Democratic candidate for SC governor Jermaine Johnson talks growth, affordability

WYFF 4 reports that WYFF News 4’s Nigel Robertson sat down with state Rep.

Jermaine Johnson, a Democratic candidate for South Carolina governor, for a one-on-one interview ahead of the June primary.He says, new leadership is needed in the office and says his background — and experience — sets him apart.Johnson said, “If we want the same thing, we can elect somebody from the GOP that's running right now, one of those six or seven candidates over there.

But if you want something different, if you want to try something different and look for better results, you can elect somebody like myself who understands what it's like to be unhoused, somebody who understands what it's like to be hungry, somebody who understands what it's like to lose a family member to gun violence, somebody who understands what it's like to be you, you know, and somebody who understands what it's also like to work hard to achieve the American dream through education and see the other side o...

Johnson was elected in 2020 and serves District 52.Earlier this year, he delivered the Democratic response to Gov.

Henry McMaster’s State of the State address.Johnson says managing South Carolina’s rapid growth is important.But just as important, making it a state young people want to stay in.Johnson said, “We're always talking about is South Carolina being one of the fastest growing states in the country, but one thing we're not talking about is South Carolina is also one of the fastest states where people are leaving from.

So we have people who are moving here and retiring, who can afford the lifestyle here, but we have young people who are leaving the state who want to go find a place with more affordability.