AGP Executive Report

South Carolina Politics: Rep. Nancy Mace conceded her bid for the GOP nomination for governor after President Trump’s endorsement went to Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson, who will face off in a June 23 runoff; Mace blamed the loss on her push to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. Statehouse Watch: In the same primary, Sen. Lindsey Graham won his GOP Senate nomination outright, while Democrat Annie Andrews took the Democratic Senate nod—setting up a November matchup. Local Elections: Beaufort County Council District 5 heads to a June 23 runoff after Joshua Hower and Mary Jeans Otto split the GOP vote; in House District 121, Shannon DeLoach unseated Michael Rivers Sr. Community & Care: C4 Ministries of Laurens County named Amanda Anderson its new executive director, aiming to expand shelter and eviction-prevention help. Sports & Culture: TIME100 Sports named Dawn Staley to its inaugural list, and Gamecocks guard Jordan Lee transferred to South Carolina from Texas. Kids & Family: A new KIDS COUNT report found child well-being declined nationally from 2019 to 2024, with many states slipping further post-COVID. Arts & Community: North Charleston’s Juneteenth Family Fest gets a spotlight in a “5 Questions With” feature on DJ Rubin.

South Carolina Primary Day: Polls closed Tuesday in the Palmetto State’s high-stakes June 9 primary, with voters choosing nominees for governor, attorney general, U.S. Senate, and the open 1st Congressional District seat—plus crowded House races; early voting set records, including major turnout in Charleston County. GOP Immigration Push: House Republicans narrowly advanced a nearly $70B immigration enforcement package to keep DHS/ICE funding flowing, a move tied to Trump’s broader deportation agenda. Iran Helicopter Fallout: The U.S. launched retaliatory strikes after an Apache helicopter was downed near the Strait of Hormuz; Trump blamed Iran and said the response must be strong. Local Culture & Arts: South Carolina Children’s Theatre is staging “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” bringing a youth-centered version of the Tony-winning musical to the Upstate. Sports Spotlight: Dawn Staley earned a spot on TIME100 Sports, with A’ja Wilson also recognized—another win for SC women’s basketball visibility. Community Safety: SC officials announced arrests tied to child sexual exploitation material, underscoring ongoing ICAC enforcement. Music Loss: Guitar innovator James “Blood” Ulmer, a genre-fusing trailblazer, died at 86.

South Carolina Primaries: Voters head to the polls Tuesday to narrow crowded governor and Senate fields, with early voting already shattering records (319,000+ ballots cast) and many races likely to hinge on whether candidates clear the 50% mark to avoid runoffs. Gubernatorial Buzz: The GOP contest is tightly tied to Donald Trump’s influence, with Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette backed by the president and Rep. Nancy Mace trailing in several final-poll snapshots heading into Election Day. Local History & Culture: On James Island, a historic cemetery near a baseball field is being reclaimed and restored, with preservationists using ground-penetrating radar to map unmarked graves tied to Gullah-Geechee roots. Family & Health: A MUSC expert breaks down early childhood speech and language delays—what parents may notice and when to seek help. Community & Summer Life: Greer’s Parks and Recreation is rolling out a full summer lineup, from arts programs to youth sports like rugby. Public Safety: The FBI warns South Carolina families about online predators targeting kids through gaming platforms. Sports & Entertainment: A’ja Wilson hit 6,000 WNBA points, and “Love Island USA” adds three new bombshells with Charleston ties. Education Watch: Fox Creek Middle School in North Augusta is nearing completion, but high first-year enrollment has already created a waitlist. Food & Fun: Mount Pleasant’s Sullivan’s Island area gets a new “Goldbug” shop location, plus a fresh Latin American restaurant opening in North Charleston. Health Alerts: Measles and whooping cough cases keep rising nationally, with South Carolina already seeing more cases this year than last.

School Safety Upgrade: Dorchester School District 2 is installing bullet-resistant classroom doors, with 15 Safe Haven Doors going into special education spaces as leaders respond to ongoing safety concerns. Local Education & Jobs: Greenville County Schools and Greenville Tech are expanding welding training, adding a Center for Welding and Automation Excellence to tackle a national shortage and boost hands-on pathways for students. Primary Election Pulse: South Carolina’s June 9 primaries are driving record early turnout, with 319,367 ballots cast statewide during early voting—plus voters in York County and beyond say costs and honesty are top issues. GOP Governor Race Tension: Anonymous attacks targeting Rom Reddy’s Indian heritage drew public pushback from Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and AG Alan Wilson, as the governor’s race heats up. Legal Spotlight: The state Supreme Court tapped Judge Debra R. McCaslin to oversee Alex Murdaugh’s retrial proceedings. Community & Culture: Beaufort’s The Chocolate Tree is set to reopen this fall, reviving a beloved Lowcountry tradition. Public Health Watch: Measles cases in the U.S. are on pace to surpass 2025’s record, with most cases tied to unvaccinated people. Sports & Pride: South Carolina’s Joyce Edwards and other stars helped Team USA win gold at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup.

GOP Governor Primary Drama: Rep. Nancy Mace’s campaign is scrambling after Trump endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette hours after Mace claimed Trump hadn’t backed her rival—fueling fresh doubt among Republicans heading into the June 9 vote. Election Watch: South Carolina’s crowded 2026 primary fields could hinge on who clears the 50% threshold to avoid a runoff, with key races for governor and Congress drawing heavy attention. Gamecock Basketball Afterglow: Freshman guard Agot Makeer is reflecting on a breakout March Madness run after South Carolina’s national title loss to UCLA, with her postseason impact already shaping what comes next. Lowcountry Culture Under Pressure: Gullah-Geechee traditions are facing mounting threats as health care and economic crises deepen, raising alarms about what’s being lost beyond politics. Child Welfare Snapshot: South Carolina jumped to its highest-ever KIDS Count ranking, but the report stresses progress varies sharply by county—especially where rural families lack strong schools and health access. New Post-Birth Practice: “Sitting the month” (zuo yuezi) is gaining acceptance among South Carolina mothers seeking rest and recovery after delivery. Health Care Ratings: CMS updates show mixed nursing home performance across the state, including a 3-star rating for Valley Falls Tearrace and a 4-star rating for Patewood Post Acute. Community & Culture: Fort Fremont on St. Helena Island unveiled a new mine planter model tied to Spanish-American War coastal defense, inviting visitors to see the exhibit free of charge.

Aviation & Community: Fairchild Air Force Base’s SkyFest 2026 drew big crowds with an F-16 Viper Demonstration Team roar, plus WWII and heavy transport aircraft—celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary and honoring service members overseas. Sports & Pride: South Carolina’s Joyce Edwards helped Team USA win gold at the 2026 FIBA 3×3 World Cup, with Gamecock connections continuing through teammates on the roster. Politics & Primary Season: South Carolina’s June 9 GOP primary includes two “temperature check” advisory questions on party registration and whether school board candidates can run with party labels. Education & Local Impact: A Riley Institute data tool is giving South Carolinians a clearer look at school performance by subgroup, while Spartanburg County mourns teacher Anna Maureen LeCoq after a fatal crash. Public Health: Measles remains a fast-moving concern nationwide, with South Carolina listed among the hardest-hit states this year. Local History: Jasper County is rolling out “Jasper County 250” banners in Ridgeland and Hardeeville to spotlight its Revolutionary War ties. Culture & Service: Miss Clemson 2026 Jenna Huggins (Charleston native) is set to compete for Miss South Carolina, promoting “More Than a Smile” oral health outreach.

South Carolina Politics: Rep. Nancy Mace says Trump’s endorsement of Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette didn’t move the needle with grassroots Republicans, setting up a tight GOP primary mood as voters head to the June 9 polls. Election Rules (SC ballot): South Carolina’s Republican primary includes two “temperature check” advisory questions—party registration and whether school board candidates can run with party labels—no direct law changes, but a signal for future election fights. Local Culture & Community: PridefestGreenville returned for its sixth year at Hampton Station with vendors, a silent disco, and drag performances, spotlighting LGBTQ community life in the Upstate. Public Safety: SLED charged a Blythewood man with threatening a public official through mailed letters that allegedly included intimate details and references to vantage points and a silencer. Health & Lifestyle: A travel piece highlights how more U.S. destinations are becoming autism-friendly through training and accessibility credentialing—useful for families planning summer trips. Sports Spotlight (SC): Gray Collegiate Academy standout Aspen Boulware earned repeat statewide honors and is headed to the University of South Carolina after another dominant season.

LGBTQ Pride & Community: PridefestGreenville returned for its sixth year at Hampton Station with drag, a silent disco, and dozens of vendors—another big signal of how Greenville’s culture scene keeps expanding. Politics & Reproductive-Era Fallout: Rep. Nancy Mace is still fighting for her governor bid narrative after Trump endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, with Mace doubling down online and pointing to her Epstein-files vote as part of the backlash. Voting Rights Fight: The U.S. Senate blocked Trump’s SAVE America Act, a major setback for efforts to require citizenship documents and photo ID for voting. Immigration & Family Safety: ICE operations in South Carolina continue to draw scrutiny, including reports of raids and detentions that have families and advocates demanding answers. Health Care Watch: New Medicaid spending snapshots show rising local bills in places like Edgefield (surgery services up 12.5% in 2024) and Mauldin (dental services up 1.6%). Local Lifestyle & Events: The Jean B. Purvis Community Health Center fundraiser kept cornhole and food trucks front-and-center—built around community care and honoring a longtime activist. Sports Spotlight: Gray Collegiate Academy’s Aspen Boulware racked up repeat state Player of the Year honors as she heads to USC. Energy & Environment: A pipeline company filed dozens of court petitions seeking survey access for a proposed natural gas line tied to a Colleton County power plant, as landowners and environmental groups push back.

Banking Leadership: Bank of America named Chip McLeod president of Upstate South Carolina, succeeding Stacy Brandon, as the company pushes deeper local client and community ties. Immigration Enforcement: A federal probe into fake identity documents led to ICE detaining 48 workers at an Abbeville metal casting plant, with six people facing state charges tied to alleged illegal hiring and document fraud. Public Safety & Community: Demonstrators in Bluffton protested an ICE operation at the Beaufort County Government Complex, arguing local cooperation with federal authorities harms immigrant families. Legal Threats: SLED arrested Dewayne Simmons of Blythewood for allegedly stalking and threatening state Rep. Seth Rose and his family. Culture & Arts: South Carolina author Julia Elliott won the 2026 Carol Shields Prize for Fiction for Hellions. History & Tourism: Fort Moultrie is set for a free Revolutionary War anniversary weekend with major programming tied to SC250. Local Business/Real Estate: Folly Beach’s Sand Dollar bar was sold, closing a deal that surprised longtime locals. Infrastructure: SCDOT’s Highway 17 widening near Myrtle Beach is nearing completion by end of 2026. Health Care Watch: CMS ratings spotlight multiple South Carolina nursing homes with low scores and significant fines, including Providence Group’s The Oaks Post Acute. Sports: Greenwood County Council advanced data center zoning rules amid calls for a moratorium, while the SEC/ACC Challenge matchups keep South Carolina basketball on the national radar.

Gubernatorial Buzz: A Trafalgar poll finds Nancy Mace trailing rivals in South Carolina’s crowded GOP governor primary, just after Donald Trump endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette—raising stakes for Tuesday’s vote. Early Voting Numbers: Nearly 269,000 South Carolinians cast ballots early ahead of the June 9 primary, with Lexington County alone topping 16,000. Election-Day Tensions: A video outside a Brookland Baptist Northeast polling site is fueling questions about what’s allowed near voters. High School Sports Leadership: SCHSL appoints Amy Boozer interim commissioner, replacing Jerome Singleton as the league starts a search for a permanent leader. Public Safety & Health: State leaders ran hurricane tabletop drills in West Columbia, while U.S. measles cases topped 2,000 again—prompting renewed attention to vaccination. Community & Culture: Spoleto’s Sottile Theatre hosted Ayodele Casel’s “The Remix,” blending tap, music, rap, and spoken word. Local Life: Clinton’s Pebbles Ice Cream Shop opens with dairy-free and gluten-free options and a mission to help people build work skills. Sports Spotlight: South Carolina women’s basketball lands a Duke trip for the 2026 SEC-ACC Challenge on Dec. 3.

Community & Safety: Dorchester School District Two is installing 15 bullet-resistant “Safe Haven” classroom doors in special education classrooms this summer, aiming to buy teachers extra seconds during emergencies. Public Health: South Carolina health officials confirmed a measles case in the Hampton County area, with additional people quarantined as the state watches for spread. Immigration & Families: In Abbeville County’s “Operation Ghost Story,” authorities say 48 workers were detained and six people indicted in an alleged fraudulent ID scheme tied to illegal employment, while advocates push for answers as families struggle to locate detained loved ones. Local Culture & Travel: Pawleys Island was named South Carolina’s best beach for a third straight year in a USA Today/10Best readers’ poll. Arts & History: The Obama Presidential Center is offering sneak peeks ahead of its Juneteenth opening, blending political and personal exhibits on a sprawling campus. Lifestyle & Learning: A “Teachable Moments” segment revisits National Safety Month basics for new teen drivers—distraction, buckling up, and staying focused. Sports & Wellness: Myrtle Beach hospitality leadership continues to shift, with The Ellie Beach Resort naming Mark Hucek as complex general manager.

Public Safety (Dashcam Rescue): A truck-driving preacher in Aiken County says his “divine” dashcam footage helped thwart an alleged kidnapping attempt after a woman ran in front of his rig with her hands cuffed; authorities arrested Jonathan Willard on kidnapping and impersonation charges. Immigration & Identity Fraud: South Carolina AG Alan Wilson announced “Operation Ghost Story,” with ICE detaining 48 workers and six people indicted in Abbeville tied to forged IDs and identity fraud at Burnstein Von Seelen Precision Casting. Justice & Accountability: SLED detailed misconduct by former Colleton County clerk of court Becky Hill, who pleaded guilty to misconduct in office, obstruction of justice and perjury tied to oversight of the Alex Murdaugh trial. Child Safety (CSAM Arrests): ICAC task force investigators arrested a Winnsboro man and a North Charleston man in separate cases involving alleged child sexual abuse material distribution/possession. Community Health (Measles): Hampton County reported a measles case, with quarantines in place and protection guidance for families. Local Culture & Family Life: Aiken’s public pool will host the “World’s Largest Swimming Lesson” June 26, a free event aimed at drowning prevention for kids and parents. Politics (Primary Season): U.S. Rep. William Timmons faces GOP challengers David Atchley and Robert E. Lee ahead of the June 9 primary, while state Sen. Josh Kimbrell suspended his governor bid and endorsed AG Alan Wilson.

Primary Pulse: South Carolina’s June 9 primaries are almost here, with early voting smashing records and voters in Greenville flagging the economy, taxes, and the federal budget deficit as top worries. Voting How-To: Polls run 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., photo ID is required, and early voting runs through June 5. Food & Family: Harvest Hope Food Bank is launching free summer meal distributions across SC, packing five days of USDA-standard breakfast, lunch, and snacks for kids under 18. Local Culture: Spoleto Festival USA brought Charleston’s “Porgy and Bess” history to the Gaillard Center with a new “untold story” program. Community Stories: StoryCorps spotlights a South Carolina LGBTQ family sharing “How I came to be,” with Jonah and his two moms. Health & Aging: CMS data highlights big differences across SC nursing homes, from top-rated facilities to lower scores and fines. Politics & Power: A Supreme Court voting-rights ruling is reshaping how districts are drawn, with major implications for voters of color.

Public Safety & Justice: A Myrtle Beach detective was arrested and fired after allegedly pointing his gun at a fellow officer inside the station, with the dispute reportedly sparked by microwaved fish. Community Safety: Mount Pleasant police say a 50-year-old man tackled children off bikes after “ding dong ditching” went on for weeks, then dragged one child into his home. Law Enforcement & Animals: Gov. Henry McMaster signed a new South Carolina law boosting penalties for harming police dogs and horses, including up to 15 years for intentional killing. Immigration Enforcement: ICE says it made 114 arrests in two South Carolina operations tied to “Operation Safe Drive” and “Operation Rubber Duck,” with major drug and cash seizures. Health Watch: South Carolina confirmed a measles case in an unvaccinated adult in Hampton County; eight potentially exposed people were told to quarantine. Politics (Democratic Primary): Three Democrats debated for governor ahead of the June 9 primary—Jermaine Johnson, Billy Webster, and Mullins McLeod—focusing on infrastructure, health care, education, and public safety. Culture & Arts: Greenville Chautauqua’s History Comes Alive festival returns June 12–23 with Revolutionary-era performances, including a portrayal of Fort Motte’s Rebecca Brewton Motte. Local Business & Heritage: Lexington’s Shoto’s Japanese Steakhouse and the nearby Candy Factory are set to be demolished after a downtown fire.

Sports & Talent Pipeline: Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks added two French players—6-foot-7 forward Alicia Tournebize (January) and Justine Loubens (April)—with France now making up 13% of the 2026-27 roster, and the program’s international pull continues as SC opens next season in Paris. Local Athletics: Hampton County High School’s Hurricane track teams brought home state titles, with Areyana Allen winning the 100m and Tyler Davis taking the 110 hurdles, plus Taryn Hanna and Jaylen Singletary named Female and Male Athletes of the Year. Community & Safety: Hunting Island Lighthouse reopened to the public after a four-year restoration, including stabilization of the cast-iron staircase and lantern room repairs. Arts & Culture: Grammy-winning R&B legend Peabo Bryson—born in Greenville and the voice behind Disney classics like “Beauty and the Beast” and “A Whole New World”—died at 75 after a stroke; Celine Dion also posted a tribute. Public Health & Aging Care: CMS Q1 2026 data spotlights nursing-home performance across the state, including top-rated standouts like Manna Post Acute (4 stars) and Lakes at Litchfield (5 stars), alongside lower ratings such as Achieve Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (1 star) and Millennium Post Acute Rehabilitation (1 star). Civic Life: Letters urge more pedestrian awareness on Charleston’s Calhoun Street corridor, calling out distracted phone use as a key risk.

Education & Local Control: The State Board of Education approved SCDE taking full management of the Marlboro County School District after years of fiscal trouble, including a move from Fiscal Watch to Fiscal Emergency—aimed at stabilizing leadership and getting back to a balanced budget. Community & Family Fun: Riverbanks Zoo’s Toucan Tuesdays return June 9–Aug. 11 with buy-one/get-one admission and ICEEs when guests donate two nonperishables to Harvest Hope Food Bank. Public Health: DPH expanded South Carolina’s newborn screening to include Hunter Syndrome and Fabry Disease, now testing 60 conditions and rolling out electronic reporting statewide through 2030. Sports & Culture: USC’s Athletics Hall of Fame announced Steve Spurrier and more 2026 inductees, including the 2010 and 2011 national champion baseball teams. Tech & Learning: LEMI Labs opened in Lakeside to help people learn and create with high-tech tools. Safety & Justice: A jury acquitted Columbia convenience store owner Rick Chow in the 2023 shooting of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton, while SLED investigates a separate officer-involved shooting during an ICAC search warrant in Fort Mill.