Newsom Visits South Carolina, Criticizes GOP Policies, and Urges Voter Action

California Governor Gavin Newsom arrived in South Carolina this week to rally Democrats, highlight local challenges, and deliver a strong message against Republican leadership. The visit was part of a two-day, multi-county tour organized by the South Carolina Democratic Party.

Newsom made stops in several areas, including Kershaw, Marion, Chesterfield, Marlboro, Laurens, Pickens, Oconee, and Florence counties. According to party leaders, these communities have faced serious difficulties, such as job loss, underinvestment, and damage from climate-related disasters like wildfires and hurricanes.

During his visit, Newsom was joined by United States Representative James Clyburn and South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain. Together, they met with residents to discuss how Democratic policies could help rebuild and strengthen rural areas.

“Governor Newsom leads the largest economy in America and the fourth largest in the world,” Spain said. “He’s coming to meet folks in towns that have been hollowed out by decades of Republican control. This is about building partnerships and showing rural voters they aren’t forgotten.”

While speaking to supporters, Newsom criticized the Trump administration and current Republican leaders, claiming their policies were turning back the clock on critical rights and freedoms. He described it as “America in reverse,” pointing to issues such as voting rights, civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and women’s rights.

“They’re trying to bring us back to a pre-1960s world,” Newsom told the crowd. “It’s incumbent upon us to recognize this moment. You have agency. You can shape the future.”

He urged attendees to stay engaged and vote in upcoming elections to prevent a return of Trump to the White House. “We cannot allow him to win,” he said, calling on citizens to step forward and protect their communities.

Not everyone welcomed Newsom’s visit. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick released strong statements criticizing the California governor’s record. Wilson accused Newsom of harming small businesses and restricting individual freedoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. McKissick suggested Newsom was trying to export what he called “woke insanity” to South Carolina, where he said voters prefer conservative values.

Despite the pushback, Newsom remained focused on his message: that every voter has the power to create change and that no community should feel overlooked.