Last night, the doors opened in Leesville, but it was the shared hope and determination of our community that truly filled the room. Our First Vice Chair, Julia, opened the meeting, welcoming a packed house of neighbors and setting a powerful tone for an evening rooted in unity and purpose. Our LexDems May monthly meeting was more than a gathering—it was a powerful reminder that democracy is not a monument to be admired from afar, but a living, breathing movement built by neighbors who refuse to sit on the sidelines.
We were honored to welcome statewide leaders Edwina Winter for Secretary of State (winterforthewin.com) and Sylvia Wright for State Superintendent of Education (wright2026sc.com), whose fierce commitment to South Carolina reminded us all of what is possible when we lead with compassion, integrity, and vision.
Edwina Winter is a globally trained change maker focused on South Carolina. She wants to leverage the Secretary of State’s office to focus on small business creation to build generational wealth, make the office a watchdog to protect seniors from scams, and shine light into areas of the government that hide in the dark. Edwina has a fundraiser coming up on May 24th at the Camon Japanese Restaurant. You can sign up here: mobilize.us/lexingtoncountydemocrats/event/955888/
Sylvia Wright said we cannot expect South Carolina students to succeed without first knowing their foundational needs are met. To set our children up for success, we must meet each student where they are and ensure their basic needs – food, safety, shelter, and a sense of belonging – are met.
But the energy didn’t stop there. We heard directly from our champions on the front lines: our courageous SC House candidates—
- Joe Madge for SC House District 89 (joemadgeforsc.com)
- Emery K Chaplin for SC House District 69 (emerykchaplinsc@gmail.com)
- Reid Beaman for SC House District 87 (reidbeamanforsc.com)
- Jeremy Jones for SC House District 88 (instagram.com/jeremyjonesforsc)
We also heard from our candidates who are stepping up to run for Congressional District 2:
- Zyon Khalifa (khalifaforcongress.com)
- Roger Pruitt (pruitt4congress.com)
These leaders aren’t just running for office; they are stepping forward to give our communities a voice, to fight for better schools, stronger infrastructure, and a future where every single person in Lexington County can thrive.
For too long, we’ve been told that change isn’t possible here. But look around. The crowded rooms, the shared stories, and the grassroots fire we felt last night tell a completely different story. The choices are on the ballot, the leaders are ready, and now it is up to us to carry this light into every neighborhood.
Change doesn’t come from Washington or Columbia. It begins right here at the kitchen tables and community halls of Lexington County. Let’s keep this momentum rolling.
Sign up for our next meeting on Monday, June 15 which will be held at the main branch of the Lexington County Library in the downstairs conference room.
