By Javar Juarez (CUBNSC) Columbia, S.C. - America stands as a global power—and for many, one of the most racially divided nations. This election has laid bare these divisions, revealing a troubling landscape shaped by overt racism, vulgar rhetoric, nationalism, sexism, and xenophobia, all hallmarks of a political era still heavily influenced by the Trump movement. In the aftermath, the Democratic Party is confronted with internal fractures, especially among corporate Democrats who continue to fall short in prioritizing Black Americans—their largest and most loyal base. "Last night's results are a symptom of a party asleep at the wheel—and now we’re in a ditch," said Brandon Upson, a political operative who previously ran against Christale Spain in the 2023 race for state Democratic Party chair. "We lost four state senators and didn’t pick up one House seat we lost in 2022, all while our state chair had her eye off the ball. Project Roadmap was a farce that never got off the ground and, quite frankly, was never intended to."
According to the South Carolina Democratic Party website Project Roadmap, is an initiative launched by the South Carolina Democratic Party under Chair Christale Spain, seeking to address longstanding challenges in building statewide support and winning elections. The Task Force behind Project Roadmap includes elected officials, former candidates, Democratic strategists, county chairs, caucus members, and activist leaders, all dedicated to revitalizing the party’s approach.
In South Carolina, Democrats face bitter disappointment as state party leadership under Spain and Jay Parmley has once again failed to connect with voters, resulting in a Republican supermajority in the state legislature. Seasoned Democratic senators like Gerald Malloy, Mike Fanning, and newcomer Vernon Stephens lost their seats, while Sen. Kevin Johnson narrowly lost by under 700 votes, leaving South Carolina Republicans with an iron grip on the state. This wasn’t just a red wave—it was a crimson tide, signaling the Democratic Party’s struggle not only in South Carolina but across the nation.
Two years ago, Republicans unseated five Black Democrats and flipped three open seats in the state House. Democrats were hoping to regain these long-held seats and maintain Senate numbers. But at the party’s election night watch event, Chairwoman Christale Spain expressed misplaced optimism, saying, “On the Senate side, we just can’t lose anything. We really can’t afford to lose another Senate seat.” A state-wide Zoom call later revealed widespread frustration as South Carolina delegates demanded the removal of both Spain and Parmley, calling for a new direction in leadership.
The disconnect within the South Carolina Democratic Party has been evident for years. The party has resisted the voices of new leaders and progressive policies that reflect the needs of Black constituents. Veteran voices like Congressman James E. Clyburn continue to carry the burden of change, yet it is clear the broader community must also rise, ready to advocate for progress at every level.
This election cycle exposed just how out of touch Democratic leadership has become. During the first-in-the-nation primary, national surrogates arrived with outdated talking points, assuming Black voters would simply follow suit. Figures like Ohio Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty promoted Biden’s accomplishments but glossed over critical issues: police violence, hate crimes, reparations, and student debt relief. While Biden won the primary, turnout was notably lower, as Black South Carolinians, feeling excluded, chose to organize within their own communities, with little involvement from state Democratic leaders.
Amid rising tensions, community leaders in the trenches who are not part of the establishment were left out of vital discussions around Project Roadmap. Instead, Chair Christale Spain and Executive Director Jay Parmley focused on traditional political gatherings and high-level events, distancing themselves from the community-level dialogue that could have strengthened the party's base. This disconnect was keenly felt in Richland County, where many Black voters, with an average age of just 35.5, saw little Democratic outreach and even encountered pushback when voicing their concerns. Led by an aging leadership, the state party is seen as increasingly detached from younger Black voters, unable to respond effectively to the needs of this core constituency.
Much like the national Democratic Party, South Carolina’s Democratic leadership remains heavily influenced by established white figures, with top consultants and officials rarely reflecting the diverse base they serve. Myself, along with leaders like Roland Martin, have continually pushed for more significant DNC funding for Black-led media and community initiatives, but so far, the investment has been negligible.
For Vice President Kamala Harris, entering this race meant facing formidable obstacles. Positioned as part of the incumbent administration, Harris ran amid broad economic hardship, which spurred many Americans to seek change. According to a Bank of America Institute study, more households—including middle- and upper-income—were living paycheck to paycheck in 2023 than in 2019. More than seven in ten Americans believed the country was moving in the wrong direction, setting a tough backdrop for Harris to promote herself as a candidate for change.
Harris’s campaign attempted to offer “a new way forward,” with strong Democratic ground operations and policy proposals aimed at building economic opportunity. However, her efforts faced structural challenges within the party. In South Carolina, Harris wasn’t even on the primary ballot. Instead, delegates, including myself, cast votes to send representatives to the Democratic convention in Chicago, where Biden was to be chosen as the nominee. Many delegates and voters feel sidelined, with little clarity on why Biden stepped down, who influenced the decision, or how Harris ultimately became the nominee on short notice, with the same out-of-touch establishment team leading the charge.
The Democratic National Committee seems reluctant to recognize these concerns. Calls for open discussion remain largely ignored, underscoring the urgent need for leadership that is genuinely connected to and invested in the needs of Black communities across the country.
Not even a billion-dollar campaign could help Democrats recover, as grievances within the Black community and among younger voters, including many Black men, had already taken deep root. Faced with long-standing economic inequities, some Black voters either chose to sit out the election or cast their votes for Donald Trump. Conversations around Black economic empowerment and business interests came too late to sway their priorities. The persistent wealth gap in America pushed many Black Americans to focus less on social issues like racism—which have become almost expected—and more on economic survival.
Although Donald Trump’s record on job creation and economic growth is weak, some Black Americans are willing to take a risk, viewing their support for him as a protest against a system that has consistently failed them. Many informed voices acknowledge the dangers of this choice, recognizing that Trump’s appeal is rooted in grievance politics rather than real solutions. Yet his rhetoric resonates, as he vocalizes criticisms of elite Democrats that both Black and white communities have voiced for years.
At the same time, Trump’s rallies continue to stir divisive sentiments, drawing on a populism that pits even the poorest white Americans against their own interests to prevent a Black woman from advancing. Both state and national Democratic leadership missed a crucial opportunity to address these divides, instead running campaigns that alienated rather than inspired, leaving diverse communities without meaningful representation.
As misinformation permeates our political climate, one truth remains unavoidable: systemic racism shapes America’s landscape. Rising costs, cultural erosion, and an escalating assault on Black communities mark our current moment. Under Trump, the nation’s global standing has weakened due to divisive policies, while at home, hate crimes, police violence, and targeted attacks on Black Americans have surged. Research reveals that much of Trump’s support base is fueled by sentiments of racism, ignorance, and misogyny—prejudices that Democratic leadership has often been reluctant to confront directly.
America’s reluctance to embrace Black women in power is starkly evident. While figures with questionable pasts rise to prominence, Vice President Kamala Harris faces continual barriers, symbolizing a struggle many Americans still refuse to address. Her position reflects both a milestone and the intense resistance that remains.
In this landscape, Black Americans must stay vigilant, mobilizing to defend their communities, culture, and rights at every level. The Democratic Party must urgently realign with its base, lifting new leaders and addressing the pressing issues that matter most. The road to progress may be steep, but the fight for a just and inclusive America endures.
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