Governor Gavin Newsom Joins South Carolina Democrats for Rural Outreach Tour This Week

COLUMBIA, S.C. – California Governor Gavin Newsom will travel across South Carolina this week as part of a new initiative by the South Carolina Democratic Party aimed at strengthening ties with rural communities. The tour, titled On the Road with Governor Newsom, is scheduled for Tuesday, July 8, and Wednesday, July 9, and will include stops in several economically challenged and environmentally vulnerable counties.

The effort is part of the state Democratic Party’s ongoing strategy to engage directly with rural residents in areas they say have been historically underserved. Governor Newsom’s tour will include visits to Marion, Chesterfield, Marlboro, Laurens, Pickens, Oconee, Kershaw, and Florence counties.

“Governor Newsom leads the largest economy in America and the fourth largest in the world, and he’s coming to meet folks in towns that have been hollowed out by decades of Republican control,” said SCDP Chair Christale Spain. “This is about building partnerships, uplifting communities, and showing rural voters they aren’t forgotten.”

These regions have faced job losses, underinvestment, and repeated natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires. Democratic leaders argue that these challenges have been compounded by a lack of action from state-level leadership.

Newsom is expected to share insights from his administration’s efforts in California, including major tax relief for working families, tuition-free community college, expanded early childhood education, and broader access to healthcare.

“Our strategy isn’t about chasing cable news coverage,” Spain said. “It’s about showing up and building trust, town by town, county by county. That is our path back to power.”

The tour highlights the South Carolina Democratic Party’s commitment to grassroots organizing and building long-term political infrastructure across the state.

Sources:

• South Carolina Democratic Party press release (July 3, 2025)