Stand Up and Fight! Clyburn Takes Aim at Trump, Calls for Accountability, Accessibility and Affordability
By Javar Juarez | CUBNSC | October 23, 2026
ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Children ran across the field, families embraced, seniors enjoyed slices of old-fashioned red velvet cake, and neighbors gathered for food and conversation Thursday evening as the Orangeburg County Democratic Party hosted a packed country cookout.
With the November 3 general election approaching, candidates for state and federal office joined U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn and special guest U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware to rally voters and make their case for change in South Carolina and Washington.
People traveled from across Orangeburg County and the Midlands to meet candidates, ask questions and spend time with their neighbors. The gathering mixed Southern hospitality with growing frustration over the Trump administration, economic pressures and concerns about voting rights.
The South Carolina Democratic Party has made rural communities a priority through its Flip the Future initiative, a strategy aimed at energizing voters in areas often overlooked in statewide campaigns.
The effort has brought prominent national Democratic leaders to South Carolina, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly and former Chicago Mayor and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who recently participated in an education forum at Claflin University in Orangeburg.
The initiative has generated visible enthusiasm in rural communities, with Democrats working to turn that energy into increased voter participation ahead of the November 3 election.
Clyburn Calls for AAA Leadership
U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn took aim at President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" message, arguing that the nation's greatness should be measured by how well it serves its people.
"We don't need to be made great. We are great. We just got to figure out how to make that greatness accessible and affordable for all of our citizens," Clyburn told the crowd.
He called for what he described as "AAA leadership: accessibility, accountability, and affordability," emphasizing the need for affordable housing, health care, education and energy.
"Make it affordable, make it accessible, and make yourselves accountable to the voters that sent you there," he said.
His remarks placed the everyday costs facing South Carolina families at the center of the political debate, challenging candidates to deliver results rather than campaign promises.
A Passing Train Becomes a Political Message
As Clyburn addressed the crowd, a freight train passed near the gathering. He paused and used the interruption to make a point about the economy.
"I'm not gonna be mad with that train because they're bringing stuff here that we need," Clyburn said.
He criticized the Trump administration's handling of trade and the movement of goods into and out of the United States.
Clyburn said the country needed an administration that would support commerce and ensure trains continued bringing products into South Carolina and carrying goods produced in the state to other markets.
'Stand Up and Fight Back'
South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain called for Democrats to retire a familiar political rallying cry.
"Fired up, ready to go," a phrase made famous during Barack Obama's presidential campaigns, had served its purpose, Spain told the crowd.
"Fired up, ready to go is a beautiful past for us. But we're gonna lay it to rest tonight. Our new call is stand up and fight back because that's what this election is about."
The crowd answered in a call-and-response chant.
"Stand up!" "Fight back!"
The message reflected the frustration among Democrats over the direction of the country under Trump and Republican leadership.
Jermaine Johnson Calls for a New South Carolina
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dr. Jermaine Johnson delivered a forceful speech contrasting what he called the old South Carolina with his vision for a new one.
Johnson accused state leaders of tolerating corruption, backroom deals and policies that have left residents struggling with high utility bills, insurance costs and deteriorating roads.
"This old South Carolina has people who are doing things for their benefit, not for yours," Johnson said.
He described a state where families could find well-paying jobs, send their children to well-funded public schools, live in safe neighborhoods and receive medical care without fearing the bills.
"The new South Carolina has a governor that leads with love, compassion, understanding, and it has integrity," Johnson told the crowd.
Johnson also urged supporters to contact friends, relatives and neighbors before Election Day.
"If you have not gotten into your phones and called all of your friends and your family members, texted all of your friends and family members, that means you are failing the assignment," he said.
Johnson called on voters to support Democratic candidates across the ballot, presenting their campaigns as part of a larger effort to change South Carolina's political leadership.
Lisa Blunt Rochester Brings a National Message to Orangeburg
U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, the first woman and first Black person elected to represent Delaware in the Senate, traveled to Orangeburg while campaigning for Democrats across the country.
Blunt Rochester said she had recently visited Ohio, Michigan, Georgia and Louisiana, but emphasized that national attention was also turning toward South Carolina.
The senator expressed support for Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Dr. Annie Andrews and discussed her party's effort to secure control of the Senate.
"We're about to have a doctor in the Senate," Blunt Rochester said, referring to Andrews.
She also warned about federal voting legislation, including the SAVE America Act, and urged the audience to remain focused on protecting voting rights.
"South Carolina, I need you to keep your eyes on the prize," she said.
"America is watching what happens in South Carolina," she added before leading the crowd in a call for joy and political participation.
Clyburn, who introduced Blunt Rochester, praised her work in Congress and recalled relying on her to explain legislation and help secure votes during his time as House majority whip.
He described her as a trusted colleague whose work had benefited people beyond her home state of Delaware.
Annie Andrews Challenges Republican Advantage as Senate Race Tightens
Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Dr. Annie Andrews arrived in Orangeburg amid signs of a competitive Senate contest in a state Republicans have dominated for decades.
Andrews is challenging Republican nominee Darline Graham Nordone in a race that has drawn national attention, with recent polls showing the candidates separated by only a few percentage points.
An October 18–19 OnPointPolitics survey of 511 registered voters placed Andrews at 45% and Graham at 42%. An October 16–18 Trafalgar Group poll showed Graham at 49% and Andrews at 46%.
The different results point to uncertainty in a contest that Democrats hope will challenge the Republican Party's longstanding advantage in statewide elections.
Andrews used her remarks to describe what a political shift in South Carolina could mean for the country.
She spoke about moving beyond the bitter partisanship that has shaped American politics and showing that people have more in common than their political differences suggest.
"In that moment where South Carolina will get to pick up our pen and start writing the next chapter in American democracy," Andrews told the crowd, she wanted everyone present to remember that they had helped make it possible.
Her message carried weight in a state where Republicans have held a strong advantage in federal and statewide elections for decades.
With early voting underway, the question is whether Andrews can turn the attention surrounding her campaign into enough votes to challenge that history.
Clyburn Warns Voters Not to Wait Until Election Day
Clyburn also stressed the importance of early voting, pointing to what he described as record-setting participation during the first week.
He said he had been checking turnout numbers each evening and was encouraged by the results.
But the congressman also warned voters about potential problems at the polls.
On October 19, the first day of early voting, Dorchester County election officials encountered technical problems that reportedly caused some voters to receive ballots showing contests for the wrong electoral districts.
The problem was linked to voter check-in equipment having difficulty scanning newer driver's licenses. Election workers began manually entering voter information while officials investigated.
County officials reported that the problem had been resolved by October 20, although the number of affected voters remained unclear.
Clyburn pointed to the incident as a reason to vote early.
"One of the reasons we want you to vote early, so that if there is a problem, we can correct it," he said.
He warned against waiting until late on November 3, when there might not be enough time to resolve a problem before polls close.
The incident highlights the importance of checking ballot information before voting and immediately reporting any errors to election officials.
South Carolina's early voting period continues through October 31, with voting centers open from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m., except Sunday, October 25.
More Than a Political Rally
Beyond the speeches, Thursday's cookout reflected a Southern tradition of bringing people together through food, fellowship and community organizing.
Children played while seniors enjoyed dessert. Neighbors embraced, shared stories and talked about the future of their communities.
For generations, gatherings like these have helped build political movements across the South, particularly during the struggle for civil rights and equal representation.
That history was evident in Orangeburg, where the evening brought together political organizing and the simple pleasure of spending time with neighbors.
There was anger over the direction of the country, frustration with economic pressures and concern about voting rights. But there was also laughter, music, affection and a strong sense of community.
The cookout offered a reminder that democracy extends beyond campaign speeches and elections. It also depends on relationships, public participation and the ability of people to come together around their shared concerns.
As the evening ended, the words that had echoed across the field captured the determination of the crowd.
"Stand up!" "Fight back!"
With November 3 approaching, the next test for the candidates and their supporters will come at the ballot box.
Javar Juarez is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Columbia Urban Broadcast Network (CUBN), an independent investigative news outlet based in Columbia, South Carolina, and a member of the South Carolina Press Association.
