Overview

• During a two-day swing through Marion, Chesterfield, Marlboro, Laurens, Pickens, Kershaw and Florence counties, Newsom framed his outreach as bipartisan disaster relief advocacy aimed at overlooked rural communities.
• He urged local Democrats to stand up to President Trump and criticized Republican leadership on issues from federal disaster funding to social policy.
• The governor raised $160,000 for the South Carolina Democratic Party, earning praise from state leaders focused on bolstering turnout in the 2026 midterms.
• Richard Harpootlian and other South Carolina Democrats challenged Newsom to address criticisms of his California record before pursuing national office.
• His visit underscored South Carolina’s role as a key early primary state and fueled ongoing debate over whether he is positioning for a 2028 White House bid.