AGP Executive Report

South Carolina Primary Countdown: Polls open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, with voters required to bring a valid photo ID, as the state’s early voting record tops 318,600 ballots statewide. Governor Race Watch: The GOP governor primary is shaping up as a Trump endorsement test—Rep. Nancy Mace’s campaign fallout after Trump backed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, plus the question of whether Evette can survive a crowded field and avoid a runoff. U.S. Senate Spotlight: Sen. Lindsey Graham seeks a fifth term with a crowded GOP challenge list, making Tuesday’s results a key “who survives” moment. Nonprofit Transparency: New SC amendments to the Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act aim to boost donor disclosure and make compliance easier for charities and fundraisers. Legal Developments: In the Alex Murdaugh case, the state AG is moving to unseal court records tied to the dismissal of the “Egg Juror,” Myra Crosby. Local Governance & Growth: A Lowcountry piece highlights how infrastructure strain and climate pressures are colliding with development debates, including data centers and gas plants. Public Safety: SLED is investigating the death of a Union County inmate at the detention center, with an autopsy scheduled.

South Carolina Primaries: Tuesday’s June 9 statewide GOP primaries are set, with early voting already ending and voters urged to confirm registration at scvotes.gov; in Aiken County, North Augusta City Council races require requesting a Republican ballot, and multiple statewide offices—including governor, AG, comptroller general, and education posts—are on the ballot. U.S. Senate Race: Lindsey Graham is defending his seat in a crowded GOP primary field, with polling from The Citadel showing him with a double-digit lead over challenger Mark Lynch. Redistricting Fight: The U.S. Supreme Court let Alabama use a Republican-favored congressional map, rejecting an NAACP claim it “intentionally discriminate[s]” against Black voters—another sign redistricting battles may keep spreading. Public Safety: North Charleston police referred a Sunday Circle K shooting on Rivers Avenue to SLED for investigation. Energy Watch: GasBuddy reported a lowest midgrade price of $3.99 in Horry County and $3.79 regular in Newberry County for the week ending May 30, as South Carolina averages stayed volatile amid broader fuel-supply pressures. Military & Service: Shaw-based Air Force Viper Demonstration Team highlighted service overseas during Fairchilds’ SkyFest 2026, tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary. Health: A new study links upstream wetland loss since the 1980s to higher flood insurance payouts for coastal South Carolina homeowners, with Charleston-area impacts highlighted.

South Carolina GOP Primary: Rep. Nancy Mace says President Trump’s endorsement of Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette didn’t deliver a real “Trump bump,” arguing grassroots conservatives are “very upset” and that any gains are small ahead of the June 9 runoff. Ballot Questions: South Carolina Republicans will also answer two non-binding advisory questions on the primary ballot—whether voters should be able to register with any party and whether school board candidates can run with party labels—framed as a “political temperature check,” not a referendum. Campaign Trail: Evette campaigned in Florence, touting Pee Dee growth and urging voters to show up Tuesday with photo ID, as polling shows her leading in the governor’s race. Media & Accountability: The Post and Courier is reshuffling its opinion leadership, with Rick Nelson retiring as editorial page editor and Cindi Ross Scoppe set to take over June 22. Public Safety: Port Royal police say a sergeant was injured in an accidental discharge while cleaning his service pistol, with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Statehouse Watch: SLED charged a Blythewood man with threatening a public official, alleging detailed letters including possible vantage points and a “silencer.”

Elections & Voting Rights: The U.S. Senate blocked Trump’s SAVE America Act, rejecting voting restrictions that would have required document checks for registration, photo ID at the polls, and tighter rules on voter registration drives. South Carolina Politics: As South Carolina’s June 9 primaries near, early voting hit record levels, with York County topping 10,000 ballots and the state setting a new participation mark as voters head to the polls. Gubernatorial Race Watch: Rep. Nancy Mace’s primary bid faces fresh headwinds after Politico reported GOP insiders say her past controversies could give conservative voters pause, even as Trump’s endorsement of Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette looms large. Government Transparency: An editorial blasts Clemson trustees for a “secret search” that delays releasing finalist names, arguing it undermines the new president’s transparency pledge and the spirit of South Carolina’s public-records law. Public Safety: Charleston County’s pursuit of a motorcycle ended in a fatal crash in Summerville; the South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports show scattered low-price pockets across the state for the week ending May 30, with regular as low as $3.99 in Hampton County and diesel as low as $4.49 in Greenville County.

Immigration Enforcement: A federal investigation into a fake-identity hiring scheme led to an ICE raid at a metal casting business in Abbeville, detaining 48 workers and arresting two top managers, while state charges were filed against others tied to forged IDs. Local Public Safety: SLED arrested a man accused of stalking and threatening state Rep. Seth Rose and his family, alleging letters included “vantage points” and references to a “silencer.” Energy & Property Rights: A pipeline company filed dozens of court petitions seeking survey access from landowners in Hampton and Colleton counties for a proposed natural gas line tied to a new Dominion Energy and Santee Cooper plant. Election Pulse: South Carolina’s early voting ended with record turnout, with 318,000+ ballots cast ahead of the June 9 primary. Housing/Industry Zoning: Greenwood County Council advanced data center zoning rules as a conditional use, rejecting calls for a moratorium. Military & Defense: The U.S. Army is accelerating low-cost interceptor drone development after drone-kill lessons from a South Carolina exercise. Revolutionary War Commemoration: Fort Moultrie is set for a fee-free weekend marking the Battle of Sullivan’s Island, with 10,000+ expected.

Gun Violence & Public Safety: Richland County deputies say 23 guns were stolen from vehicles in May, a pattern tied to a Summit Ridge Drive shootout that killed an 18-year-old. Gubernatorial Politics: A Trafalgar poll shows Rep. Nancy Mace trailing rivals in South Carolina’s crowded GOP governor primary, days after President Trump endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette. Primary Turnout: Nearly 269,000 South Carolinians have voted early ahead of Tuesday’s primary, with Lexington County topping 16,000 early ballots. Elections & Polling Place Conduct: A video outside an early voting site raised questions about what’s allowed near polling locations, with state Rep. Hamilton Grant saying the man falsely accused him of being a gang member. State Government & Oversight: SLED charged a Richland County man with threatening state Rep. Seth Rose through the mail, alleging letters included “vantage points” and “street justice.” Education: Two longtime educators are competing in the Democratic primary for state superintendent, setting up a November fight against incumbent Ellen Weaver. Health & Local Funding: Charleston County council approved a bid for a $1.17M federal opioid grant to expand overdose prevention and recovery efforts. Human Interest: A Chester County deputy is praised for rescuing a woman from a burning crash while she was traveling to complete breast cancer radiation treatment.

Immigration Enforcement: South Carolina AG Alan Wilson says a multi-agency “Operation Ghost Story” in Abbeville led to ICE detaining 48 workers and a state grand jury indicting six people tied to fraudulent IDs and forged documents. Federal Watch: ICE is also changing how it reports detainee deaths, narrowing the window watchdogs say could hide more fatalities. Pentagon Hiring: The Trump administration reportedly placed a convicted Jan. 6 Capitol rioter into a sensitive Pentagon policy role. Courts & Tech: Florida’s Supreme Court tightened rules for AI in court filings, requiring lawyers to verify legal citations and warning courts can sanction bad submissions. Elections & Power: The NAACP is urging athletes to push back on Southern states’ redistricting and voting-rights rollbacks, including South Carolina. State Politics: South Carolina’s governor’s race remains in flux after Sen. Josh Kimbrell dropped out and endorsed AG Alan Wilson. Social Security: A budget watchdog warns Social Security could trigger an automatic benefit cut around 2032 if Congress doesn’t act.

Pentagon & Jan. 6 Fallout: A South Carolina-connected Jan. 6 rioter, Elias Irizarry, who pleaded guilty as a 19-year-old, has landed a sensitive Pentagon special-operations job with a top-secret clearance, drawing fresh questions about vetting and public trust. Immigration Enforcement: Attorney General Alan Wilson says ICE detained 48 workers at an Abbeville County precision casting plant and a state grand jury indicted six people tied to alleged fraudulent IDs in “Operation Ghost Story,” with ACLU urging caution on early claims. Gubernatorial Primary: GOP Rep. William Timmons faces challengers David Atchley and Robert E. Lee in the June 9 GOP primary, while Sen. Josh Kimbrell has suspended his longshot bid and is set to endorse Wilson. Public Safety & Courts: SLED charged former daycare employees with cruelty to children, and separate ICAC cases led to arrests tied to child sexual abuse material. Local Crime: Deputies report drugs and a firearm found after a Greenville pursuit, and a Myrtle Beach detective was fired after allegedly pointing a gun at a fellow officer over a microwaved-fish dispute. Boating Tragedy: SCDNR filed involuntary manslaughter charges in a Charleston County boating crash that killed a 19-year-old.

Election Countdown: South Carolina’s June 9 primary is days away, with polls open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and early voting already breaking records—more than 152,000 ballots cast in the first week statewide, including nearly 12,000 in Greenville County. Upstate Congressional Races: In contested primaries, Democrats Eunice Lehmacher and Ernest Mackins battle for the 3rd District nomination, while GOP incumbent William Timmons faces David Atchley and Robert E. Lee in the 4th. Governor’s Race Shakeup: State Sen. Josh Kimbrell has suspended his bid for governor but remains on the GOP ballot, citing “nastiest politics” and legal/personal attacks. Agriculture Commissioner: Republicans choose a new agriculture commissioner next week as farmers warn that fertilizer and diesel costs are squeezing margins. Public Safety: SLED is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Fort Mill where a 74-year-old man armed with a tire iron was shot and later died. Policy Watch: Attorney General Alan Wilson is pushing for rules on AI political ads as the campaign season heats up.

Pentagon & Jan. 6: The Washington Post reports the Trump administration hired South Carolina Jan. 6 rioter Elias Irizarry for a sensitive Pentagon counterterrorism job, raising fresh questions about vetting and classified access. Public Safety (Police animals): Gov. Henry McMaster signed a law boosting penalties for harming police dogs and horses, including up to 15 years for killing or severely injuring a police animal. Governor’s race (Democrats): Three Democrats—Jermaine Johnson, Billy Webster, and Mullins McLeod—took the debate stage ahead of the June 9 primary, focusing on health care, infrastructure, and jobs/data centers. Workplace violence (Myrtle Beach): Myrtle Beach detective Michael DeBiase was arrested and fired after an alleged dispute over microwaved fish escalated to him pointing a gun at a fellow officer. Immigration enforcement (SC): ICE says it made 114 arrests in two South Carolina operations tied to “Operation Safe Drive” and “Operation Rubber Duck,” with cocaine and cash seized. Health (Measles): South Carolina confirmed a Lowcountry measles case in an unvaccinated Hampton County adult after international travel, with eight potentially exposed people told to quarantine. Courts (Carmack-Belton): After Rick Chow’s acquittal in Cyrus Carmack-Belton’s shooting, the family’s attorney says a civil lawsuit will move forward. Gun theft crackdown: Sen. Lindsey Graham reintroduced a bill to raise penalties for “smash-and-grab” firearm thefts from licensed dealers.

U.S. Senate/Politics: South Carolina’s GOP primary season stays in focus as new challengers line up against longtime Sen. Lindsey Graham, including Greenville-area businessman Mark Lynch, who argues Graham has abandoned “America First” priorities. Elections/Access: Kershaw County is adding an early-voting site for the November general election, aiming to cut lines and improve access as state and county funding for early voting remains tight. Local Housing: Charleston County is putting $1.6 million behind a hotel-to-apartments conversion, targeting long-term low-income rent limits for 100 of 134 units. Public Safety/Law Enforcement: SLED is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Fort Mill after deputies served an Internet Crimes Against Children warrant; the suspect was hospitalized and no officers were hurt. Healthcare/Industry: Novant Health is buying a Hilton Head property for a new $25M medical campus expected to create about 50 jobs. State Policy/Health: A proposed cut to CDC wastewater surveillance funding could weaken early warning for COVID-19 outbreaks as a new variant spreads. Business/SC Economy: USA Rare Earth plans a $1.2B Cherokee County magnet and rare-earth metals facility, targeting commissioning in 2028. Courts/Justice: A former SC detective was jailed after an arrest warrant says he pointed a gun at an officer over microwaved fish.

Education Oversight: The South Carolina State Board of Education unanimously approved the state Department of Education taking full management of the Marlboro County School District, citing years of financial instability and audit findings, and noting SCDE has already helped produce the district’s first balanced budget since 2018-19. Elections Watch: South Carolina’s early voting is setting records, with more than 150,000 votes cast in the first week—already ahead of the full early-voting total in 2024—before voting ends Friday ahead of the June 9 primary. Campaign Trail: Three of six GOP gubernatorial candidates skipped a SCETV debate, including Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, AG Alan Wilson, and businessman Rom Reddy. Public Safety & Courts: A jury found former convenience store owner Chikei Rick Chow not guilty in the 2023 shooting death of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton, while separate local incidents include a Myrtle Beach former detective charged after allegedly pointing a gun at a coworker. State Policy: Attorney General Alan Wilson joined a Supreme Court brief backing a challenge to California’s DEI medical training mandates. Local Life: Officials in the Lowcountry are reminding riders that e-bikes must meet bicycle rules (not exceed 20 mph assisted speed) as tourist season ramps up.

SC Politics & Elections: South Carolina’s early voting surge is real: the SEC says 151,670 people voted in the first week of early voting for the June 9 statewide primaries—already topping the full 2024 early-voting total. Gubernatorial Race: The GOP governor primary debate is getting messy fast: SCETV reports three leading candidates skipped the Republican debate after President Trump’s endorsement of Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, leaving the stage half-empty and fueling “quid pro quo” accusations. Local Voting Rules: In Hampton County, voters must choose the Democratic primary to vote in most local races, since the county’s GOP field is effectively unopposed for local seats. State Government & Courts: A South Carolina jury found convenience store owner Chikei Rick Chow not guilty in the 2023 shooting death of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton, a case that sparked protests and grief across Richland County. Public Schools: Fort Mill School District is scrambling after state education officials corrected budget projections, cutting expected funding by about $1.04 million and putting the district below its current operating level. Immigration Enforcement: DHS says it added 5,000 more people to its “Worst of the Worst” ICE database, bringing the total to more than 35,000.

Gubernatorial Race: Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette’s GOP primary momentum got a boost from a new Trafalgar Group tracking poll showing her leading with 26.3% among likely June 9 voters, while Ralph Norman announced Freedom Caucus founder Adam Morgan as his running mate. Campaign Trail: Evette and Norman both kept up Upstate meet-and-greets as the primary nears, with SCETV hosting a Republican debate Monday night. Local Government & Courts: A lawsuit alleges North Charleston discriminated against and retaliated against a longtime police officer who filed an HR complaint. Public Safety & Crime: SLED charged former Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department chief Joshua Parker with voyeurism and embezzlement. Federal Cases: A Fort Mill man pleaded guilty to federal straw-purchasing firearm charges tied to an interstate trafficking ring. State Policy: The SBA announced low-interest disaster loans for South Carolina small businesses and private nonprofits hit by drought. Health & Safety: DPH shared summer safety tips for families.

Evictions & Housing: Gov. Henry McMaster signed H.4270 sealing South Carolina evictions from renters’ public records after seven years, a move tenant advocates call a first step toward removing a long-term barrier to housing and loans. State Politics & Primaries: With the June 9 GOP and Democratic primaries set, voters will see contested races for statewide offices, including three Republicans chasing the attorney general nomination and multiple Democratic contests for treasurer, comptroller general, and superintendent. Congressional Map Fallout: South Carolina’s redistricting effort is dead, but U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn’s 6th District still faces three Democratic challengers. Election Integrity Watch: A SLED review into Marion County absentee ballot practices after 2024 protests is closing, but questions remain about oversight and whether recommended reviews were completed. Military & National Guard: Hundreds of South Carolina National Guardsmen from the 122nd Engineer Battalion deployed to Washington, D.C., for a “Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Mission.” Local Government & Growth: Chapin leaders will break ground on a $75.3 million Columbia Avenue corridor project to expand lanes and ease congestion. Community & Culture: Greenville’s new pro soccer stadium opens this week, bringing a permanent home for the Triumph and more community events. Capitol Riot Money: Trump supporters continue pushing for payouts from the nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund despite legal and procedural setbacks.

South Carolina Governor’s Race: President Trump delivered a “complete and total endorsement” to Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, sidelining Rep. Nancy Mace in the June 9 GOP primary and intensifying the fight over who best aligns with Trump’s agenda. Mace’s Response: Mace doubled down on her push for the Epstein files, posting that she has “NO REGRETS” after the snub, while also leaning into social media attacks tied to her earlier transparency push. Early Voting & Party Energy: Democrats held their state convention in Columbia amid record early voting turnout, with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear urging a Southern Democratic revival and pointing to competitive races after redistricting turmoil. Voting Rights & Redistricting: Nationally, Supreme Court rulings are boosting odds of new congressional maps for 2026, while Democracy Docket reports fresh momentum and setbacks in Trump’s mail-voting crackdown and gerrymandering push. USC Politics Watch: Sen. Lindsey Graham warned that any Iran deal must not “handcuff” Israel’s military operations, underscoring his hard line as diplomacy heats up.