Newsom visits presumptive "First in Nation," SC

by Sean Rayford

California Gov. Gavin Newsom wasn’t on an official campaign trip, but it looks like we’re about 500 days ahead of schedule for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. Completely unscientific, I base this on anecdotal experiences covering campaigns as a photojournalist in this early primary state. One that may be casting the first votes in three years.

Once, known as “First in the South,” state party Democrats may be looking at “First in the Nation” status, for a second cycle. If so, expect a whirlwind of presidential political activity over the next few years in the Palmetto State.

In Camden, U.S, Rep. James Clyburn introduced Newsom as a presidential candidate, which drew laughs from the crowd and the governor himself. The room was packed at the Kershaw County Center on Aging and I found myself at one point, making photos from inside a closet — where there was space to stand, a ladder and a separate air conditioned environment.

As a photojournalist woking with the wire service, Getty Images, and based out of Columbia, SC, I attended the first, third, fourth and fifth events with Gov. Newsom as he traveled through rural PeeDee of South Carolina on Tuesday. Skipping the second event allowed me to edit, caption, file quickly and grab lunch.

It also cut down on an already long day of driving , be it beautiful farm country.

This included stops in Florence, Mullins, Bennettsville, Cheraw and Camden. From my experiences in the early primary state of South Carolina, the Democrats have not fielded a candidate with this much popular energy since Bernie Sanders.

Back at the first stop of the day in Florence, the governor worked the crowd inside a small but very toasty coffee shop — sweating completely through his white dress shirt.

Near the end, he publicly thanked me for also sweating profusely. I was also working the crowd.