state house

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for January 10, 2026: our special live Lede taping from this week featuring House Speaker Murrell Smith; we also hear from Statehouse reporter Maayan Schechter as we preview the 2026 legislative session; we discuss the key issues that are expected to shape South Carolina; and more!

More than 200 citizens met outside the Statehouse in the Palmetto State's capital city to protest. Signs that read "ICE out of our communities" filled the sidewalk next to the South Carolina Confederate Monument.

The Republican nominee vying to represent a Lexington County seat in the South Carolina House will be John Lastinger after the pastor won a GOP runoff Nov. 4, according to unofficial election results.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A Republican lawmaker in South Carolina has resigned from the House while awaiting trial on charges of distributing child sexual abuse material. RJ May's resignation letter, dated Thursday, reached House leadership on Monday. May was elected in 2020. His replacement could be chosen in a special election before the 2026 session.

The statehouse passed liquor liability reform to the benefit of our state’s hospitality industry and income tax reform is halfway through the legislature.

The statehouse passed liquor liability reform to the benefit of our state’s hospitality industry and income tax reform is halfway through the legislature.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 10, 2025: a wrap up of the first year of the 2 year legislative session!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 06, 2025: we preview the final week of the legislative session, including what major bills are where, and what will have to wait until the 2026 session; we have some state party news, including which rising star is headlining a Democratic fundraiser this month and who the Republicans chose as their state leader this weekend; we talk with a USC history professor who has been watching the papal developments from Rome; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 03, 2025: we look at what lawmakers accomplished this final week of the legislative session, including two major education bills; House Family Caucus Chairman Rep. John McCravy is in hot water for past antisemitic and homophobic comments; Vice President JD Vance visited Nucor Steel Berkeley to celebrate domestic manufacturing; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for April 29, 2025: we have six legislative days left in this year’s session and with much to look at we talk with reporter Maayan Schechter about the Sine Die sprint—something you can follow along with by reading the State House Gavel I co-author with Maayan and THE Russ McKinney!