TWO REPUBLICANS, ONE DEMOCRAT
ENDORSED BY SC FORWARD PARTY
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Gubernatorial Candidate Jermaine Johnson
One Of Three Pre-Primary Endorsements
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BURGETT IN PICKENS COUNTY, WHISNANT IN HORRY COUNTY
ALSO TAPPED BY EMERGING POLITICAL PARTY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHARLESTON, JUNE 4 – Jermaine Johnson, a Democrat running for South Carolina Governor and two Republicans running for statehouse and county-level offices, were today endorsed for election by the South Carolina Forward Party.
The SC Forward Party, certified for ballot access in 2023, is the fastest-growing political party in the state, with its candidates having won four of seven contested elections since 2024. The Party expects at least a dozen Forward Party or Forward Party-aligned candidates will be on the November ballot throughout SC.
Clint Eisenhauer, state lead for the Party, said the three candidates were endorsed because their values so closely aligned with those of the Forward Party: focus on integrity and civility and support for rule of law, electoral reform, and a commitment to data-driven independent thinking.
“None of these candidates are “business as usual” candidates,” Eisenhauer said. “Each of them stood out at their various levels as individuals willing to speak up, challenge the status quo, and think differently about solutions to the issues facing South Carolina.
“Our state needs more leaders like this, and our endorsement we hope sends a signal that, at minimum, integrity and civility are important in public life, and essential tools in governing,” Eisenhauer said.
Eisenhauer emphasized that two of the candidates were Republicans, and one a Democrat.
“The Forward Party cares little for litmus tests. It should be clear to every voter that government today is badly in need of better ideas, and at the Forward Party, we don’t care if those ideas come from Republicans or Democrats, Libertarians or Forwardists. Or somewhere else.
“Good ideas are good ideas, and source or ideology shouldn’t matter,” he said.
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ABOUT THE ENDORSEES:
Dr. Jermaine Johnson is one of three Democratic candidates for Governor. From Columbia, he has served in the SC House since 2020 from SC District 52. He currently serves on the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, and earlier served on the House Education and Public Works Committee. He is Secretary of the House Minority Caucus. A graduate of College of Charleston, he also holds an M.A. and PhD. in management and business administration. www.johnsonforsc.com
Joe Burgett is a Republican candidate for the state House of Representatives from SC District 3 in Pickens County. A graduate of the University of Florida where he earned a PhD. in Construction, he worked for several years as a general contractor on projects ranging from hospitals to libraries to energy centers. Joining the Clemson faculty in 2010, he teaches both undergraduate and graduate students, and in 2018 was recognized as a Master Teacher, Clemson’s highest faculty academic honor. www.joeburgett.com
Stephen Whisnant is one of three Republicans candidates for Horry County School Board, District 10. Whisnant has been an educator for 32 years, serving the last 28 as Band and Orchestra Director at Loris High School, a 900-student school in central Horry County. As a school administrator, he was responsible for budgeting and fiscal management, and performance scheduling. His major focus is on school safety and security, students with special needs, and teacher retention. Elect.StephenWisnant
ABOUT THE FORWARD PARTY
The South Carolina Forward Party was organized in SC in 2023, and gained ballot access in 2023 as a result of a merger with the SC Independence Party. SC is one of eight states that have certified the Forward Party for ballot access: SC, Utah, Florida, Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Connecticut and Minnesota. For more information, see www.forwardparty.com and www.southcarolinaforwardparty.com