SC_IRC_2021-Report-9-7-2021_Reduced-Size.pdf?_gl=1*b7us0p*_up*MQ..*_ga*MzM3OTk4ODU0LjE3ODA5NTE5NzM.*_ga_C9EX6BGYX5*czE3ODA5NTE5NzEkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODA5NTE5NzEkajYwJGwwJGgw">outdated infrastructure</a>, a <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10767419/">strained healthcare system,</a> and <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/south-carolina">lagging educational outcomes</a>. 
Still, people across the country continue to pack up their lives and move to the Palmetto State in record numbers. Between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, South Carolina’s population grew by 1.5 percent — faster than any other state—according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
“Overall, South Carolina’s population continues to grow rapidly, largely as a result of migration from other states—though growth has slowed since its pandemic-era peak, when the expansion of remote work along with elevated labor market turnover led to unusually high rates of relocation across the country,” <a href="https://dew.sc.gov/labor-market-information-blog/2026-02/south-carolina-records-fastest-population-growth-country">South Carolina’s Department of Employment said in a report</a>.
The state also held Senate and congressional primaries. <a href="https://x.com/DecisionDeskHQ/status/2064500793470779631?s=20">Voters renominated</a> Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally seeking his fifth term, who has faced increasing criticism over his interventionist foreign policy views.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Decision Desk HQ projects Lindsey Graham wins the SC US Senate Republican Primary<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/DecisionMade?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DecisionMade</a>: 8:10 PM EDT <a href="https://t.co/9ct87yBqvz">pic.twitter.com/9ct87yBqvz</a>
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) <a href="https://x.com/DecisionDeskHQ/status/2064500793470779631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
On Monday night. Trump made an 11th-hour push for Graham and Evette. 
“I will be doing a TeleRally LIVE at 5:30 P.M. EST for Senator Lindsey Graham and South Carolina Gubernatorial Candidate Pamela Evette — Both have my Complete and Total Endorsement,” <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116716568733590358">he said on Truth Social.</a> They will never let you down! Vote for Lindsey and Pam. They LOVE the great people of South Carolina, and so do I!!! 
Going into November, the <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/senate/race/488671">Cook Political Report</a> ranks both the gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races as solid Republican.

trump_southcarolina

Trump-Backed Candidate Advances In South Carolina Governor Primary

Elections

News

Politics

South Carolina

Federal immigration authorities detained dozens of workers and arrested company officials during a major raid at a South Carolina manufacturing plant this week, the culmination of what state officials described as a years-long investigation into the employment of illegal immigrants.
The operation, <a href="https://www.foxcarolina.com/2026/06/04/ag-48-detained-by-ice-operation-burnstein-von-seelen-6-indicted/">dubbed</a> “Operation Ghost Story,” targeted Burnstein von Seelen Precision Castings in Abbeville, a city roughly 86 miles from Columbia. Authorities said 48 workers were detained and are being investigated for potential immigration violations. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🚨HOLY CRAP!!!
An absolutely MASSIVE operation is underway as ICE has SURROUNDED a casting company in rural South Carolina.
A criminal search warrant is currently being executed for the alleged hiring of illegal aliens&#8230;
There are literally HUNDREDS of people in handcuffs!!! <a href="https://t.co/lcBLPj7cKn">pic.twitter.com/lcBLPj7cKn</a>
— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) <a href="https://x.com/mattvanswol/status/2062293719945019527?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Officials also announced criminal charges against plant manager Christopher Ramey and human resources coordinator Sandy Willis. The two are accused of conspiracy, identity fraud related to employment, and forgery. 

Four additional defendants were charged with supplying fake identification documents that workers used to obtain employment. One of the defendants, Jose Luis Aguilar Mejia, is currently at large and wanted by authorities.
ICE partnered with the Department of Homeland Security, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Abbeville and Greenwood County Sheriff&#8217;s Offices, the Eighth Circuit Solicitor’s Office, and other state and local agencies in carrying out the operation.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark A. Keel <a href="https://www.wyff4.com/article/ice-raid-employees-arrested-south-carolina-business/71493075">called</a> this raid “the direct result of an exhaustive, years-long investigation.”  
 
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said the operation demonstrates the state&#8217;s commitment to enforcing immigration and identity fraud laws.
“If you are unlawfully aiding illegal immigrants in South Carolina, you are going to be investigated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Wilson stated in a press conference. “If you are taking advantage of hard-working Americans, stealing their identities, and are intentionally ignoring your responsibilities as an employer in an effort to circumvent the law, we are coming for you.”
Burnstein von Seelen Precision Castings manufactures precision pieces for major corporations such as General Electric, General Dynamics, and Siemens.

Immigration Advocates Demonstrate And Clash With Officers Outside Delaney Hall Detention Facility In Newark

Years-Long Probe Leads To Major ICE Raid At Manufacturing Plant

Department of Homeland Security

homeland security

illegal alien

Illegal Immigation

illegal immigrant

illegal immigrants

Illegal Immigration

Illegals

Immigration

Law Enforcement

law enforcements

Police

For years, the federal government handed out money for important scientific research based on racially-focused “diversity” goals and requirements. 
Since beginning his second term in office, President Donald Trump has moved to banish diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from the federal grant process through executive orders. Rep. Ralph Norman, a Republican from South Carolina, wants to ensure those racially-focused requirements, once implemented by the nation’s largest funders of scientific research, do not return.  
“Taxpayer-funded research should be awarded based on merit, innovation, and results, not DEI-driven activist handouts,” Norman told The Daily Wire. “Americans are tired of watching universities prioritize ideological checkboxes over achievement.”
&nbsp;
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Norman, running in the South Carolina governor&#8217;s race on an anti-DEI platform, introduced a <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/1046071956/NORMAN-Merit-Restoration-Act?_gl=1*1jcsz0b*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTk1OTI2NzA0OC4xNzgwNDE3MjMx*_ga_Z4ZC50DED6*czE3ODA0MTcyMzAkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODA0MTcyMzQkajU2JGwwJGgw*_ga_8KZ8BV0P5W*czE3ODA0MTcyMzAkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODA0MTcyMzQkajU2JGwwJGgw">bill</a> on Tuesday that would ban the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health from using DEI requirements or diversity mandates when deciding which scientific projects to fund. 
The bill, known as the Merit Restoration Act, states that federal research agencies “may not use any prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion practice in awarding, evaluating, or continuing a Federal research grant.”
In archived pages, the National Science Foundation, which has an annual budget of more than $8 billion, <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/bpe-broadening-participation-engineering/505962/nsf22-514/solicitation">said</a> one of the agency&#8217;s main priorities was increasing the participation of “underrepresented groups” and women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 
This focus was reflected in the agency&#8217;s Broadening Participation in Engineering <a href="https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/bpe-broadening-participation-engineering/505632/pd19-7680">program,</a> designed to increase the involvement of racial and sexual minorities in engineering. It defined underrepresented races as people who are black, Hispanic, American Indians, and Pacific Islander. 
&nbsp;
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1106913" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-02-at-10.58.02-AM.png" alt="" width="1551" height="529" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-02-at-10.58.02-AM.png 1551w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-02-at-10.58.02-AM-300x102.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-02-at-10.58.02-AM-1024x349.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-02-at-10.58.02-AM-768x262.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-02-at-10.58.02-AM-1536x524.png 1536w" sizes=" (max-width: 1551px) 100vw, 1551px" /></div>
Other NSF grants have also been used to fund travel to academic <a href="https://www2024.thewebconf.org/attending/nsf-student-travel-awards/">conferences</a> that <a href="https://www.wsdm-conference.org/2024/nsf-student-travel-awards/">gave</a> &#8220;priority&#8221; for scholarships to individuals from “underrepresented groups.” 
Another example listed by Norman’s office was an NIH research education program <a href="https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-21-020.html">focused</a> on “educational activities that encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, to pursue further studies or careers in research.”
These types of programs came as NIH had an official statement on its “interest in diversity” that said that it encouraged “institutions to diversify their student and faculty populations to enhance the participation of individuals from groups that are underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences.”
That NIH page has been <a href="https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-20-031.html">deleted</a> as the Trump administration has moved to eliminate DEI-focused funding. 
The Trump administration has also faced litigation over its decision to terminate more than 1,000 grants related to DEI or radical gender ideology. In December 2025, the agency agreed to a settlement to review grants on a standardized case-by-case basis. Many of the projects impacted were kept sealed from the public record, making it difficult to determine exactly which grants were involved.
“Federal research dollars should support the strongest proposals and the best science, whether in medicine, engineering, or scientific innovation, not political agendas,” Norman told The Daily Wire. “That’s what taxpayers expect and deserve.”

The answers are all in the details

Trump’s Effort To Purge DEI From Science Funding Could Be Locked Into Law

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Trump Administration

The Trump-led redistricting effort in South Carolina failed in the state senate Tuesday after several Republicans defected to join Democrats in blocking the new map from advancing to a final vote.
The 20-24 vote fell short of the 26 needed to move the map forward, a defeat that came despite Trump&#8217;s public pressure on South Carolina Republicans to follow the lead of red states such as Texas, Florida, and North Carolina and give the GOP a stronger advantage in November&#8217;s pivotal elections.
The new map, which passed the state house last week, would have axed the state&#8217;s lone Democratic district, represented by longtime Democratic Rep. James Clyburn. The failed vote is a significant setback to President Trump&#8217;s redistricting agenda, which suffered an additional defeat Tuesday after a panel of federal judges blocked the use of a Republican-backed map in Alabama.
Several Republican defectors joined all Democrats in voting against advancing the map, a move that closely <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/indiana-senate-rejects-trump-backed-redistricting-bid-dealing-blow-to-gops-2026-outlook">mirrors</a> the Indiana state senate&#8217;s December action after it rejected a map that would likely have flipped two Democratic seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The vote reportedly came as a surprise to the Trump administration, with an administration official <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/south-carolinas-redistricting-effort-fails-state-senate-gop-opposition-rcna346962">telling</a> NBC News that &#8220;the votes were there&#8221; and that the White House had &#8220;no new information&#8221; indicating the map would fail to advance. Another White House adviser called the vote a &#8220;betrayal.&#8221;
GOP leadership in the state senate had shown some resistance to enacting the new map, given that primary elections were already underway across the state.
“Republicans are stronger when the Democrat Party is vibrant and viable,” GOP Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/south-carolina-state-senate-rejects-effort-tackle-redistricting-pressu-rcna344815">said</a> earlier this month, adding that he refused to surrender to Trump on this issue. “I have too much Southern blood in me to surrender. Indeed, as some of you will recognize, it is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid, to think and act for myself.”
Following the vote, several Republican state senators defended their votes on more practical grounds.
“South Carolina citizens are going to the polls today. And neither my conscience or common sense is going to let me stop an election that is already underway,” Republican state Sen. Richard Cash <a href="https://www.southcarolinapublicradio.org/sc-news/2026-05-26/sc-senate-rejects-president-trumps-call-to-redraw-congressional-maps">said</a>.
To proponents of the bill, the &#8220;too late&#8221; rationale expressed by defecting GOP state senators is simply a cover for ducking a tough vote, given that the senators had debated the map for weeks before voting even began. The affected congressional primaries, after all, would merely have been rescheduled to August.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump had personally urged South Carolina lawmakers to move forward with the measure. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was “watching closely” and called on state Republicans to “be bold and courageous,” citing Tennessee’s recent decision to split up its only deep blue district.
Tuesday&#8217;s vote arrives on the heels of state senate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-flexes-political-muscle-against-republicans-who-bucked-him-on-redistricting?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=13&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Flexes+Political+Muscle+Against+Republicans+Who+Bucked+Him+On+Redistricting">primaries</a> in Indiana, where five of the seven Republican state senators who resisted a Trump-aligned redistricting effort were ousted in their primaries by challengers carrying the president’s endorsement — a stark omen for the South Carolina defectors.
Drew Berkemeyer contributed to this report.

Republicans Revolt And Hand Dems Stunning Win Against Trump’s Redistricting Push

Redistricting

Republicans

May 14 (Reuters) &#8211; Republicans in Louisiana and South Carolina on Thursday took steps toward installing new congressional maps aimed at eliminating one Democratic-held seat in each state, as a national redistricting battle expands further across the South.
In Louisiana, the Republican-controlled state Senate passed a new congressional map that eliminates one of the state&#8217;s two Democratic-held, majority-black U.S. House districts, paving the way for Republicans to pick up an additional seat in November&#8217;s midterm elections.
And in South Carolina, Republican Governor Henry McMaster on Thursday reversed positions and called for a special legislative session starting on Friday to consider redrawing the state&#8217;s congressional map, a move that would likely oust longtime Democratic U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn from Congress in November’s midterm elections.
Republican-led Southern states have raced to redraw their congressional maps after the U.S. Supreme Court&#8217;s decision two weeks ago that severely weakened protections for districts with significant minority populations. Tennessee and Alabama have also either split up Democratic districts or taken steps to do so.
The new round of redistricting is part of a broader national fight that is likely to give Republicans a major boost as they seek to preserve a narrow majority in this fall’s election, though Democrats are still seen as favored to win the House given President Donald Trump&#8217;s sagging approval ratings.
The Louisiana map, which was approved 27-10 along party lines, will next head to the state House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a more than two-thirds majority.
Republican Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry previously suspended the congressional primary elections a day after the Supreme Court decision and only two days before early in-person voting was set to begin. Thousands of absentee ballots had already been returned by mail.
Democratic lawmakers, civil rights activists, and voting rights advocates have criticized the proposed map for diluting the electoral power of black residents, who make up about one-third of the state’s population. The new map would likely result in Republicans winning five of the state’s six districts in November.
&#8220;This Senate should seek to support a map that gives everyone a voice,&#8221; Democratic state Senator Katrina Jackson-Andrews said from the Senate floor on Thursday.
Republicans, including the bill&#8217;s sponsor, state Senator Jay Morris, said the map was drawn solely for partisan advantage, rather than along racial lines.
The current map, which includes majority-black districts centered in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, which found lawmakers relied too heavily on race in crafting the lines.
The new map includes only a single Democratic district that connects the two cities, which could pit the two Democratic incumbent U.S. representatives, Troy Carter and Cleo Fields, against one another.
In South Carolina, McMaster’s announcement came two days after a vote to extend the legislative session and consider a new map failed in the state Senate, when five Republicans broke with their party to deny the required two-thirds majority.
McMaster had previously indicated he would defer to the legislature. But Trump has pressured state Republicans to pursue a new map that would eliminate the state’s lone Democratic district, held by Clyburn, a black Democrat who is a leading figure within his party and has served in Congress since 1993.
Unlike the resolution that failed this week, any new map would only require a simple majority vote in both legislative chambers, which are dominated by Republicans.
The state House of Representatives has already advanced a proposal that would split up Clyburn’s seat while postponing the June 9 primary elections until August to accommodate the new district lines. Republicans hold the state’s other six districts.
(Reporting by Joseph AxEditing by Rod Nickel and Lincoln Feast.)

Supreme Court redistricting ruling throws Louisiana primary into chaos

Republicans Move To Wipe Out Democrat Seats In Louisiana, South Carolina

Congress

Louisiana

Alex Murdaugh will get a new trial after the South Carolina Supreme Court <a href="https://www.sccourts.org/media/opinions/HTMLFiles/SC/28329.pdf">overturned</a> his murder convictions on Wednesday, saying that a court clerk &#8220;placed her fingers on the scales of justice.&#8221; 
Murdaugh’s trial, which drew national attention thanks to a popular Netflix documentary, was tainted by Colleton County Clerk Rebecca Hill, who attempted to influence the outcome of the trial, &#8220;thereby denying Murdaugh his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury,&#8221; justices ruled. The decision was unanimous. 
&#8220;Our justice system provides — indeed demands — that every person is entitled to a fair trial, which includes an impartial jury untainted by external forces bent on influencing the jury toward a biased verdict,&#8221; the justices wrote. &#8220;Although we are aware of the time, money, and effort expended for this lengthy trial, we have no choice but to reverse the denial of Murdaugh&#8217;s motion for a new trial due to Hill&#8217;s improper external influences on the jury and remand for a new trial.&#8221;
Jurors stated that Hill told the jury “not to be fooled” by evidence provided by Murdaugh’s attorneys and “to watch him closely.” 
One juror said she “felt influenced to find Murdaugh guilty by Hill&#8217;s remarks before she entered the jury room, and once deliberations began, she felt additional pressure from the other jurors to reach a guilty verdict,&#8221; according to an affidavit. 
Other jurors testified to hearing Hill’s comments but claimed her statements did not affect their decision. The South Carolina Supreme Court&#8217;s opinion states that Hill denied making “most of the comments the jurors related” and also denied attempting to influence the jury. 
The trial began in late January 2023 and quickly gained attention thanks to the documentary series &#8220;Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal,&#8221; which premiered on February 22, 2023. A guilty verdict was delivered on March 2, 2023.
In July of 2023, Hill published a book along with two co-authors titled “Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders.” Rhonda McElveen, a court clerk who assisted Hill with the trial, told the South Carolina Supreme Court that Hill “repeatedly told her she wanted to write a book so she could buy a lake house, and a guilty verdict would be the best way to sell books.” McElveen also revealed that Hill gave a juror a ride home. 
McElveen said she did not hear Hill make inappropriate comments to the jurors, but that Hill would make comments to her, staff, and the press that were &#8220;strikingly similar to those Juror Z reported.” 
Hill has denied “wanting a guilty verdict because it would sell more books” and claimed that the “outcome of the trial did not matter to her.” 
Ultimately, the South Carolina Supreme Court wrote, “We are accordingly constrained to reverse the post-trial court&#8217;s denial of Murdaugh&#8217;s motion and remand for a new trial consistent with this opinion” due to Hill’s “shocking jury interference.&#8221; 
The so-called “Southern Scandal” involved one of South Carolina’s most powerful families. Murdaugh was charged with brutally killing his wife and son. He was later found guilty of committing financial crimes in 2023 and faced scrutiny after a fatal boat accident in 2019 involving his other son. Murdaugh broke with tradition by testifying in his own defense, adding to the intrigue as all the layers of the shocking story came to light inside the small-town South Carolina courtroom.
During the first trial, journalists and cameras were permitted in the courtroom, allowing the public to follow the trial in real time.

Alex Murdaugh

Court Overturns Conviction In Shocking Twist To Murder Case That Gripped The Nation

True Crime

South Carolina Republicans hit a major roadblock Tuesday in their effort to redraw the state’s congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterm, when Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey joined a handful of Republicans to block a Trump-backed plan that could have eliminated longtime Democratic Rep. James Clyburn’s seat.
The state Senate voted 29-17 for a resolution that would have extended the legislative session to take up congressional redistricting, falling two votes short of the two-thirds threshold needed for passage. Five Republicans sided with Democrats to kill the measure, effectively halting, at least for now, a plan that conservatives hoped would break up South Carolina’s lone majority-black district and potentially flip another House seat for Republicans.
The failed vote comes as Republican-led states across the South move aggressively to redraw congressional maps after a recent Supreme Court ruling sharply limited the use of race in redistricting challenges, opening the door for states to dismantle majority-minority districts previously protected under the Voting Rights Act.
President Donald Trump had personally urged South Carolina lawmakers to move forward. In a Monday post on Truth Social, Trump said he was “watching closely” and called on state Republicans to “be bold and courageous,” citing Tennessee’s recent decision to split up its only deep blue district.
This legislative clash arrives on the heels of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-flexes-political-muscle-against-republicans-who-bucked-him-on-redistricting?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=13&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Flexes+Political+Muscle+Against+Republicans+Who+Bucked+Him+On+Redistricting">state senate primaries in Indiana</a>, where five of the seven Republican state senators who resisted a Trump-aligned redistricting effort were ousted in their primaries by challengers carrying the president&#8217;s endorsement — a stark omen for the South Carolina holdouts.
But Massey, a Republican from Edgefield and the South Carolina Senate’s top GOP leader, delivered a lengthy floor speech opposing the effort and warning that redrawing the map could backfire politically. “I believe that our state is stronger with vibrant parties,” Massey said. “Republicans are stronger when the Democrat Party is vibrant and viable.” 
Massey also framed his opposition as a rejection of pressure from Washington, indirectly brushing off Trump’s demands while invoking South Carolina’s rebellious political heritage. “I have too much Southern blood in me to surrender,” Massey said on the Senate floor. “Indeed, as some of you will recognize, it is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid, to think and act for myself.”
South Carolina’s current congressional map already heavily favors Republicans, who hold six of the state’s seven U.S. House seats. Clyburn’s 6th District remains the only Democrat-held seat and the only majority-black district in the state. The proposed redraw would have dispersed portions of the district’s Democratic base into neighboring Republican districts, likely making Clyburn’s reelection path far more difficult.
Massey added that redistricting as a gamble was too risky, warning that moving Democratic voters into adjacent districts could accidentally strengthen Democrats elsewhere and potentially reduce the GOP’s current 6-1 advantage. “The numbers are not reliable,” Massey said on the Senate floor. “What I do know is that we are 6-1 today. If we start tinkering with this, my concern is that we could make this a whole lot worse.” 
Other Republican lawmakers <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/12/south-carolina-republicans-defy-trump-redistricting">echoed that argument</a>, noting that South Carolina’s rapid population growth since 2020 means current district modeling may be outdated, and that attempting to redraw the map just days before the state’s primary calendar begins leaves little room for error.
The setback is notable because Republicans nationally have used mid-decade redistricting to shore up their narrow House majority. States like <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/red-state-charges-ahead-with-plan-to-erase-final-dem-seat">Tennessee</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/red-state-wins-massive-supreme-court-victory-on-redistricting">Texas</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/florida-passes-new-maps-that-could-threaten-multiple-democratic-seats">Florida</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-is-a-different-era-republican-senator-says-gop-done-playing-defense?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=‘This+Is+A+Different+Era’%3A+Republican+Senator+Says+GOP+Done+Playing+Defense">Missouri</a>, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republicans-ramp-up-redistricting-push-after-supreme-court-ruling">Louisiana</a> have already moved to redraw maps in ways that could deliver additional Republican seats before November.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has not ruled out calling a special session to revisit redistricting, leaving open the possibility that the fight over Clyburn’s district is not over yet.

More Republicans May Be Headed For The Indiana Treatment After Redistricting Pushback

Donald Trump

Indiana

Former Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC) ended his brief return to the campaign trail on Wednesday, suspending his congressional comeback bid just weeks after launching it.
Instead, Sanford said he will start a nonprofit group focused on the national debt and government spending, which has been a top issue for the former lawmaker.
“After a lot of thought, I’ve concluded that the most effective way I can contribute right now is not by seeking office, but by helping build a broader movement focused on the country’s financial future,” Sanford said in a <a href="https://x.com/MarkSanford/status/2049849181515223086?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> on Thursday.
Sanford represented South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District from 2013 until 2019, and previously served in the seat from 1995 to 2001. He also served as governor of South Carolina, gaining national attention in 2009 after he falsely claimed to be hiking the Appalachian Trail while he was in Argentina having an affair.
“I want to make a difference here, and as I began to get back into the world of politics it really began to hit me how all of Washington&#8217;s major changes have come as a result of outside pressure. Technical changes come from within Washington, but to do more of that on the debt issue is to rearrange chairs on the Titanic. It will take public pressure to bring lasting change,” he added.
“I’m grateful to everyone who offered their support,” Sanford continued. “While this isn’t the race I initially set out to run, I believe this effort has the potential to make a broader and more lasting impact.”
Sanford previously mounted a primary challenge against President Donald Trump in 2020.
He was seeking a return to South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, which is ranked “Solid Republican” by the <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cook Political Report</a>. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) currently holds the seat, but she is running in a competitive primary for governor.
Sanford&#8217;s campaign launch earlier this month garnered some scrutiny, in part because it came on the same day as then-Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) resigned from Congress amid sexual misconduct allegations.
“Launching today of all days?” CBS News political correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns wrote on X.
Others had a more positive outlook for Sanford&#8217;s return, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-well-known-republican-is-making-a-comeback-and-his-past-is-part-of-the-story?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=A+Well-Known+Republican+Is+Making+A+Comeback+And+His+Past+Is+Part+Of+The+Story" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> reported.

Republican Presidential Candidate Mark Sanford Campaigns At The South Carolina Statehouse

Former GOP Congressman Ends His Comeback Bid, Shifts Focus To Advocacy

Mark Sanford

Nancy Mace

Former Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC), who previously had a controversial tenure as governor of South Carolina and challenged President Donald Trump for the 2020 presidential nomination, announced his comeback congressional bid on Tuesday.
Sanford continues to face political pushback over his June 2009 decision to leave the state for roughly a week to see his mistress in Argentina, which he lied about and instead said that he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. He did successfully return to Congress from 2013 to 2019, but lost the 2018 primary to Republican Katie Arrington.
“I’m running for Congress because I believe our country is at a tipping point,” he said, saying if the national debt is “left unaddressed, that debt will crush our economy.”
“If you believe as I do, I’m asking you join us in this fight,” he added.
He most recently made major headlines with unverified accusations that he had a relationship with journalist Olivia Nuzzi while she was covering his 2020 presidential bid, as she later left Vanity Fair as a result of that and possible improper ties with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The seat is currently held by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who is running for governor of South Carolina in a crowded Republican primary. The congressional district is rated “Solid Republican” by the <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cook Political Report</a>.
Although it was known that he would enter the race since late last month, his announcement triggered some negative reactions on X.
“Appalachian Trail is a thing because of you,” conservative commentator <a href="https://x.com/DLoesch/status/2044258447898665377?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dana Loesch</a> wrote.
“Launching today of all days?” CBS News Political Correspondent <a href="https://x.com/CHueyBurns/status/2044250334025941094?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caitlin Huey-Burns</a> tweeted, presumably a nod to Rep. Eric Swalwell’s (D-CA) resignation on Tuesday over multiple sexual misconduct allegations, including two individuals accusing the Democrat of sexual assault. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) also resigned on Tuesday following an affair scandal involving a female staffer who later ended up committing suicide.
However, some individuals on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/949018910832865/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a> were more complimentary.
“People look at the bad mistakes made not what the Governor has done for the state. This man can cut a budget in half. He will always always have my vote and I will always always have Marks back. Vote for the future people not the past,” one user wrote.
“If I still lived SC I would certainly vote for you. I lived in SC when you were Governor and thought you did an absolutely wonderful job,” another individual posted.
His decision to challenge Trump in 2020, although he suspended his campaign before any primaries, centered around the national debt.
“I’m suspending my race for the Presidency because impeachment has made my goal of making the debt, deficit, and spending issue a part of this presidential debate impossible right now,” Sanford stated at the time, according to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/mark-sanford-ends-longshot-republican-presidential-campaign-n1080791#:~:text=Mark%20Sanford%20ends%20long%2Dshot%20Republican%20presidential%20campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC News</a>.
The primary is on June 9.

Republican Mark Sanford Announces Run Against Trump, Gets Grilled About Past Scandal

A Well-Known Republican Is Making A Comeback And His Past Is Part Of The Story

House of Representatives

President Donald Trump reiterated his support on Friday afternoon for Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in his race to win re-election, as one of Graham&#8217;s main primary opponents, Paul Dans, appears to have exited the race.
<a href="https://www.fitsnews.com/2026/04/10/exclusive-paul-dans-withdraws-from-u-s-senate-race/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FITSNews</a> wrote on Friday that Dans was dropping out of the race, and Trump appeared to confirm the report. The Daily Wire reached out to the Dans campaign, but did not immediately hear back.
“Paul Dans has just dropped out of the South Carolina Senatorial Race against the Great Lindsey Graham,” <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116382196783520781" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trump</a> wrote.
“It all started to fall apart for Paul when a very Low IQ individual named Tucker Carlson ENDORSED him — THE KISS OF DEATH! Lindsey has a BIG lead, and is on his way to a spectacular VICTORY because he just, GETS THINGS DONE!” the president added.
In another post moments prior, Trump slammed Graham’s other primary opponent, Mark Lynch, in a Truth Social post, as the Republican senator has fended off critics who have said that he has been too hawkish on military action in the Middle East, particularly in Iran.
“Senator Lindsey Graham is doing a fantastic job. He is running against a LUNATIC named Mark Lynch, who supports perhaps the Worst Congressman in the History of our Country, Thomas Massie, of the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Trump said.
“I don’t have to go into great detail, but needless to say, Mark Lynch would be a DISASTER for the Republican Party, and Lindsey Graham just, GETS THE JOB DONE. VOTE FOR LINDSEY ALL THE WAY,” the <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116382183704204825" target="_blank" rel="noopener">president</a> added.
Lynch has not held back in his criticism of Graham on matters of foreign policy.
“Lindsey Graham represents a grave National Security threat to Americans, American soldiers, and to every man, woman, and child in the Middle East &#8212; whether Iranian or Israeli,” Lynch <a href="https://x.com/MarkLynchSC/status/2042678395482395085?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> Friday. “On June 9, we Dump Lindsey!”
Trump&#8217;s posts backing Graham were not a surprise, given the president and the senator have been close allies for some time.
However, the posts underscore how the president is firing back against those who have been critical of Operation Epic Fury in Iran, including with a post made on Thursday saying that a handful of podcasters slamming the war are “Low IQ.”
Graham chairs the Senate Budget Committee, which means he will play a critical role in securing congressional funding for the president’s military goals. Last week, the senator praised the Trump administration’s budget request for fiscal year 2027.
“President Trump’s budget is truly historic when it comes to defense spending. It is the most robust increase in defense spending in many years, and it is more than justified by the threats we face throughout the world,” Graham said in a <a href="https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2026/4/chairman-graham-statement-on-president-trump-s-fy27-budget-request" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. “When it comes to our national security, President Trump and his team are second to none.”
The Daily Wire reached out to the Lynch campaign for comment.

President Trump Returns To The  White House After Spending Holidays In Florida

Major Shakeup In Lindsey Graham Primary Race After Trump Blasts War Critics

2026 election

Lindsey Graham

Senate

U.S. Senate

Hundreds of measles cases have been confirmed in South Carolina, surpassing the number of infections from an outbreak in West Texas this past summer.
<p class="paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_elevate" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmkwxk87q00043b6s5tm6zaeg@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-article-gutter="true">As of Tuesday, 789 cases were reported in South Carolina. So far, 18 people, including children, have been hospitalized for complications from the disease. No deaths have been reported.
<p class="paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_elevate" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmkwxk87q00043b6s5tm6zaeg@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-article-gutter="true">At the height of the Texas outbreak, 762 cases were reported. That outbreak, which was tied to two deaths of school-aged children, was declared <a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/texas-announces-end-west-texas-measles-outbreak?utm_source=chatgpt.com">over</a> back in August.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/27/health/largest-us-measles-outbreak-south-carolina">supporting</a> South Carolina&#8217;s response to the outbreak by providing $1.4 million in requested aid. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is also working closely and regularly with state health officials.
The vast majority of those infected in South Carolina — an estimated 88% — are unvaccinated against measles. In Texas, too, the vast majority of those infected were unvaccinated or had no documented measles vaccination: more than 94%.
The surge in cases in numerous states has sparked outcry from some advocacy groups, who are blaming HHS and its leader, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy.
Protect Our Care, for example, projected “MEASLES HQ&#8221; on the D.C. HHS building on Tuesday, <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5698149-protect-our-care-protests-kennedy/">according</a> to The Hill. Another message said, &#8220;RFK JR: MAKING AMERICA SICK AGAIN.&#8221;
Notably, however, the CDC still recommends children receive the measles vaccine as part of the routine childhood immunization schedule. The immunization comes in the form of the MMR shot, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
“Under Secretary Kennedy, CDC surged resources, and multiple states declared measles outbreaks over in 2025,&#8221; HHS Press Secretary Emily Hilliard <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5698149-protect-our-care-protests-kennedy/">said</a> in a statement. &#8220;Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent measles, and the Secretary has been clear and consistent on this point. All vaccines on the CDC schedule, including MMR, remain covered by insurance, so families do not need to pay out of pocket to get vaccinated.&#8221;
&#8220;Additionally, the U.S. continues to fare better than Canada, Mexico, and Europe in overall measles burden,&#8221; she added. &#8220;This is an international problem.&#8221;
The decline in overall vaccination rates predates the Trump administration, and that&#8217;s due to the botched job of public health officials during the COVID pandemic, Hilliard argued.
“Declines in measles vaccination rates and erosion of public trust began well before this Administration,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Public confidence in health institutions was significantly undermined during the COVID era, particularly in states that imposed prolonged mandates and delivered inconsistent messaging. Those effects continue to be felt today.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rfk-jr-orders-major-overhaul-of-childhood-vaccine-schedule-heres-what-to-know?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=RFK+Jr.+Orders+Major+Overhaul+Of+Childhood+Vaccine+Schedule">RFK Jr. Orders Major Overhaul Of Childhood Vaccine Schedule</a>

One Death Reported As Texas Measles Outbreak Spreads

Health And Human Services Responds As Hundreds Of Measles Cases Confirmed In South Carolina

Disease

Health

Measles

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

U.S.

At least 14 states have declared a state of emergency as they brace for snow, record cold, and potentially crippling ice from a winter storm that will stretch from New Mexico to Maine.
Around 172 million people are in the storm&#8217;s path this weekend, with the ice being the biggest threat. Up to an inch of ice is possible in some spots in the Southeast, which is enough to down trees and power lines, potentially knocking out power for days. Some cities, such as New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., could see up to a foot or more of snow, while Minneapolis and Chicago face extreme cold. A polar vortex is expected to bring in frigid Arctic air to around 35 states following the major storm.
States that have declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is also preparing to respond to the storm, setting up staging areas in multiple locations, ABC News <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/live-updates/winter-storm-live-updates-tracking-dangerous-ice-snow/?id=129469173">reported</a>. In Louisiana, FEMA is preparing 250,000 meals, 400,000 liters of water, and 30 generators at Camp Minden near Shreveport.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders <a href="https://x.com/arkansasguard/status/2014734071088206232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2014734071088206232%7Ctwgr%5E8379399732f31524804ffc98aa29501a8f40a1f5%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fiframe.nbcnews.com%2FvDYMbArB%3F_showcaption%3Dfalseapp%3D1">ordered</a> 168 National Guard troops to active duty on Friday to support state police &#8220;until weather conditions improve.&#8221;
&#8220;Winter weather is headed our way as early as this evening. Stock up on essentials now, stay inside, and follow local and state guidance,&#8221; Sanders said on Friday morning.
In the South, where ice remains the biggest risk, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency <a href="https://x.com/TennesseeEMA/status/2014660446154821724">urged</a> residents to finalize their plans &#8220;and get home or to a safe place&#8221; by Friday night. In Texas, officials have warned residents to prepare for a &#8220;long-duration freeze&#8221; that will likely affect the state Saturday night through Monday night. Public buses and light rail trains will be completely shut down on Saturday afternoon in Austin, where the city&#8217;s mayor urged residents to stay indoors.
&#8220;Travel will become difficult, especially on bridges, overpasses, and untreated roadways,&#8221; <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/winter-weather/live-blog/winter-storm-snow-ice-weather-cold-live-updates-rcna255524/rcrd97174?canonicalCard=true">said</a> National Weather Service meteorologist Jason Runyon.
The storm will <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/winter-weather/live-blog/winter-storm-snow-ice-weather-cold-live-updates-rcna255524/rcrd97153?canonicalCard=true">move</a> across Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas on Friday night before ice and snow are expected to reach the Carolinas and Virginia by Saturday and into Sunday. The National Weather Service warned that heavy snow can also &#8220;bring multi-day Power Outages, block emergency routes, and cause Communication Loss from downed lines.&#8221; Cold temperatures are expected to persist throughout the first half of next week, potentially prolonging power outages and travel difficulties in many states that are ill-equipped to clear roads.

Winter Storm

Over A Dozen States Declare Emergencies As Americans Brace For Massive Winter Storm

Over A Dozen States Declare Emergencies As Americans Brace For Massive Winter Storm, Frigid Temps

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