Frogmore Stew

South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Jermaine Johnson believes voters are ready for a different approach after more than two decades of Republican leadership. We talk with Johnson about his campaign for governor in the 2026 South Carolina election, his efforts to build a bipartisan coalition, and the challenges of running as a Democrat in a traditionally Republican state. From rising grocery prices and infrastructure problems to education and Medicaid expansion, Johnson outlines his policy priorities and his vision for improving quality of life across South Carolina. We also explore voter turnout, campaign fundraising, and what he believes could change the state's political future.

00:00 Why South Carolina Voters Want Change

09:10 South Carolina First, Not Washington

10:51 Can Democrats Flip South Carolina?

14:29 Campaign Trail Food Across 46 Counties

15:54 Measuring Success by How People Are Doing

17:02 Expanding Medicaid in South Carolina

What happens when South Carolina’s top law enforcement office becomes a political platform instead of an advocate for the people? We sit down with Democratic candidate and longtime Lowcountry attorney Richard Hrisick to explore his campaign to restore the rule of law, protect consumers, and hold powerful interests accountable. Hrisick challenges outgoing Attorney General Alan Wilson’s approach to the office, explains how the attorney general can address corporate misconduct, utility rate hikes, and environmental pollution, and shares why he refuses to accept campaign donations. We also examine whether his unconventional, grassroots campaign can overcome South Carolina’s partisan divide in the 2026 attorney general election.

00:00 Why Richard is Running for Attorney General

03:54 What the Attorney General Should Be Doing

10:12 Keeping Politics Out of the Rule of Law

17:58 Why He’s Running Without Campaign Money

24:20 Fighting Corruption and Political Influence

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

South Carolina’s race for State Superintendent of Education is heating up as questions surrounding school vouchers, education funding, and student achievement take center stage. We welcome Democratic candidate Sylvia Wright back to Frogmore Stew to examine the controversy surrounding South Carolina’s school voucher program, the state’s literacy crisis, and her challenge to incumbent Ellen Weaver. Wright outlines her plans for universal pre-K, improving teacher pay, strengthening rural schools, and bringing greater transparency and accountability to education spending. With the 2026 election approaching, we explore what's at stake for South Carolina's public schools and the families who depend on them.

Can Mallory Dittmer bring a different approach to South Carolina's 5th Congressional District? We welcome the Democratic candidate for U.S. House in SC-5 to discuss the 2026 congressional election, rising living costs, political division, and her concerns about Republican opponent Wes Climer's record. We examine South Carolina's energy policies, public education funding, school vouchers, and the influence of Moms for Liberty on local school boards. Mallory also shares her views on congressional redistricting, gerrymandering, and the challenges facing voters heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

00:00 Mallory Dittmer's Priorities for SC-5

02:30 Affordability and Political Messaging

06:23 West Clymer and Lawmaker Pay Raises

10:35 Energy Costs, Deregulation, and Tax Policy

13:08 School Funding and Moms for Liberty

19:56 South Carolina Redistricting and Gerrymandering

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

There's more stew on Substack!

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

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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 if Democrats win the 2026 midterms but fail to give voters a reason to stick around? We welcome Reed Galen, co-founder of the Lincoln Project and former Republican strategist, to examine MAGA's grip on the GOP, why a potential blue wave could be driven by Republicans staying home, and what Democrats are missing. From South Carolina voter turnout to economic inequality, affordability, and the erosion of grassroots political organizing, we explore why electoral victories rarely translate into lasting political change. Galen argues that opposing Donald Trump isn't enough, and Democrats need a compelling vision for what comes next.

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/

Courtney McClain is challenging incumbent William Timmons for South Carolina’s 4th Congressional District, bringing a grassroots organizing background and a focus on reaching voters who feel left behind. We talk with McClain about why she entered politics, how her experiences shaped her campaign, and why younger generations need a greater voice in government. She also discusses redistricting, healthcare costs, Medicaid and SNAP cuts, immigration, data centers, and her approach to connecting with communities across Greenville and the Upstate. McClain explains how her campaign hopes to increase voter turnout and challenge the political status quo in SC-4.

John Vincent is running to represent South Carolina’s 7th Congressional District, and he says restoring constitutional accountability is at the center of his campaign. We talk with the SC-7 candidate about congressional power, tariffs, war powers, government spending, health care, and his approach to being socially liberal while fiscally conservative. Vincent also explains why he believes Democrats cannot win in South Carolina through turnout alone and why reaching Republican and independent voters matters in the South Carolina congressional race. As part of our Meet the Candidates series, we look at Vincent’s campaign for South Carolina’s 7th District and his approach to politics in one of the state’s most Republican congressional districts.

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

Lobbying, organizing, and political power in the South Carolina State House look very different once you see how the work actually gets done. We talk with Zakiya Mickle about working inside the legislature, building relationships with lawmakers, centering the people most affected by policy, and turning grassroots organizing into real political pressure. We also get into South Carolina’s redistricting fight, what it takes to move lawmakers, and why political engagement can feel inaccessible to the people most affected by government decisions. It is a look at the people, systems, and strategies shaping power in South Carolina.

00:00:00 Introduction

00:02:40 Working With Conservative Lawmakers

00:04:41 Who Gets Hurt by Bad Policy?

00:06:23 How Lobbyists Get Through to Lawmakers

00:13:09 Educating Lawmakers, Not Instructing Them

00:20:12 Should Government Work Like a Business?

00:24:16 When Politics Gets in the Way

00:29:17 Inside the Fight Against Redistricting

00:36:09 South Carolina's Political Game Board

00:42:04 Getting More People Into Politics

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 happens when the political conversations already happening in our group chats become a way to organize? We talk with Sway founder Claire Shorall about how the platform creates voting groups around trusted relationships, helping people navigate their ballots, share recommendations, remember local elections, and see whether members of their group actually turned out to vote. We also explore Sway’s approach to privacy, the role of the “chief political correspondent” in every group chat, and what voting groups could mean for political organizing outside traditional party infrastructure. Along the way, Claire shares what Sway has learned from voting groups in Texas and what the platform is bringing to South Carolina.

00:00 Introduction

02:00 How Sway Connects Voters and Candidates

09:18 Privacy, Voter Data, and the Turnout Tool

19:13 How One Group Chat Influenced Texas Races

25:37 Get $500 to Host a Sway Ballot Party

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 happened to the Southern values many men were raised to believe in, and how did MAGA become part of that identity? We talk with Robert Arnold about Southern masculinity, political identity, the appeal of anti-establishment politics, and why he believes voters need a stronger moral framework than party loyalty. We also get into why the left does not need its own Joe Rogan, how state and local politics shape everyday life, and what authenticity looks like in a political culture built around outrage. Robert also shares how his background in economics and writing influences the way he explains politics, government, and the forces shaping people's lives.

00:00 Introduction

02:36 Restaurant Forecasting, Tariffs, and Costs

07:32 From Political Essay to Global Advocacy

10:10 Ms. Rachel, Gaza, and Caring for Children

14:18 Southern Men, MAGA, and Political Identity

21:36 Why Government Moves So Slowly

28:24 Local Politics and Changing Minds

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