state house

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 20, 2026: we continue our focus on the congressional redistricting debate in the special session called by the governor; as of our taping, early Tuesday afternoon, the House is poised to give a key second reading to the new map this evening after a rules change was passed largely along party lines Monday evening; we also have analysis from Winthrop University Political Science Professor Scott Huffmon; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 16, 2026: we are post-sine die, but are in a rare extra session that has been called by the governor for lawmakers to continue the effort to change the state’s seven congressional districts at the behest of President Donald Trump. We, again, dedicate the pod to exactly what is happening because, unlike past redistricting efforts, the public has been shut out from this process as military and absentee ballots continue to be cast ahead of the June 9 primaries.

A groundbreaking ceremony will happen Wednesday for the first monument dedicated to an individual African American on the State House grounds.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 9, 2026: we’re bringing you everything we have right now on an expedited redistricting push by Statehouse Republicans, all at the behest of the White House, with a week left in the legislative session.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for May 2, 2026: we look at what happened in this third-to-last week of the legislative session; will a U.S. Supreme Court decision on Louisiana’s congressional maps lead to mid-cycle redistricting here? We hear from Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey and House Speaker Murrell Smith on the final six legislative days of session; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for March 31, 2026: we look at the final filings for some major statewide races, and one big surprise in a congressional race; we recap additional Statehouse moves from last week as we stare down week 12 in Columbia; assistant US Attorney Sheria Clarke’s nomination to the federal bench was before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee last week; and more!

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for March 28, 2026: we look at two other candidates who have jumped in the governor’s race, including a Democrat; the first SCGOP governor’s debate is next week—but not everyone will be on stage; we look at some of the major legislative moves this week, including the so-called Bathroom Bill that is now on its way to the Governor’s desk; and more!

Several thousand citizens made their way to Columbia Monday as South Carolina held memorial services in the state's capital city to honor the late Rev. Jesse Jackson.

The late Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died Feb. 17 at age 84, will be memorialized in Columbia March 2 with services at the Statehouse and a local church.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for February 17, 2026: we sit down with Senate Minority Brad Hutto and House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford about the legislative session so far and what they hope to accomplish in a Republican supermajority Statehouse; two big national Democrats are heading to the Palmetto State later this month; and more!