By Andy Brack | The $200 million spent in South Carolina on the U.S. Senate race between Republican Lindsey Graham and Democratic challenger Jaime Harrison sucked the oxygen out of down-ballot Democratic campaigns.
“Nationalizing the election just killed down-ballot races,” said one key Statehouse insider who asked not to be named.
More than 71 percent of South Carolina’s registered voters cast ballots on Tuesday, a 4-point increase from 2.1 million voters in 2016 to 2.5 million this year.
In last week’s Statehouse races, state Democrats lost three S.C. Senate seats, further eroding a minority already in peril. In the S.C. House, they’re lucky to have lost only two seats this week, which is a net loss of one position for 2021 after they picked up a coastal seat in a fall special election.
As it stands for the 2021 legislative session, South Carolina Republicans tightened their grip on power. They’ll open with 30 of 46 seats in the state Senate. In the House, they’ll start at 81 of 124 seats in the House. If the House GOP picks up just two more seats — a distinct possibility if districts are further gerrymandered next year following redistricting — House Republicans will have a supermajority. That would mean they wouldn’t have to have Democratic help to override vetos or make major procedural changes. Read more of the story from Statehouse Report.
In other recent news:
Climate plan update. The City of Charleston is updating its Climate Action Plan and is seeking public participation to ensure the plan reflects citizens’ vision for Charleston’s future. How to get involved:
- Take the city’s Climate Action Plan survey.
- Attend virtual meetings to learn more.
- Volunteer by serving on a subcommittee focus group.
2021 jazz season announced. Charleston Jazz has announced 12 shows on six dates for its 2021 season, including a March 27 humdinger that will highlight the legacy of big bands. Other shows will showcase the World of Jazz (April 17), Symphonic Swing (May 22), Jazz on Broadway (Sept. 18), a “Groovin’” tribute to Dizzy Gillespie (Oct. 23) and Holiday Swing (Dec. 4). Shows will be at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Charleston Music Hall. More info and tickets.
Virtual chili cook-off to be Nov. 21. Emmy Award-winning celebrity dog trainer Brandon McMillan will roll up his sleeves to help shelter animals in the 20th anniversary presentation of the Charleston Animal Society’s annual Chili Cook-off. This year, the event has been reimagined as an online experience to allow anyone to participate. The two-hour event will be streamed on Facebook Live on Nov. 21. Learn more and register a team.
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