Overview

• The South Carolina Democratic Party has scheduled a two-day “On the Road With Governor Gavin Newsom” tour next week, with stops in Florence, Marion, Chesterfield, Kershaw, Oconee, Pickens and Laurens counties.
• Party chair Christale Spain said the tour aims to build partnerships and uplift rural communities that have felt overlooked under decades of Republican control.
• Newsom’s senior advisor Lindsey Cobia insisted the governor’s priority is aiding Democrats in the 2026 midterms and highlighting unmet disaster-relief needs rather than laying groundwork for a 2028 presidential run.
• The itinerary will focus on counties deemed among the state’s most economically challenged and environmentally vulnerable, underscoring calls for federal investment in wildfire and hurricane recovery.
• Recent Morning Consult and Emerson polls rank Newsom among the top Democratic contenders for 2028, fueling media speculation that the tour serves as a campaign test.