THE TRUTH

Senate District 17

Independents (including younger white men) and left-of-center voters (including low information black voters) need to read mail and see digital ads that emphasize Sen. Fanning’s record on education and how he has rejected insider politics in Columbia to protect our teachers, children, and families, while Everett Stubbs is just another extremist who will hurt working families. 

This election is about who is on our side. Senator Fanning has taken on party leaders and Columbia insiders to do what is right for us. He protected 2nd amendment rights and led the effort to protect public school funding from being diverted to unaccountable private schools, raise teacher pay and ensure every child, no matter the zip code, can reach their full potential.  On the other hand, Everett Stubbs is working against our families.  He supports taking away money from public schools, where more than 90% of students attend, and giving it to private schools, with no family income cap. His supporters have even tried to ban books. Stubbs will be a rubber stamp for their extremist agenda while Sen. Fanning fights for us.

Cites: https://votestubbs.com/hello-world/ ; Stubbs for Senate, Facebook, Jan 23, 2024; Stubbs for Senate, Facebook, April 16 2024; Winthrop College Republicans, Facebook, August 6, 2023; 

Separately, moderate women voters in Senate District 17 need to read mail and see digital ads that demonstrate Sen. Fanning is fighting for women’s reproductive freedoms and Everett Stubbs is an anti-abortion extremist. 

Mike Fanning is fighting back against one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country. He believes that women and their doctors should have the power to make their own private healthcare decisions, not politicians. On the other hand, Everett Stubbs is endorsed by extremists who want to ban abortion without exceptions, even for the life of the mother. Everett Stubbs and his extremist friends are a danger to families.

Cites: Stubbs for Senate, Facebook, April 16 2024; Winthrop College Republicans, Facebook, March 23 2023; Stubbs for Senate, Facebook, June 1 2024; Stubbs for Senate, Facebook, June 3 2024.

Senate District 26

Independent voters in Senate District 26 need to see on their digital screens and read in the mail that Russell Ott knows how to bring folks together and get things done. 

When learning about Russell Ott, voters need to know he was raised on a farm in Calhoun County and continues to operate that farm with his father, uncle and brother today. He has taken the values he learned there to the state house… working hard and getting the job done, and working with anyone who has the best interests of South Carolina in mind to do so.  He has fought to improve our schools and ensure every community has the best teachers and facilities.  He has worked to improve access to health care and expand Medicaid. He has been a champion for our local economy, working to bring new investment, jobs and business to the midlands.  Through it all, he has never been afraid to break with party leaders to do what’s right, including fighting to protect our second amendment rights.

Equally important, voters need to know that Jason Guerry cannot be our State Senator. Not only does he have no experience, but he is going to be a rubber stamp for the most extreme positions of his party, pushing a national agenda when we really need to focus on issues here at home. He signed a pledge with an extreme group who is pushing a top down political agenda on our schools, including book bans and more control over what teachers can teach in the classroom. Guerry also cannot be trusted to manage our tax dollars - he filed for bankruptcy and has been charged fines and fees for failing to pay his property taxes on time. Guerry cannot be trusted to look out for us.

Cites: Jason Guerry for SC Senate, Facebook, May 21, 2024; Year in Hate and Extremism 2022, Southern Poverty Law Center.

USPIE Action Press Release, 6/3/2024

Senate District 35

Independents and right-of-center voters (primarily women) need to read mail and see digital ads that emphasize Jeffrey Graham will work across the aisle to get things done for rural South Carolina.  Equally important, those voters need to read mail and see digital ads that contrast Graham’s common sense approach with his opponents extreme agenda that will hurt families.  

When learning about Jeffrey Graham, voters need to know that he raised his family in rural South Carolina, is a small business owner and youngest mayor ever elected in Camden.  He knows getting things done means working together and rejecting extreme politicians on both sides of the aisle.  He will bring folks together to expand Medicaid to bring down costs, invest in rural medical providers, and protect our access to healthcare like birth control and IVF. Additionally, he will get politics out of our classrooms, and focus on the basics like reading and math, supporting our teachers, providing vocational training opportunities and ensuring our rural schools get their fair share of funding.

When separately learning about the difference between Graham and Jones, voters need to see that Jones is another extremist who will threaten our freedoms.  

Mike Jones supports injecting politics into our schools by banning books, requiring prayer time in schools, and taking money away from school districts he called “top-heavy”. He has called improving educational standards a form of Nazi indoctrination, and works closely with the extremist group that bullied teachers and a superintendent to resign.

Cites: MIKE JONES SC Senate Seat 35, Facebook, 06/10/2024; Matthew T Hall, The State, June 19, 2024; SenatorMikeJones.com, Education; @thecrowdview, X.com, July 10, 2015 reposts; @iancone,  X.com, Jul 13, 205 reposts; Moms 4 Liberty Pictures, May 13, 2024; USPIE Action Press Releases, June 3, 2024; USPIE Mission, Vision, and Values; SenatorMikeJones.com The Christian Post Op-Ed, August 1, 2023; A Blueprint to Close US Department of Education and End Federal Education Mandates, USPIE; Education Superintendent Interview, The State, May 26, 2014; Mike Jones SC Senate Seat 35, Facebook, June 10, 2024; Sheri Few for SC House of Representatives District 79, Quarter 1 Finance Report, March 30, 2010; Michael Harriot, The Grio, May 17, 2023.

Additionally, Jones says he is “100% pro-life”. He says he’s 100% pro-life, opposing abortion even in cases of rape, incest, or to save the mother. His ban would prevent doctors from providing life-saving care. Mike Jones is a danger to South Carolina families.

Cites: SenatorMikeJones.com, #pro-life.

Candidate photos:  dropbox folder here.

Senate District 36

Independents and right-of-center voters (primarily women) need to read mail and see digital ads that emphasize the contrast between the record of Senator Johnson and Jeff Zell on the key issues of education and choice.

Voters need to know that Senator Johnson has lived in rural South Carolina his entire life, and has served on the school board, city council, Mayor and now as our State Senator.  He has always focused on common sense solutions to help improve our local economy by investing in our schools, expanding access to rural health care and bringing good jobs here.  On the other hand, Jeff Zell is an extremist who is focused on divisive issues that threaten our personal freedoms and our kids' future.

Proof point 1: Kevin Johnson believes every child deserves a high quality education, no matter what zip code they live in. He will raise teacher pay, lower class sizes, and make sure our rural schools get their fair share. On the other hand, Jeff Zell said our public schools are the worst in the state and will side with those that are pushing restrictive book bans and other harmful policies on our kids.. He will be a threat to public school funding, and believes in strict restrictions on what teachers are able to teach their students. 

Cites: Gene Zaleski, The Times and Democrat, 5/30/2024; Jeffrey Zell, Facebook, July 23, 2023; Jeffrey Zell, Facebook, March 23, 2022; Jeffrey Zell, Facebook, July 13, 2023; Vote Jeff Zell, Facebook, March 12, 2024; Jeffrey Zell, Facebook, March 3, 2022; Jeffrey Zell, Facebook, Nov 8, 2022; Jeffrey Zell, Facebook, August 11, 2022; Jeffrey Zell, Facebook, June 4, 2023.

Proof Point 2: Kevin Johnson knows affordable healthcare is still out of reach for too many South Carolina families. He has fought to expand Medicaid, lower drug costs, and get more health care options in rural South Carolina.  On the other hand, Jeff Zell wants to make it harder for South Carolnains to get the care they need.  ​​He wants to pass an extreme abortion ban with no exceptions for rape, incest, or life of the mother, and even said anyone who doesn’t agree with him isn’t Christian. He will threaten access to rural health care options and lifesaving care women need.

Cites: Jeffrey Zell, Facebook, 7/8/2022; Jeffrey Zell, Facebook, 6/24/2022; Jeffrey Zell, Facebook, 6/25/2022; Jeffrey Zell, Facebook, 5/27/2023; Jeffrey Zell, Facebook, May 26, 2023; Jeffrey Zell, Facebook, May 3, 2022; Jeffrey Zell, Facebook, May 22, 2023; Jeffrey Zell, Facebook, May 23, 2023; Jeffrey Zell, Facebook, March 11, 2022; Jeffrey Zell, Facebook, October 2, 2022.

Senate District 39

Independent men and women (specifically left-of-center independents), moderate Democrat male voters, and voters under 50 in Senate District 39 need to read mail and see digital ads that emphasize Tom Fernandez is a radical extremist who would be dangerous for our families.  Separately, voters need to know about  Sen. Stephens’ bipartisan credentials and his record on education, infrastructure, and local businesses, which contrasts significantly with the radical ideology of Tom Fernandez.  

When learning about Tom Fernandez, voters need to know he is a radical extremist. Fernandez started a pro-militia group and brought together neo-Nazis and the groups that stormed the capitol on January 6th at rallies protesting the United States government. His group even advocated for burning down local police stations as acts of protest. Fernandez is a pro-militia extremist who supports defunding our schools and infrastructure and making it easier for criminals to purchase machine guns. 

Cites: “Open-carry activists rally to challenge gun laws,” NBC News, 4/19/2010; “Had to respond to this,” Restoretheconstitution.wordpress.com, 10/18/2010; “APRIL 19: A SCHEDULE,” SPLC.org, 4/15/2010; “Around the country, an anti-immigration movement is spreading like wildfire. An array of activists is fanning the flames,.” SPLCCenter.org, 1/31/2006; “Lawmakers concerned as health-care overhaul foes resort to violence, Washington Post, 3/25/2010; “Gun

-toting protesters stick to their bricks,” Washington Post, 4/20/2010; This Is Why Extremists Glorify and Plan for Violent Acts to Occur on April 19, Inside Edition, April 16, 2021; “Larry Pratt,” SPLCenter.org; “This is interesting......,” Restoretheconstitution.wordpress.com, archived 6/18/2011; “Identifying the Problem pt.2: the Monkeys,” Restore the Constitution, 10/17/2010, archived 10/27/2010; “Author of Novel Cited by Georgia Militia Suspects Says His Work Was Misinterpreted,” Fox News, 11/2/2011; “Meet the Former Militiaman Behind the Fast and Furious Scandal,” Mother Jones, 12/14/2011; Restoretheconstitution.wordpress.com, archived 4/24/2010.

When learning about Vernon Stephens, voters need to know he is a lifelong resident of rural South Carolina who paid his way through college working on the family farm and in manufacturing. On the school board and in the state senate, he has put party aside to deliver for the people of South Carolina. He advocated for our schools and helped unite both parties to raise teacher pay and increase access to vocational and advanced courses.  He is also a champion for rural communities; he worked to expand broadband, led the effort to reopen Highway 301 over Lake Marion, and worked across the aisle to cut $1 billion in income taxes and invest in small businesses.

Additionally, choice-motivated voters should learn about the start difference between Sen. Stephens’ work to protect women’s reproductive rights and Tom Fernandez’s desire to take them away.  Sen. Stephens voted against the extreme abortion ban in South Carolina and will always stand to protect women’s access to birth control and IVF.  On the other hand, Tom Fernandez is an extremist who supports banning all abortions in South Carolina, even in the case of rape, incest, or the health of the mother.

Cites: Facebook, Tom Fernandez, 2/19/2020; Facebook, Tom Fernandez, 10/12/2019; Facebook, Tom Fernandez, 5/30/2023; Facebook, Tom Fernandez, 2/7/2022; Facebook, Tom Fernandez, 6/24/2022; Facebook, Tom Fernandez, 12/18/2019; Post and Courier, July 25, 2023.