October 18, 2026 – Connect to the Capitol

SC Forum pinpoints top issues, Trump to rally with Graham

SC FORUM PINPOINTS TOP VOTER CONCERNS

For months, the South Carolina Forum has been working with South Carolinians of all political stripes to identify critical concerns and potential solutions for some of the most important issues facing the state.

Last week, the SC Forum hosted its first Civic Assembly at the Rice School of Law at USC in Columbia, gathering a diverse, bipartisan group that reflects the Palmetto State’s true makeup, demographically, geographically, and politically.

After months of feedback from more than 157,000 online responses on more than 1,200 ideas, delegates to the Civic Assembly spent the weekend discussing proposals on job growth and affordability, which have been two areas that South Carolinians have identified as critical issues facing the state.

Delegates adopted eight proposals with supermajority (70% or greater) agreement that will soon go to the General Assembly for consideration during the next legislative session.

SWITCHING SIDES?

Former state Sen. Katrina Shealy has endorsed Democratic candidate Vincent Coe for South Carolina treasurer, crossing party lines ahead of the November election.

Shealy, a Republican, announced her support for Coe in a Facebook post, emphasizing the importance of voting for a candidate based on qualifications rather than party affiliation. Her endorsement comes as incumbent Treasurer Curtis Loftis faces renewed criticism over a $1.8 billion accounting error that was seemingly resolved last year.

This week, the South Carolina Democratic Party launched a website called TheLoftisLedger.com that puts a spotlight on the case.

Loftis fought the allegations of financial mismanagement in 2025, railing against critics who pinned the $1.8 billion accounting error entirely on him. During a hearing that year, the treasurer said that nobody made any false statements on bond documents. An investigation found that the error started building a decade earlier as the state switched over to a new accounting system.

In April 2025, the State Senate voted to remove Loftis from his position over the $1.8 billion error. However, lawmakers in the House chose not to take any action.

This week, in a statement, Loftis responded to the Democratic Party’s website, saying:

“This website is nothing more than a political hit piece built on cherry-picked facts, missing context, and misplaced blame. It paints a distorted picture by presenting disputed claims as facts and assigning me responsibility for the mistakes of other.” — SC Treasurer Curtis Loftis.

In her endorsement, Shealy criticized the way Loftis’ office handled questions about the accounting error, pointing to what she described as shifting explanations and a dismissive tone.

“The shifting explanations and dismissive tone of the Treasurer’s office showed the Senate were no way to treat the people’s representatives—or the taxpayers we served” — Former state senator Katrina Shealy

Shealy also highlighted Coe’s professional background, including his experience as a former bank examiner for the Federal Reserve and his work under a Republican lieutenant governor.

Coe said the endorsement reflects his belief that the treasurer’s office should focus on financial accountability rather than partisan politics.

Early voting for the November election starts this week. It runs from Monday, October 19 through Saturday, October 31. Click here to check early voting locations in your county.

Trump to stump for graham & Republican ticket

On a tele-rally Thursday evening. President Donald Trump urged South Carolina voters to support Sen. Darline Graham, gubernatorial candidate Alan Wilson and congressional candidate Jenny Honeycutt, casting the upcoming midterm election as a referendum on his administration and its policies.

“We’re just 19 days away from the most important midterm election of our lives,” Trump told participants on the call. “I’m asking every patriot in your state … to get out and vote and elect Darline Graham to the U.S. Senate, Jenny Honeycutt to the House of Representatives, and Alan Wilson … to be the next governor of South Carolina.”

Trump repeatedly framed the election around his own political agenda, telling voters to “pretend I’m on the ballot, because essentially I am on the ballot.”

He argued that a Republican victory would help preserve the administration’s policy achievements, including border security, economic measures and foreign policy initiatives.

The president praised Graham, who was appointed to the Senate following the death of her brother, former Sen. Lindsey Graham, and said he encouraged her to run for the seat. Trump is also doubling down on his support for Graham as he plans to head to South Carolina for a midterm rally later this week.

President Trump is scheduled rally in Clemson on Wednesday to rally support for the election. The location has yet to be announced, but the event is set to start at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, with President Trump scheduled to speak at 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, Graham’s opponent, Democrat Annie Andrews, remained in attack mode this week, calling on Sen. Graham on Wednesday to answer questions about her family’s reported business ties to China, arguing the issue raises concerns about national security and financial transparency. Speaking aboard the USS Yorktown in Charleston Harbor, Andrews said elected officials have a duty to put “America’s security, independence and interest first” and hold themselves to a higher standard when seeking federal office.

“And when you run for public office, especially the United States Senate, you’re held to an even higher standard. You have a responsibility to protect our country, defend our national security, and put the interests of the American people first.” — Dr. Annie Andrews, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate

View post on X

Andrews’ remarks focused on a Washington Post report published over the weekend that she said detailed business connections between Graham’s family and companies tied to China. Andrews alleged those connections were omitted from financial disclosure forms.

Graham responded to Andrews’ comments in a social media post on X saying:

Bless your heart, @annieandrews. Resorting to weak attacks on my family. This was asked and answered in the debate. The company my husband works for sells toys for children. He doesn’t own the company nor does he have any equity stake. Now, Annie, tell us why you continue to talk about being a pediatrician when your own financial disclosure states you made more money last year being a gun control activist. Why isn’t that in your ads?

MAKING THE GRADE

State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver this week released the results of the 2026 South Carolina School Report Cards showing that the number of schools earning an overall rating of Excellent increased from 270 to 320, while the number of schools rate Below Average or Unsatisfactory continued to decline.

Nearly a quarter of elementary schools around the state improved their rating from 2025 to 2026.

Student progress is accelerating across the state, particularly in middle schools, where the share earnings of Student Progress rating of Good or Excellent has more than doubled since 2024.

The states on-time graduation rate has reached 87.5%, the highest level in a decade.

More than eight in ten high schools are now earning a rating of Good or Excellent in College and Career Readiness.

In the last several years, the SC Department of Education has worked with educators, families, school and district leaders, the governor and state lawmakers to help students improve and succeed.

Part of that push has been requests for more money for education and teacher salaries, which lawmakers have delivered.

Gov. McMaster said this about the results of the report cards:

“A strong education is the foundation of a strong South Carolina. We have worked to support our teachers and raise academic expectations in our schools, and it is encouraging to see more students succeeding in the classroom,” — Gov. Henry McMaster

Weaver’s opponent in the November election, Sylvia Wright, however, said public schools need additional support and raised concerns about school voucher programs, arguing that it could divert funding from traditional public schools.

So far, there has been more than $200 million set aside for the voucher program. In an oversight committee last month at the State House, no reliable data could be presented on how students involved in the voucher program are progressing.

“Taking money away from our public schools, so all the work that’s happening at our local level, with the little bit of resources that they have to make these improvements, with her plan, with this voucher program, is going to undermine the work that is happening in our state.” — Sylvia Wright, Democratic nominee for S.C. Superintendent of Education

Wright also questioned whether the latest report card results reflect the needs of all students, particularly those who continue to struggle academically.

Both candidates agreed that students with disabilities need additional resources to succeed.

The Department of Education highlighted that it is committed to strengthening the outcomes for every school and all students in the state.