After propelling President Joe Biden to the Democratic nomination in 2020, South Carolina was elevated by the party to the first state to award delegates in 2024.
Charles E. Maxwell, is no stranger to the campaign trail rolling through his small barbershop in Charleston, South Carolina. Every four years, Democrats, eager to appeal to the state’s large share of Black voters, make an appearance, Maxwell said.
« A barbershop is a Black man’s country club. It’s a place where we go where there’s no fee associated to be a part of the club, » Maxwell as the South Carolina Democratic primary — set for Feb. 3 — approached. « That’s the meeting place for everyone to go and to be able to connect and to unwind. »
Unlike with Iowa’s butter cow or New Hampshire’s crowded diner, candidates often meet South Carolinians where they are: churches, barber shops and local historically Black colleges and universities, Maxwell said.
ABC News spoke with Black voters ahead of the South Carolina Democratic primary — the results of which are all but a foregone conclusion.
After propelling President Joe Biden to the Democratic nomination in 2020, South Carolina was elevated by the party to the first state to award delegates in the 2024 primaries. The Democratic National Committee argued the move allows a more racially diverse group of voters to have their voices heard first — especially compared to the overwhelmingly white states of Iowa and New Hampshire. The change also came after poor showings in Iowa and New Hampshire in 2020.
Maxwell said he would like to see Biden win another term — a chance to deliver on his promises such as student loan forgiveness and continuing to promote better access to healthcare.
« We need to give him the opportunity to finish the work that he started, » Maxwell said. « There’s so many things that we can add and contribute that he has done that are positive within the Black community.
