Democracy doesn’t fail all at once. It fades when races go uncontested and communities are left without a real choice. Joined by Rep. Kambrell Garvin and Brady Quirk Garvan, the conversation breaks down how unopposed elections, gerrymandered districts, and political burnout are reshaping South Carolina politics from the ground up. They explain why running for state house, county council, or local office still matters, even in tough districts, and how showing up on the ballot creates accountability where none exists. If representation is going to mean anything, someone has to be willing to run.

A packed house in Spartanburg hears a moral call that feels urgent, grounded, and impossible to ignore. Following Reverend William Barber’s powerful address, Katherine Harvey sits down with historian and storyteller Anthony Milian to unpack what it means to love forward, build coalitions, and turn shared struggle into collective action. They trace the historical roots of today’s political moment, talk democracy, dignity, and why local leadership matters more than ever in South Carolina. The conversation lands on a clear challenge: this moment is not about despair, it is about organizing, running for office, and choosing to act together.

Not everyone who wants change is meant to run for office and that does not mean they are powerless. State Senator Ed Sutton explains how everyday South Carolinians can serve on local boards, influence key decisions, and shape public policy without campaigns, party labels, or partisan fights. From transportation and aviation to foster care and judicial appointments, this conversation breaks down where real civic power lives at the local level. It is a practical guide to public service that shows how government actually functions beyond elections.