Why this Democrat believes a Republican state can be a model for the country

South Carolina’s leaders have provided a strong example of a third way, where logic and reason can unite people of different parties, races and beliefs to achieve shared goals.

Kevin Walling is a Democratic campaign strategist, former Biden 2020 campaign surrogate, vice president at HGCreative. Follow him on Twitter @KevinPWalling. 

In 2016, neighboring North Carolina passed H.B. 2, also known as "the Bathroom Bill'' into law, prohibiting transgender citizens from using public facilities aligned with their individual gender identity. In response, the state suffered serious financial consequences totaling billions in lost revenue as many businesses moved offices, investments and events out of North Carolina. The unpopularity of the policy also helped contribute to first-term GOP Gov. Pat McCrory’s defeat later that year. 

At the same time, then-Gov. Nikki Haley led opposition to similar legislation in South Carolina, which never passed the state Senate. Even more recently, the South Carolina Supreme Court – solely elected by the Republican-controlled legislature – struck down a bill that would have prevented abortion after six weeks. Today, in this very conservative state, most abortions are allowed up until 22 weeks. The author of the decision was one of the state’s first female jurists and the spouse of a Republican state legislator.