While the Palmetto State is deeply Republican, its role in choosing the Democratic nominee cannot be overstated — and Black women, in particular, play a pivotal role.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom promoted his more than 2,000-mile jaunt from California to South Carolina as a bid to help the party win back the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026, but most people there saw it as a precursor to a 2028 presidential run.