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Articles by Michael Blackmon
Crossroads 2026: Trump Coming to South Carolina – Again
by MARK POWELL For the second time in sixty days, the president of the United States is coming to Palmetto State. And his mission this time is exactly the same as it was the last time: saving interim U.S. senator Darline Graham Nordone’s bacon. President Donald Trump is scheduled to touch down in the Upstate this Wednesday evening (October 21, 2026). He’ll be the star attraction at a midterm campaign rally at Clemson University’s T. Ed Garrison Arena.
Crossroads 2026: Affordability and Politics
by MARK POWELL This week, the federal government’s bean counters confirmed what anyone who’s purchased anything lately already knew: prices just keep going up. The stats released on Wednesday (October 14, 2026) by the Bureau of Labor Statistics(BLS) are grim. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) – a basket of goods and services purchased by urban consumers – was 3.7% higher in September than it was a year ago and 0.6% higher than it was the previous month.
S.C. Succession: Senate Debate or Grudge Match?
by MARK POWELL Annie Andrews, the Lowcountry pediatrician and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, began by saying all the right things. As she and her Republican and Libertarian opponents, Darline Graham Nordone and Kasie Whitener, stood alongside her in a SCETV television studio in Columbia, S.C. on Sunday night in the campaign’s only scheduled debate, Andrews started off playing nice in her opening statement.
S.C. Succession: History-Making Debate Could Reshape Palmetto State’s Evolving Politics
by MARK POWELL When the three leading candidates in South Carolina’s U.S. Senate race step before the television cameras for their only scheduled campaign debate on Sunday night (October 11, 2026), they’ll make history. Interim U.S. senator Darline Graham Nordone, Democrat nominee Dr. Annie Andrews, and Libertarian candidate Dr. Kasie Whitener comprise the first all-women field of contenders for a statewide office.
Crossroads 2026: South Carolina Governor’s Debate
by MARK POWELL The two leading candidates in the race to become South Carolina’s 118th governor fielded questions this week in the campaign’s only scheduled debate. And their answers painted two very different visions for the next four years. This election is a transitional contest on several levels.
Fear of Post-Midterm Military Action in Iran Mount
by MARK POWELL It may have slipped under your radar, but last Friday, while many South Carolinians were getting ready to watch Clemson go down in flames against Miami or the University of South Carolina fall to Kentucky by a whisker, something concerning was quietly happening 550 miles to the north.
Unlocking the Secret to Longevity
by MARK POWELL AA traditional Jewish toast goes, “may you live to 120!” For centuries, that was more sentiment than scientific possibility. Times are changing, though. Advances in healthcare and wellness programs have produced a sharp spike in people living long enough to reach the century milestone. Many people smiled this summer when comedic legend Mel Brooks turned 100. Former Federal Reserve chief Alan Greenspan hit the century mark in March (although he passed away three months later).
Crossroads 2026: The GOP’s Growing ‘Darline Dilemma’
by MARK POWELL “This shit’s getting serious.” That blunt observation neatly sums up the view from inside South Carolina’s “Republican” establishment as we move closer to the November 3, 2026 election. The movers and shakers of the SCGOP – who have run the Palmetto State for the past three-plus decades – are on the verge of a full-blown freakout. And with good reason… Warning lights are flashing with an intensity bright enough to blind even the most casual observer.
The Curtain is Ready to Rise on Trump’s GOP Midterm Convention
by MARK POWELL Let’s face it: most folks in South Carolina are suffering from political fatigue at the moment. And who can blame them? In the last four months, we’ve gone through a grueling gubernatorial campaign; a contentious runoff for the GOP nomination; the unexpected death of our state’s senior U.S. senator; another (albeit abbreviated) grueling race to replace him on November’s ballot; and yet another grueling runoff. All within ten weeks, no less.
S.C. Succession: The U.S. Senate Runoff by the Numbers
by MARK POWELL There are two time-honored traditions performed outside of the public eye in the days immediately following a political election: the crunching of numbers and the dissecting of individual campaigns. On election night, it’s all about the game of addition – making sure your candidate or issue gets across whatever threshold is necessary to secure victory (or advance to the next round of the race).
S.C. Succession: The 3% Question
It’s not much as far as figures go. In fact, is downright paltry. For example, business types consider a meager return on an investment a failure. But in today’s oh-so-tight special Republican runoff election for U.S. Senate, could make all the difference in whether congressman Ralph Norman or interim senator Darline Graham Nordone replace the late Lindsey Graham on the GOP ballot this fall. During the three-day early voting window prior to the August 11, 2026 primary, ballots were cast.
S.C. Succession: Who Has “Big Mo” Headed Into U.S. Senate Runoff?
by MARK POWELL “What we will have is momentum. We will be looking forward to ‘Big Mo’ being on our side.” With those words delivered on a frigid Des Moines night at his campaign headquarters, then-presidential candidate George H.W. Bush entered a new phrase into the American political lexicon. He had just won the opening round of the 1980 Republican nominating process, besting front-runner Ronald Reagan in the Iowa Caucuses.
S.C. Succession: Donald Trump Makes His Case for Darline Graham Nordone
by MARK POWELL It’s the biggest plum a candidate can hope for: having the president of the United States stump for you on your home turf. And interim U.S. senator Darline Graham Nordone got it Friday evening in the Grand Strand. With the twin trademarks of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” and exuberant chants of “USA! USA!” echoing off the walls, Trump strode to the podium shortly after 7:30 p.m. EDT. He proceeded to talk for the next hour and 19 minutes.
The Importance of ‘Immunization Awareness Month’
by MARK POWELL Parents and kids across South Carolina have made it through that most dreaded late-summer ritual: the hectic back-to-school crush. As a new academic year begins, school officials are checking to make sure students are up to date on their immunizations. It’s no coincidence August is “Immunization Awareness Month,” which encourages adults – and their children – to keep up to date on all recommended shots.
S.C. Succession: Fireworks and Flubs in Final U.S. Senate Debate
by MARK POWELL Ever watched one of those lengthy fireworks displays that was decidedly ho-hum until all of a sudden the skies just erupted in spectacular flourish of light and sound? Then you know exactly what Tuesday night’s GOP Senate runoff debate was like. For one crowded hour on Tuesday evening (August 18, 2026), interim U.S. senator Darline Graham Nordone and fifth district congressman Ralph Norman faced off on the stage of the Newberry Opera House.
S.C. Succession: The U.S. Senate Race’s Proxy War is Getting Red Hot
by MARK POWELL “Here come the F-16s.” That’s how one national GOP strategist described the runoff campaign for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination in South Carolina. Interim U.S. senator Darline Graham Nordone and fifth district congressman Ralph Norman advanced to the final round as the top two vote-getters in last week’s special GOP primary election. But they’re far from duking it out alone.
S.C. Succession: Russell Fry Endorses Darline Graham
by MARK POWELL It’s now official. All of the heavy hitters within the S.C. GOP have now lined up behind interim U.S. senator Darline Graham Nordone. Word of Congressman Russell Fry‘s endorsement Friday morning made it a fait accompli. “Darline knows what it means to struggle, persevere, and keep fighting when life deals you a difficult hand,” Fry said in a statement issued on Friday (August 14, 2026).
S.C. Succession: Does Russell Fry Hold the Key to U.S. Senate Runoff?
by MARK POWELL There’s one number in particular that’s getting considerable attention from U.S. congressman Ralph Norman and interim U.S. senator Darline Graham Nordone as they battle for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in South Carolina: 66,955. That number represents the 19.66% of the vote Congressman Russell Fry received in Tuesday’s U.S. Senate Special Republican Primary.
S.C. Succession: Winners and Losers from the U.S. Senate Primary Election
by MARK POWELL She went for it, and she got it. Darline Nordone Graham won the first-place showing that polls had predicted for her all along – but it was no cakewalk for our state’s interim junior senator. Running in a statewide election is never an easy task; it’s all the more difficult when you’re mourning the loss of a close loved one. But that was made considerably easier by having the well-oiled Graham political organization backing her every step of the way.
The Key to Winning Tuesday’s GOP Senate Primary
by MARK POWELL Politicians and pundits love referring to the ballot-casting citizenry by the generic, one-size-fits-all term “voters.” Yet any political strategist worth their salt will tell you all touchscreen pushers are not created equally. Partisan and ideological differences notwithstanding, “voters” are far from a monolithic bloc – and identifying and appealing to their myriad idiosyncrasies is what winning campaigns are all about.
U.S. Senate Contenders Make Their Closing Pitches in Final GOP Debate
by MARK POWELL What a difference a day makes. On Monday evening, the five leading candidates for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination in South Carolina squared off in their first debate in Columbia, S.C. Precisely 24 hours later, four of them met again – this time in Mount Pleasant, S.C. – for a final pre-election encounter. One member of the original quintet – interim U.S. senator Darline Graham Nordone – skipped Tuesday’s debate, citing the possibility of Senate votes.
Darline Graham Nordone Holds Her Own in First Debate
by MARK POWELL Some tuned into South Carolina’s first debate for next week’s special primary election for U.S. Senate hoping to see fireworks and drama – and they were disappointed. But political observers were surprised by one thing they hadn’t expected. The five leading candidates to replace the late Lindsey Graham on November’s ballot met for an hour in a Columbia, S.C. television station on Monday evening (August 3, 2024).
What to Watch For in This Week’s U.S. Senate Debates
by MARK POWELL Any time candidates go before live television cameras just days before an election, the stakes are high. When they do so a week before a special primary – a primary no one saw coming, no less – those stakes shoot through the roof. One stumble or gaffe, one bad reaction or snarky attitude, one errant syllable or poorly timed comment – and an entire campaign can turn on a dime.
Crossroads 2026: S.C. Democrat Ticket Complete
by MARK POWELL It’s official: it will be Johnson-Skardon vs. Wilson-Reichenbach in November’s gubernatorial election in South Carolina. State representative Jermaine Johnson, who emphatically claimed his party’s nomination on the first ballot on June 9, 2026, has tapped Charleston-area private-sector activist Sam Skardon as his running mate.
Mark Sanford is the New Harold Stassen
byMARK POWELL We were chatting with a national Republican strategist in Washington, D.C. over the weekend about the growing field of candidates in the upcoming U.S. Senate special primary in South Carolina when our source made an interesting observation about former S.C. governor/congressman Mark Sanford – a recent entry into the race. “Mark Sanford is now officially the Harold Stassen of South Carolina politics,” the operative opined. Wait… “Harold who?” That’s a fair question.
First in the Nation: Democrats Stick with South Carolina in 2028 Primary
by MARK POWELL Prepare for a parade of potential Democrat presidential candidates to descend on the Palmetto State very soon. Because when it comes to starting its primary nominating process, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) still believes nothin’ could be finer than to be in Carolina. And in doing so, it has created another self-inflicted intraparty mess, too. The DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee voted Friday (July 24, 2026) to let South Carolina keep its coveted first-in-the-nation spot.
Buckner’s Senate Bid Aims to Stop Spread of Socialism
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… by MARK POWELL To Lowcountry, South Carolina attorney Duke Buckner, the greatest challenging facing You must Subscribe or log in to read the rest of this content.
Trump Says U.S. Elections Are at Risk, Blames China
by MARK POWELL President Donald Trump claimed in a White House address on Thursday night (July 17, 2026) that the integrity of U.S. elections is at risk. And he pointed the finger of blame squarely at Beijing.
2026 Senate Special: Pamela Evette’s Predicament
by MARK POWELL Cell phone towers all over state of South Carolina are buckling under an unusually heavy call volume at present. From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, through the Midlands and the Pee Dee, up and down the Grand Strand – politicos (and many non-politicos) are burning up bandwidth as they try to process a paradigm shift following sudden death of U.S. senator Lindsey Graham on Saturday.
Dying in Office: A South Carolina Tradition
by MARK POWELL The sudden passing of U.S. senator Lindsey Graham has left South Carolina Republicans to play a frantic game of musical chairs as they scramble to pick his replacement on November’s ballot. While Graham’s death has created a political crisis no one saw coming, it’s far from unique. In fact, it’s been the norm in Palmetto politics over the years. And it’s often happened at the worst possible time, too. Take 1850. The country was teetering on the brink of civil war.
The GOP’s ‘McConnell Moment’
by MARK POWELL The answer to one of the biggest national security questions at this moment isn’t under lock and key in the White House situation room. It’s not under military protection inside the Pentagon. It’s not even safeguarded deep within the ultra-secure confines of Fort Knox. Instead, it can be found in a hospital room at a medical facility somewhere in the Washington, D.C. area. The question is simple: What is the status of U.S. senator Mitch McConnell’s health?
Is Trump’s Midterm Convention a Brilliant Strategy or Political Cry for Help?
by MARK POWELL With the bang of a gavel and the words, “without objection, the 2024 Republican National Convention stands adjourned,” the GOP’s big four-day show wrapped up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin two summers ago. That’s usually how the quadrennial event concludes, with Republicans reassembling in four years’ time ahead of the next presidential election. Emphasis on the word “usually…” because in the age of ‘the Donald,’ very little is “usual.” Even political conventions.
Crossroads 2026: Why Alan Wilson Won the GOP Nomination
by MARK POWELL Elections are, like history, 20/20 in hindsight. Looking back, it all seems so apparent what would happen. Because once the outcome is known, the pieces retroactively all fall into place. Yet, as is so often the case in life, things are seldom that obvious at first glance. Skill, determination, discipline, and let’s face it — basic blind luck — all come into play.
Crossroads 2026: David Stumbo Claims GOP Attorney General Nomination
by MARK POWELL Despite playing second fiddle in South Carolina’s Republican primary election two weeks ago, it was an easy trip to the winner’s circle for eighth circuit solicitor David Stumbo on runoff night. The veteran prosecutor had little difficulty brushing aside his rival – state senator Stephen Goldfinch – to clinch the GOP attorney general nomination.
Political Pandering from Pamela Evette?
by MARK POWELL As the two-day early voting window closed ahead of next week’s decisive South Carolina Republican gubernatorial runoff election, the state’s lieutenant governor – Pamela Evette – seems to have running mates on her mind.
Crossroads 2026: Prediction Markets Go Wild for Alan Wilson
by MARK POWELL Since the dawn of time, one line has separated the big talkers from the true believers: “Put your money where your mouth is.” Never has that expression been more accurate than with today’s increasingly popular prediction markets. Along the way, these sites have begun receiving increased attention from journalists, pundits, and astute political observers eager for tea leaves to read ahead of big races.
Crossroads 2026: Alan Wilson, Pamela Evette Rumble on the Coast
by MARK POWELL Drag queens… accusations of lying… and audience that was straight out of the Jerry Springer Show. And all that was in the first few minutes… Such was the verbal slugfest of Tuesday evening’s South Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidates’ debate at Coastal Carolina University in Conway.
Crossroads 2026: All Eyes on Ralph Norman
by MARK POWELL South Carolina politics can turn on a dime. That’s never truer than during the chaotic two-week runoff period following a state primary election. In the Palmetto State, if no candidate wins a majority of votes on the initial primary ballot – the top two vote-getters square off mano a mano in a runoff election two weeks later. The fourteen days between polls closing in the primary – and reopening for the runoff – is the political equivalent of a thunder dome.
GOP Attorney General’s Runoff: Battle Lines Drawn
by MARK POWELL The farther you go down a ballot, the easier it becomes for undercard races to get lost in the shadow of the biggies. Take this week’s South Carolina partisan primary elections, for instance. While the spotlight shone on the raucous GOP governor’s race (which advanced to a runoff), considerably less attention has been paid to the equally rancorous Republican attorney general’s contest… which also advanced to a head-to-head runoff battle.
Crossroads 2026: Pamela Evette’s (New) Running Mate Conundrum
by MARK POWELL Want to play a fun game? For the next twelve days, count how many times South Carolina lieutenant governor Pamela Evette says the name “Trump” in her speeches and commercials. You’ll need a NASA calculator to keep track of a number that big. Henry McMaster‘s No. 2 – who wants the top job herself – has made the president a perpetual presence in her campaign from the moment she entered the contest for the GOP nomination.
Crossroads 2026: Jermaine Johnson Wins Democrat Nomination
by MARK POWELL In a stunning rebuke to South Carolina Democratic movers and shakers, the party’s primary voters rejected the establishment’s preferred candidate and instead chose state representative Jermaine Johnson as their nominee for governor. With all precincts reporting, Johnson received 221,751 votes – or 59.7% of all ballots cast.
The Running Mate Conundrum: To Announce or Not to Announce
by MARK POWELL With primary day upon us, South Carolina Republican voters have a choice: go with a gubernatorial candidate who has either announced their choice of a running mate for lieutenant governor (along with one whose selection was apparently released for her); or cast your ballot for one who’s keeping their decision close to the vest.
The Henry McMaster Jr. Bubble Bursts
by MARK POWELL For the first time since the news broke – at the highest possible level, no less – that he might become South Carolina lieutenant governor Pamela Evette’s running mate, Henry McMaster Jr., son of the Palmetto State’s longest-serving chief executive, broke his silence on the matter.
S.C. Governor’s Race: Josh Kimbrell Endorses Alan Wilson
by MARK POWELL Less than twenty-four hours after suspending his campaign for the South Carolina governor’s office, state senator Josh Kimbrell announced which candidate he’s supporting in next Tuesday’s state primary election. At the same time, he had harsh words for the political patron of one of his former opponents. The recipient of Kimbrell’s support? Four-term S.C. attorney general Alan Wilson. The subject of Kimbrell’s ire?
Josh Kimbrell Bows Out of South Carolina Governor’s Race
by MARK POWELL And then there were five… Upstate state Sen. Josh Kimbrell suspended his longshot bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination just six days before the state primary election. In a brief video posted on Facebook Wednesday night (June 3, 2026), the second-term lawmaker from Boiling Springs, S.C. acknowledged his candidacy was cooked – bemoaning the current contest’s lack of civility and blaming “absolutely libelous attacks” for his failure to launch.
Lexington Health: Confronting the Condition Women Often Avoid
by MARK POWELL It’s not the kind of thing that often comes up during a coffee chat with your bestie. In fact, women are often reluctant to talk about it at all – with good reason. Who likes admitting they have bladder-related issues? No one – yet it’s unbelievably common. “I would say it impacts anywhere from 50% to 75% of all women,” said Dr. Collin McKenzie, MD, at Lexington Urogynecology.
Crossroads 2026: Fourth S.C. Republican Debate Draws Just Three Candidates
by MARK POWELL To borrow an expression from the 1960s college protest days, “what if they threw a debate and nobody came?” Because that was partially true for Monday evening’s Republican gubernatorial debate hosted by South Carolina Educational Television (SCETV). Only half of the Republican field — state senator Josh Kimbrell, first district congresswoman Nancy Mace, and fifth district congressman Ralph Norman — showed up. The other half played hooky.
Ralph Norman Picks a Running Mate
by MARK POWELL With just eight days until South Carolina’s partisan primary election – and in the thick of early voting – U.S. congressman and 2026 GOP gubernatorial candidate Ralph Norman has selected a running mate. Should Norman win his party’s gubernatorial nomination this month, former state representative and conservative activist Adam Morgan would join him on the Republican ticket.
Recalibrating the GOP Governor’s Race After Pamela Evette’s Trump Endorsement
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Race for the Governorship: Show Me the Money!
by MARK POWELL In the waning days of any statewide political campaign, three things matter above all else. Polls (which are scrutinized closer than fortune tellers divining tea leaves), the campaign calendar (which is more important now than ever in the era of early voting), and final pre-election campaign finance disclosures (which reveal how much cash each candidate can spend in the race’s most pivotal phase).
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