South Carolina’s Glenn McCall named national chair of Republican “Growth and Opportunity Project”

RNC Launches New Initiative to Grow the Party and Win Co-Chairs Announced to Lead Effort WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus today launched an initiative to grow the Republican Party and improve future Republican campaigns. The effort, known as the Growth and Opportunity Project, will be chaired by five GOP leaders and is charged by Priebus with initially reviewing past practices and also making critical recommendations for the future in these eight key areas: 1) campaign mechanics and ground game; 2) messaging; 3) fundraising; 4) demographic partners and allies; 5) third party groups; 6) campaign finance issues;

SCGOP Chairman Chad Connelly says, “Thank you, Senator Jim DeMint”

Columbia, S.C. – This morning, South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Chad Connelly released the following statement on the news that U.S. Senator Jim DeMint plans to leave the Senate in January to become the President of the Heritage Foundation. “Jim DeMint is a small businessman who ran for Congress to change the way Washington works. Without question, he succeeded. Senator DeMint is a conservative rock star. At the Heritage Foundation, he will be in an even greater position to spark revolutionary change. I commend his principled leadership and service to our state. Thank you, Senator.”

SCGOP Chairman’s statement on Supreme Court victory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY Columbia, S.C. – Earlier this afternoon, the South Carolina Supreme Court ordered the S.C. State Election Commission to return all Richland County ballots to the county. In doing so, the Supreme Court found that the November 8 recount order (pushed by the S.C. Democratic Party) was improperly granted and vacated it: “The action before the circuit court involved challenges to elections, and protests should be filed with the State Commission for elections involving federal officers, state officers, members of the State Senate and House, and offices involving more than one county… Protests of

SCGOP Chairman congratulates Kirkman Finlay, calls for independent investigation in Richland County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY Contact: Matt Moore, Executive Director Columbia, S.C. – SCGOP Chairman Chad Connelly issued a statement this evening following the news that Kirkman Finlay has won the House District 75 general election in Richland County. “First, I’d like to congratulate Kirkman Finlay for a hard-fought victory. He’ll be a strong, fiscally conservative voice for Richland County in the South Carolina House. “Second, the voting problems in Richland County are absolutely unacceptable. Voters should not have to stand in line for three or more hours, or wait until 2AM, to cast their ballots. And it

Graham, Gowdy Urge AG Holder to Uphold Court Ruling on South Carolina Voter ID

Graham, Gowdy Urge AG Holder to Uphold Court Ruling on South Carolina Voter ID WASHINGTON  –  U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and U.S. Congressman Trey Gowdy (South Carolina-4) have sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder urging him to uphold South Carolina’s Voter ID law. “South Carolina passed a Voter ID bill, complied with federal law by submitting it for pre-clearance, and was ultimately vindicated by the October 10 ruling,” said Graham and Gowdy.  “Appealing the Court’s ruling will cost both the Federal government and the State of South Carolina more money in litigation costs; money that can

Press Release: S.C. Attorney General says Voter ID decision a “major victory”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE South Carolina Republican Party Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued the following statement in response to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia’s ruling in South Carolina v. United States, the state’s voter ID case. “Today’s ruling by the three judge panel is a major victory for South Carolina and its election process. It affirms our voter ID law is valid and constitutional under the Voting Rights Act. The fact remains, voter ID laws do not discriminate or disenfranchise; they ensure integrity at the ballot box. “This ruling also affirms

SCGOP Chairman sends condolences to family of Joan Wheeler

Columbia, S.C.- South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Chad Connelly issued the following statement sending condolences to the family of former Cherokee County GOP Chairman Joan Wheeler. “On behalf of the South Carolina Republican Party, I wish to offer our sincerest condolences and prayers for the family of Joan Wheeler. Joan was among the founders of the modern Republican Party in South Carolina, helping to change Cherokee County from solid Democrat to one of most Republican areas of our state. Despite all of her achievements, including the Order of the Palmetto, Joan will most importantly be remembered for the hundreds of

Press Release: SCGOP Chairman blasts Harpootlian for Eva Braun comparison

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE South Carolina Republican Party Weekly Standard: “S.C. Dem. Chair Compares GOP Gov. to Hitler’s Mistress” Original Link Columbia, S.C.- South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Chad Connelly today blasted S.C. Democratic Party Chairman Dick Harpootlian for comparing Governor Nikki Haley to Eva Braun, Hitler’s mistress. “With unemployment at record levels, a debt crisis looming, and President Obama underwater in the polls, it’s no surprise that the President’s hand-picked South Carolina Chairman, Dick Harpootlian, would stoop to such a new low. All the Democrats have is these smoke screens to distract from the real issue- that President Obama has

Press Release: Two South Carolina Republicans named National Convention officers

Cindy Costa, Nathan Ballentine recommended as 2012 Republican National Convention officers FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Columbia, S.C.- South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Chad Connelly today congratulated Cindy Costa and Nathan Ballentine for being recommended as Deputy Permanent Co-Chairmen of the 2012 Republican National Convention. The convention will be held August 27-30 in Tampa. Costa, of Charleston, is South Carolina’s Republican National Committeewoman and Ballentine, of Chapin, is a State Representative from the 71st District. Both will preside over the 2012 National Convention at various times. “Combined with Governor Haley’s important speaking role, Cindy and Nathan’s recommendation shows the strong health of

SCGOP takes to Charleston Airwaves: Republicans say “Let the Voters Decide”

SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CHARLESTON – Today, the South Carolina Republican Party called for an end to South Carolina Democrats’ frivolous lawsuits and has even gone so far as to purchase radio time to make sure the call is heard. With live reads today on Charleston’s WQSC from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., listeners will hear firebrand Rocky D call for voters to decide elections instead of judges. Charleston trial lawyer Paul Tinkler lost his bid for the Senate District 41 seat in the July special election won by Republican Walter Hundley, but Tinkler will again be