Democracy doesn’t fail all at once. It fades when races go uncontested and communities are left without a real choice. Joined by Rep. Kambrell Garvin and Brady Quirk Garvan, the conversation breaks down how unopposed elections, gerrymandered districts, and political burnout are reshaping South Carolina politics from the ground up. They explain why running for state house, county council, or local office still matters, even in tough districts, and how showing up on the ballot creates accountability where none exists. If representation is going to mean anything, someone has to be willing to run.

00:00 Why Running for Office Matters

02:07 ICE, Home Rule, and Federal Overreach

09:01 Immigration Reform and Community Safety

11:23 Closing Primaries and Voter Exclusion

16:46 The Democratic Comeback

22:22 Accountability and Power

28:41 Young Candidates and Barriers to Office

32:32 Why Campaign Money Should Stay Local

35:43 Gerrymandering and Why Running Still Matters

43:06 Mentorship and Public Service

45:21 Generational Change and Representation

50:29 Redistricting and Citizen Action

53:28 Whole Another Thing

A packed house in Spartanburg hears a moral call that feels urgent, grounded, and impossible to ignore. Following Reverend William Barber’s powerful address, Katherine Harvey sits down with historian and storyteller Anthony Milian to unpack what it means to love forward, build coalitions, and turn shared struggle into collective action. They trace the historical roots of today’s political moment, talk democracy, dignity, and why local leadership matters more than ever in South Carolina. The conversation lands on a clear challenge: this moment is not about despair, it is about organizing, running for office, and choosing to act together.

Not everyone who wants change is meant to run for office and that does not mean they are powerless. State Senator Ed Sutton explains how everyday South Carolinians can serve on local boards, influence key decisions, and shape public policy without campaigns, party labels, or partisan fights. From transportation and aviation to foster care and judicial appointments, this conversation breaks down where real civic power lives at the local level. It is a practical guide to public service that shows how government actually functions beyond elections.

00:00 Why Local Boards Matter

03:52 Roads and Transportation Power

08:50 What County Delegations Do

15:01 Home Rule and County Power

17:45 Magistrate Judges Explained

20:05 Airport Board’s Role

22:52 Serving on Local Boards

28:33 How Appointments Get Approved

32:39 2026 Session and Elections

South Carolina’s legislative fights are heating up, and the stakes for voters keep getting higher. Grace is joined by Spencer Wetmore for a wide ranging conversation on closed primary proposals, gerrymandering, school voucher expansion, abortion medication restrictions, and how a small percentage of voters end up controlling state politics. They unpack how these bills actually work, who benefits from them, and why so many independents feel pushed out of the process. It is a candid look at how power operates in Columbia and what these choices mean for the future of South Carolina.

00:00 Introduction

00:41 Spencer on Stepping Out of Politics

02:42 South Carolina Closed Primary Bills

07:33 Party Control and Voter Access

13:43 South Carolina School Voucher Expansion

16:29 Who Benefits From Vouchers?

18:53 Abortion Pill Restrictions

23:39 Gerrymandering and Safe Seats

27:24 Tax Cuts, Safety Bills, and Roads

31:05 Budget, Earmarks, and Final Notes

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/frogmorestewscon TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewscFrogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance CoalitionThe 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/

From prosecuting a notorious serial killer to defending one of the most watched murder trials in modern history, Dick Harpootlian has seen every side of power and justice in South Carolina. Grace talks with the longtime attorney, former state senator, and Democratic Party chair about decades of state politics, party strategy, and how money and messaging shape who actually wins elections. Dick also digs into his new book on Pee Wee Gaskins, reflecting on criminal psychology, the death penalty, and how those cases changed him personally. It’s a candid, wide-ranging conversation that blends Southern political history, true crime, and hard-earned perspective.

00:00 Introduction

00:55 Who Is Dick Harpootlian?

01:54 Note on what County Council is?

03:27 Public Corruption Prosecution Work

05:58 What He Learned in the S

08:03 State Party Chair Leadership

14:18 Media, Narratives & Public Perception

16:10 Diversity, Quotas, and Caucuses

18:08 Pee Wee Gaskins Case

Learn more about Frogmore Stew at https://www.frogmorestewsc.com/On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frogmorestewscon TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewscFrogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance CoalitionThe 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 politics did not break overnight, and they will not fix themselves. In the season three opener of Frogmore Stew, Grace talks about how gerrymandering, low primary turnout, straight party voting, and rigid party loyalty have slowly stripped voters of real power and accountability. She takes a clear-eyed look at both parties, the growing number of independent voters, and how the current political system rewards outrage instead of results. With another pivotal election year ahead, the message is simple and direct. Democracy is not abstract, it is made up of people, and what happens next in South Carolina is up to us.

00:00 Introduction

00:21 Why This Season Matters for SC Politics

02:39 Government vs Politics

07:17 Gerrymandering, Primaries, and Power

11:33 Where Voters Go From Here

Learn more about Frogmore Stew at https://www.frogmorestewsc.com/On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frogmorestewscon TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewscFrogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance CoalitionThe 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/

Grace sits down with Dr. Sonja Ogletree Satani, Democratic candidate for South Carolina House District 98, to discuss why she’s running again and what’s at stake in this pivotal special election. Sonja shares her priorities for lowering costs for working families, fully funding public education, improving infrastructure, and bringing common-sense leadership to the State House, drawing on her experience as an educator, Air Force veteran, and mom.

The conversation explores key policy differences between the candidates, the realities of governing in a Republican supermajority, and how issues like healthcare affordability, gun safety, and reproductive rights are shaping this race. With early voting dates and election day details included, this episode offers voters in northern Charleston and Dorchester counties a clear, timely look at the choices before them.

Grace and Kathryn take the stage at a packed Peninsula Dems meeting to break down why South Carolina politics feel more chaotic than ever. From gerrymandering and open primaries to the shocking details of the Unborn Child Protection Act (S323), they reveal how structural barriers shape everything voters experience. They also explore Democratic branding failures, Maslow’s hierarchy as a model for government, and the critical role of local elections in reshaping the future. This candid, high-energy conversation closes with actionable steps listeners can take to strengthen democracy right here at home.