Staff reports | The historic Galivants Ferry Stump will hold its first-ever political speaking gathering featuring Democratic presidential candidates in just over five weeks.
Former Vice President Joe Biden was first to confirm for the event, which will start at 5 p.m. Sept. 16 at Pee Dee Farms General Store, 125 West Highway 501, in Galivants Ferry, S.C. Other candidates are expected to confirm in the coming weeks, according to a press release.
In past South Carolina political lore, the “stump” meeting referred to a pre-microphone time when politicians promoted their platforms by “allegedly giving speeches while standing on tree stumps,” according to the South Carolina Encyclopedia. The Galivants Ferry Stump, a Democratic Party tradition for 143 years, has been put on by four generations of the Holliday family at its Galivants Ferry store.
The stump, usually held biennially in the spring of election years, has added this new event for present presidential hopefuls prior to the South Carolina Democratic Primary election in February 2020. As the “first in the South” primary, South Carolina attracts widespread national attention, and the Galivants Ferry Stump, which often draws crowds of more than 1,000 people, provides the ideal venue for candidates to meet with voters and discuss important issues.
The 2019 event will follow the traditional festival format with live bluegrass music, country cuisine and clogging starting at 5 p.m. Political speeches will begin at 6 p.m. Although past keynote speakers have included many national political figures, organizers said the 2019 stump will be the first time that presidential candidates will speak directly to South Carolina voters at the event.
The event is free and open to the public.
In other news:
PSC hires, then fires utility-tied consultant. South Carolina’s utility regulator, the Public Service Commission, hired Pegasus Global Holdings to consult on the price of solar generation — a key component of the Energy Freedom Act that could have a big impact on the state’s future energy generation. But the consultant had deep ties to big utilities, and the solar industry objected. So then, the PSC got rid of the firm. Read more.
McMaster brings on seasoned education adviser. S.C. Education Oversight Committee Director Melanie Barton will begin as Gov. Henry McMaster’s senior education adviser Sept. 3. Read more.
S.C. ranked near last for health care. In a new study comparing health care cost, access and outcomes, South Carolina ranked 48th out of 50. Read the study.
State lawmakers’ summit. Some S.C. lawmakers traveled this week to Nashville for the annual meeting for the National Conference of State Legislatures. The summit held meetings on redistricting, electric vehicles, and rural economies. One of the biggest crowds, according to the conference, was a talk on marijuana and state revenues. “The Straight Dope on Marijuana Revenues” reported that Washington state raked in $319 million in one year from marijuana sales. Read more.
State to spend $20M exploring sale of Santee Cooper. S.C. Department of Administration recently hired an investment bank, law firm and two energy consultants as it works to solicit, field and evaluate offers for Santee Cooper. The agency has $20 million to spend on the consultants, including $15 million from Santee Cooper itself. Read more.
2020 candidate calendar
Throughout the campaign season, we are working to keep South Carolina informed of candidate events in the state. Have an event you want us to know about? Email us at 2020news@statehousereport.com.
- Pints and Politics with Amy Klobuchar. The Post and Courier politics team will host Democratic candidate U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota 2 p.m. Aug. 17 at Tradesman Brewing in Mount Pleasant.
- Have a comment? Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!