St. George, SC – The Dorchester County Democratic Party gathered in St. George yesterday for their Rally the Vote cookout, bringing together supporters, activists, and local leaders to energize their base ahead of the November elections. The event, marked by passionate speeches and a strong turnout, demonstrated the determination of local Democrats to make their voices heard.
State Senator Vernon Stephens, who faces a challenge from local attorney Tom Fernandez in the upcoming election, was among the notable figures in attendance. Reflecting on the event, Stephens expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "Yesterday, I attended the Dorchester County Democratic Party Rally the Vote cookout in St. George, and the energy was incredible! The crowd filled me with so much motivation and excitement—it's clear that Democrats are more fired up than ever. We shared that energy with each other, and it spread like wildfire! Together, we're showing the strength of our movement, ready to make our voices heard and fight for our shared values. Let's keep this momentum going!"
Dorchester County Democratic Party Chairman ReZsaun Lewis delivered an impassioned and emotionally charged speech to the attendees, rallying them to prepare for the battles ahead. "We are going to win in November!" Lewis declared, echoing the words of Vice President Kamala Harris. "When we fight we win, when we fight we win, when we fight we win - alright, so we are here to start the fight today in St. George. This is the first of several events between now and November, and every event I want to see just like this. I want to see more and more and more people. When Republicans come and send their spies, because they will, I want them to say, 'dang man them Democrats is on fire.' I want them to say, 'dang them Democrats are on fire. How are we going to beat them?' The tactics that we used in the past ain’t gone work. They gotta try something new. They gotta come with project 30. Project 2030 to beat us. Because we're stopping what they're doing right here in its tracks. It starts today."
Lewis, who assumed leadership of the Dorchester County Democratic Party after a double defeat in his 2022 bid against State Representative Robby Robbins, appears undeterred by past losses. Despite the fact that no Democratic candidates were fielded against the newly all-Republican County Council in Dorchester County, Lewis emphasized the importance of continued effort and unity.
In contrast, Dorchester County Republican Party Chairman Steven Wright, who has led a successful campaign to secure Republican dominance in the county, dismissed the significance of the Democrats' rally. "The Dorchester County Democratic Party has been rendered irrelevant. We won’t be sending any spies to your meetings; rather, we will be engaged in direct voter contact to defeat even more of your candidates in November!" Wright stated.
The political landscape in Dorchester County is heating up as two key races are expected to capture the attention of voters statewide. State Representative Joe Jefferson, representing House District 102, faces a challenge from Dorchester County Councilwoman and retired Lieutenant Colonel Harriet Holman, who has already garnered the endorsement of popular South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. Meanwhile, State Senator Vernon Stephens, who has served in Senate District 39, will contend with the rising influence of local conservative lawyer and influencer Tom Fernandez.
Other Democratic challengers in the upcoming elections include Adrienne Lett, a 24-year-old civil engineer aiming to unseat Representative Gary Brewer in State House 114, Sonja Ogletree Satani, an Air Force veteran running against Representative Chris Murphy in State House 98, and Realtor Rita Adkins, who is contesting Representative Matt Leber for the State Senate 41 seat, which spans Dorchester Road, much of Charleston, and Colleton Counties.
As November approaches, the energy on both sides is palpable, setting the stage for a series of closely watched contests that could shape the political future of Dorchester County and beyond.
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