The Burden of Proof w/ Governor Jim Hodges

April 16, 2026
2064
Why do Democratic candidates in South Carolina have to work harder to win trust from voters? Former Governor Jim Hodges joins Frogmore Stew to explain why Democratic candidates in Republican leaning states carry the burden of proof and how campaigns succeed by focusing on education, health care, and affordability instead of national talking points. Drawing on his upset win in 1998 and his record in office, Hodges shares lessons about message discipline, bipartisan governing, and earning credibility across party lines. This conversation looks at what it takes to persuade voters and compete statewide in modern South Carolina politics. 00:00:00 Jim Hodges' Road to Governor 00:04:33 South Carolina Education Lottery 00:07:16 Campaign Messaging That Wins 00:14:03 Rising Health Care Cost in South Carolina 00:19:14 Democrats Winning in South Carolina 00:26:28 Honest Campaign Voter Outreach 00:30:42 South Carolina Election Outlook Jim Hodges Former Governor of South Carolina Also available wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frogmore-stew/id1714820542 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6pxy2KuAmOfHCOU7xFQHUj There's more stew on Substack! https://frogmorestew.substack.com/ Learn more about Frogmore Stew at https://www.frogmorestewsc.com/ On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frogmorestewsc on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@frogmorestewsc Frogmore Stew is brought to you by The Alliance Coalition The Alliance Coalition works to redistribute power back to YOU, the voter. We do this by collecting data on belief systems, providing clear and digestible political information, history and trends, while building a community for those of us who feel politically unhoused. We encourage all to engage in shaping our state’s future and communicating our thoughts about how to do that productively. https://www.thealliancecoalition.org/
The Politics of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
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