Frogmore Stew

South Carolina's 2026 election shattered expectations as Annie Andrews claimed a stunning U.S. Senate victory and Democrats broke the Republican supermajority in the State House. Katherine Harvey and Brady Garvin join Grace to examine the Democratic gains across South Carolina, from surprising results in Greenville and Spartanburg to competitive congressional and statewide races. They explore how grassroots organizing, campaign strategy, and competing in every district helped reshape the political landscape, while confronting the funding disparities and missed opportunities that remain. With South Carolina proving more politically competitive than many believed, what will it take to turn these election victories into lasting change?

00:00 Annie Andrews' Win Shocks South Carolina

08:08 Congressional Races Deliver Major Upsets

12:00 Jermaine Johnson's Close Governor's Race

15:02 Why Democrats Lost Key Statewide Races

19:24 Democrats Break the GOP Supermajority

26:31 School Board and County Council Results

28:51 What's Next for South Carolina Democrats?

Frogmore Stew brings context, history, and political analysis to the stories shaping South Carolina.

There's more stew on Substack!

https://frogmorestew.substack.com/

Learn more about Frogmore Stew at https://www.frogmorestewsc.com/

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frogmorestewsc

on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewsc

Frogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance Coalition

The Alliance Coalition works to redistribute power back to YOU, the voter. We do this by collecting data on belief systems, providing clear and digestible political information, history and trends, while building a community for those of us who feel politically unhoused. We encourage all to engage in shaping our state’s future and communicating our thoughts about how to do that productively.

https://www.thealliancecoalition.org/

The American political system was designed for people who could afford to serve, and many of those barriers remain today. Vote Mama founder Liuba Grechen Shirley explores how campaign costs, low legislative salaries, and childcare expenses limit who can run for office and influence the laws that get passed. With a focus on South Carolina politics, Grace and Liuba examine political representation, the challenges facing mothers in government, and why childcare and paid family leave are economic issues rather than simply women's issues. They also explore Vote Mama's efforts to remove barriers to public office and change who gets a seat at the policymaking table.

The 2026 midterms are approaching, but are voters actually excited about either political party? Reed Galen, co-founder of the Lincoln Project and founder of Civic Forum, joins Grace to examine shifting voter loyalties, the growing influence of billionaires and dark money in elections, and why traditional campaign strategies are failing to connect with Americans. From the political disillusionment of young voters to the future of the Democratic Party, they explore what it will take to rebuild public trust, modernize government, and create meaningful political change.

00:00 Civic Forum and the Crisis Facing Young Men

11:07 Can Young Men Swing the Election?

18:34 The Broken Economics of Campaign Politics

28:32 Democrats Need to Fix Government, Not Just Fight Trump

38:57 What Good Campaigns Actually Get Right

44:55 How Democrats Lost the Working Class

Frogmore Stew brings context, history, and political analysis to the stories shaping South Carolina.

There's more stew on Substack!

https://frogmorestew.substack.com/

Learn more about Frogmore Stew at https://www.frogmorestewsc.com/

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frogmorestewsc

on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewsc

Frogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance Coalition

The Alliance Coalition works to redistribute power back to YOU, the voter. We do this by collecting data on belief systems, providing clear and digestible political information, history and trends, while building a community for those of us who feel politically unhoused. We encourage all to engage in shaping our state’s future and communicating our thoughts about how to do that productively.

https://www.thealliancecoalition.org/

South Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District has been represented by Joe Wilson since 2001, but Democratic challenger Zyon Khalifa believes voters are ready for a different approach. Zyon joins Grace to discuss his campaign for the U.S. House, his outreach to younger Republican voters, and the issues shaping the 2026 midterm elections. From housing affordability and education costs to generational representation in Congress, Zyon explains how his priorities differ from those of the longtime incumbent. He also shares highlights from their recent debate and why he believes connecting directly with voters is central to his campaign.

South Carolina has faced billions of dollars in accounting errors, raising serious questions about financial oversight and accountability. Tiffany Boozer, Democratic candidate for South Carolina Comptroller General, joins Grace to discuss the state's financial reporting controversies, the responsibilities of the Comptroller General's office, and why the position requires no formal accounting qualifications. Drawing on her experience as a CPA and internal auditor, Tiffany explains the importance of checks and balances between the Comptroller General, State Treasurer, and State Auditor. She also shares her approach to campaigning across South Carolina and why she believes financial accountability should transcend party politics.

Political campaigns are raising more money, reaching more voters, and still struggling to win. Jason Wong, Chief Technology Officer at ActBlue, joins Grace to explore how campaign fundraising, grassroots donations, and political technology are reshaping the election playbook. From the growing influence of big-money donors to the challenges facing down-ballot candidates in South Carolina, they examine why traditional campaign strategies are falling behind and how ActBlue is expanding its tools to help candidates compete. With AI entering political campaigns and voters growing tired of endless texts and mailers, what will it take to modernize how elections are won?

00:00 Introduction

03:47 ActBlue Expands Beyond Fundraising

06:30 Why Down-Ballot Campaigns Need Better Tools

10:24 Big Donors vs. Grassroots Fundraising

15:23 How AI Could Change Political Campaigns

17:49 Why Campaign Marketing Is Falling Behind

Frogmore Stew brings context, history, and political analysis to the stories shaping South Carolina.

Also available wherever you get your podcasts:

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frogmore-stew/id1714820542

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6pxy2KuAmOfHCOU7xFQHUj

There's more stew on Substack!

https://frogmorestew.substack.com/

Learn more about Frogmore Stew at https://www.frogmorestewsc.com/

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frogmorestewsc

on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewsc

Frogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance Coalition

The Alliance Coalition works to redistribute power back to YOU, the voter. We do this by collecting data on belief systems, providing clear and digestible political information, history and trends, while building a community for those of us who feel politically unhoused. We encourage all to engage in shaping our state’s future and communicating our thoughts about how to do that productively.

https://www.thealliancecoalition.org/

South Carolina's $1.8 billion accounting error has raised serious questions about financial oversight, transparency, and accountability in state government. We sit down with Vincent Coe, candidate for South Carolina State Treasurer, to discuss his financial background, his challenge to incumbent Curtis Loftis, and his vision for managing taxpayer dollars. From investing state funds in local community banks to restoring public trust in the Treasurer's Office, Vincent outlines the changes he believes South Carolina needs. We also explore his bipartisan support, including an endorsement from Republican Senator Katrina Shealy, and the importance of putting public service ahead of party loyalty.

00:00 The Race for South Carolina State Treasurer

01:24 Why Vincent Coe Says He's Qualified

08:45 The $1.8 Billion Accounting Error

12:54 Why the Treasurer's Office Should Be Nonpartisan

17:54 Katrina Shealy's Cross-Party Endorsement

23:56 The Best Hot Dog on the Campaign Trail

Frogmore Stew brings context, history, and political analysis to the stories shaping South Carolina.

There's more stew on Substack!

https://frogmorestew.substack.com/

Learn more about Frogmore Stew at https://www.frogmorestewsc.com/

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frogmorestewsc

on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewsc

Frogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance Coalition

The Alliance Coalition works to redistribute power back to YOU, the voter. We do this by collecting data on belief systems, providing clear and digestible political information, history and trends, while building a community for those of us who feel politically unhoused. We encourage all to engage in shaping our state’s future and communicating our thoughts about how to do that productively.

https://www.thealliancecoalition.org/

What does it take to challenge an incumbent Republican in South Carolina’s deeply conservative 3rd Congressional District? We sit down with Democratic congressional candidate Eunice Lehmacher to explore her campaign against Sheri Biggs, her approach to bipartisan cooperation, and the challenges of reaching voters who feel disconnected from government. From electricity rates and data centers to agricultural subsidies, Social Security, and congressional redistricting, we examine the issues shaping the SC-3 race. We also discuss how personal relationships, community advocacy, and listening to voters influence Lehmacher’s approach to representation.

00:00 Why Eunice Lehmacher Is Running for SC-3

02:20 How She Plans to Lower Costs

07:17 Gerrymandering and Winning Republican Votes

10:43 What SC Voters Say About Costs and Politics

15:45 Her Closing Case: Show Up and Listen

Frogmore Stew brings context, history, and political analysis to the stories shaping South Carolina.

There's more stew on Substack!

https://frogmorestew.substack.com/

Learn more about Frogmore Stew at https://www.frogmorestewsc.com/

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frogmorestewsc

on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewsc

Frogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance Coalition

The Alliance Coalition works to redistribute power back to YOU, the voter. We do this by collecting data on belief systems, providing clear and digestible political information, history and trends, while building a community for those of us who feel politically unhoused. We encourage all to engage in shaping our state’s future and communicating our thoughts about how to do that productively.

https://www.thealliancecoalition.org/

South Carolina's agricultural industry is facing growing pressure from rising costs, farmland development, and gaps in the state's food supply chain. We talk with DeShawn Blanding, Democratic candidate for South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture, about his plans to support local farmers, expand food processing infrastructure, protect agricultural land, and strengthen food safety oversight. Drawing on his family's farming legacy and experience in federal agricultural policy, Blanding explains how he would approach the challenges facing South Carolina's farmers and consumers. We also examine the intersection of agriculture, affordability, and politics in a state where farming remains a major economic force.

00:00 Why the SC Agriculture Commissioner Matters

03:38 Fixing South Carolina's Food Supply Chain

09:01 Why Agriculture Became Political

11:42 A Grassroots Campaign Across South Carolina

14:07 Protecting SC Farmland and Food Safety

19:16 DeShawn Blanding's Agricultural Roots

22:30 Who Can Be SC Agriculture Commissioner?

Frogmore Stew brings context, history, and political analysis to the stories shaping South Carolina.

Also available wherever you get your podcasts:

Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frogmore-stew/id1714820542

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6pxy2KuAmOfHCOU7xFQHUj

There's more stew on Substack!

https://frogmorestew.substack.com/

Learn more about Frogmore Stew at https://www.frogmorestewsc.com/

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frogmorestewsc

on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewsc

Frogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance Coalition

The Alliance Coalition works to redistribute power back to YOU, the voter. We do this by collecting data on belief systems, providing clear and digestible political information, history and trends, while building a community for those of us who feel politically unhoused. We encourage all to engage in shaping our state’s future and communicating our thoughts about how to do that productively.

https://www.thealliancecoalition.org/

What happens when voters are fed up with both political parties but don't believe a third-party candidate can win? We sit down with Kasie Whitener, the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate in South Carolina, to discuss her campaign, the national debt, and why she believes the political establishment has lost sight of the people it's supposed to represent. We explore the influence of campaign money, corporate interests, government accountability, and the challenges facing independent candidates in a system dominated by Republicans and Democrats. Whitener also shares her vision for smaller government, stronger communities, and a different approach to representing South Carolina in Washington.

00:00 From Writer to U.S. Senate Candidate

05:20 What Libertarians Actually Believe

08:54 Why Third-Party Votes Matter

14:40 Why the Two-Party System Resists Change

20:54 Debt, Inflation, Taxes, and Corporate Power

27:34 Government Accountability and Local Power

33:27 Political Extremes and Gen X Self-Reliance

36:26 The Final Weeks of the Senate Campaign

Frogmore Stew brings context, history, and political analysis to the stories shaping South Carolina.

There's more stew on Substack!

https://frogmorestew.substack.com/

Learn more about Frogmore Stew at https://www.frogmorestewsc.com/

On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frogmorestewsc

on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewsc

Frogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance Coalition

The Alliance Coalition works to redistribute power back to YOU, the voter. We do this by collecting data on belief systems, providing clear and digestible political information, history and trends, while building a community for those of us who feel politically unhoused. We encourage all to engage in shaping our state’s future and communicating our thoughts about how to do that productively.

https://www.thealliancecoalition.org/