News

Statement from the McMaster-Evette Campaign

September 22, 2022

COLUMBIA, SC —  The McMaster-Evette campaign today released the following statement:

“Another day of chasing social media stardom, another day Joe hasn’t released his tax returns. “

Statement from the McMaster-Evette Campaign

September 21, 2022

COLUMBIA, SC —  The McMaster-Evette campaign today released the following statement:

“⏰ tik tok – er, tick tock ⏰ where are those tax returns Joe?”

McMaster-Evette Campaign Releases New Statewide TV Ad: “Not Here”

September 19, 2022

COLUMBIA, SC — The McMaster-Evette campaign released a new 30-second television ad entitled, “Not Here.” 

The ad is scheduled to start running statewide on network and cable television today, Monday, September 19.

“Joe Cunningham and Joe Biden are cut from the same big government cloth,” said McMaster-Evette campaign manager Mark Knoop. “If Joe Cunningham is governor, there will be no bigger cheerleader for the Biden administration, and no one more willing to rollover for overreaching Washington Democrats. Governor McMaster has a proven record of fighting federal policies that are bad for our state and bad for our families, and we can count on him to never back down.”

Watch the ad here:

The ad script is as follows:

“It’s hard to find common ground these days. But one thing folks agree on: Washington is totally broken. 

In Washington, they spend money that doesn’t even exist. We don’t do that here.

In Washington, they try to defund the police. We don’t do that here.

“And they tried to close businesses and churches during COVID. Not here. 

I’m Henry McMaster. As long as I’m your governor, Washington will never happen here.”

Crickets from Cunningham as Biden Celebrates Inflation Law

September 14, 2022

COLUMBIA, SC — Days after Democrat Joe Cunningham took his TikTok campaign for social media stardom to a NASCAR race, Joe Biden took a victory lap in Washington in honor of his new inflation law.

As President Biden spoke, the CNN anchor covering the event cautioned, “There is this unfortunate split screen right now with the Dow taking a total beating…so it feels like it’s hard to be celebratory.”

Cunningham, who endorsed Biden for president after Biden endorsed him for Congress, was, of course, hiding from the Biden inflation law celebration.

The Democrat nominee for governor has evaded questions about where he stands on the so-called Inflation Reduction Act for weeks.

Over the weekend, The State newspaper reported, “Cunningham did not take a stance on the federal legislation touted by the Biden administration and Democrats in Washington.” (The State, 9/11/2022)

In August, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham also specifically called on McMaster’s Democratic opponent, former 1st District Congressman Joe Cunningham, to go on record on whether he supports it. Cunningham dodged the senator.

And instead of simply taking a position on the law, during a media availability at a Columbia brewery, an obviously frustrated Cunningham snapped, “I’m not in Congress anymore.” (ABC Columbia, 8/26/2022)

“A significant part of the job Joe Cunningham is campaigning for includes taking on the challenges of bad federal policy like the Biden inflation law, but Joe Cunningham does not respect the voters enough to tell them what his position is on it – or on other bad policy conceived by his Democrat colleagues in Washington,” said McMaster-Evette campaign manager Mark Knoop. “Voters deserve better. The silence from Joe Cunningham on this signature Democratic issue is deafening.” 

Biden Endorser Cunningham Tries to Abandon President, Refuses
Questions about Key Biden Initiatives

September 13, 2022

COLUMBIA, SC — Not too long ago, Joe Cunningham enthusiastically embraced an endorsement from Joe Biden, and Cunningham endorsed Biden for president.

But recently, while pandering to conservative voters in Darlington, Cunningham tried to run and hide from unpopular President Biden – and from voters, who want to know how he would handle governing the state as Biden and Democrats push policy down on South Carolina families from Washington.

Cunningham told The State, “It’s not my job to defend Joe Biden, and I’m not going to,” as the Democratic nominee for governor once again refused to answer questions about the Democratic Party’s signature Inflation Reduction Act.

“Cunningham did not take a stance on the federal legislation touted by the Biden Administration and Democrats in Washington,” according to The State.

“Joe Cunningham is not qualified to be governor because he has absolutely no understanding of what it takes to be governor,” said McMaster-Evette campaign manager Mark Knoop. “The job of governor requires the state’s chief executive to make tough decisions and fight for South Carolina, especially in the face of reckless and foolish federal policies, but Joe Cunningham continues to hide from voters or tell them precisely what he would do to protect them from Washington. It is as cynical as it is slick.”

In The State newspaper’s reporting, it points out that recent South Carolina governors have had to spend considerable time dealing with federal issues. For example, “in 2009, then-Gov. Mark Sanford refused to take $700 million in federal money…during former Gov. Nikki Haley’s term…she railed against the National Labor Relations Board for taking action against Boeing after it opened a plant in South Carolina and accused the company of union-busting.”

As Cunningham dodges questions, skeptics of the Biden policy weigh in: 

• “But one thing many analysts agree on is that the misnamed bill will likely have minimal impact on the inflation that’s eating away at American households and businesses.” (The Charleston Post and Courier, Editorial, 8/11/2022)
• “These new taxes will still deliver a blow to our industry’s ability to raise wages, hire workers and invest in our communities.” (Jay Timmons, President and CEO of the non-partisan National Association of Manufacturers, 8/6/2022)
• “This bill is a nightmare for South Carolina…The bottom line is that this bill raises taxes and creates new federal government programs at a time that we’re in a recession. The best way to get out of a recession is limit federal government spending and incentivize growth in the private sector.” (U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, 8/11/2022)

This is why it is unacceptable for a major party candidate for governor to get away with refusing legitimate policy questions.

“Once again, Joe Cunningham owes it to voters to come clean,” said Knoop. “They deserve to know whether he would fight back against the disastrous Biden Administration policies or whether he would roll over for Washington Democrats and turn South Carolina into another laboratory for failed liberal policy.”

Governors from across the country wrote to President Biden on Monday regarding his college loan forgiveness plan. In the letter, signed by 22 of the nation’s governors including Gov. Henry McMaster and distributed by the Republican Governors Association, they said, “Only 16-17 percent of Americans have federal student loan debt, and yet, your plan will require their debts be redistributed and paid by the vast majority of taxpayers. Shifting the burden of debt from the wealthy to working Americans has a regressive impact that harms lower income families.”

McMaster-Evette 22: What They Are Saying

September 8, 2022

COLUMBIA, SC — Here is what people are saying about the major endorsement Governor McMaster earned from the small business community.

“Governor Henry McMaster picked up an endorsement in his bid for a second term in office.” (ABC Columbia, 9/6/2022)

“A group that advocates for the interests of small businesses is backing Gov. Henry McMaster’s reelection.” (Joseph Bustos, The State, 9/6/2022)

“During an event at Wulbern-Koval Co., The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) announced its support for Governor Henry McMaster for a second full term.” (ABC News 4, Jasmine Pack, 9/6/2022)

“Today was about supporting small businesses.” (Count on 2, Brenden Clark, 9/6/2022)

“McMaster understands ‘challenges facing Main Street,’ business group says in endorsement.” (Joseph Bustos, The State, 9/6/2022)

“McMaster Receives Major Endorsement” (Live 5 News, 4:00 PM Broadcast, 9/6/2022)

“The National Federation of Independent Business, which describes itself as a grassroots organization that advocates for businesses, giving [its] endorsement to the governor today.” (Count on 2, Hanna Powers, 9/6/2022)

“Puts the considerable grassroots support of the state’s small businesses behind the governor’s campaign” (NFIB, News Release, 9/6/2022)

“NFIB will encourage its South Carolina members to help turn out the powerful small-business voting bloc on Election Day.” (NFIB, News Release, 9/6/2022)

“Good news for [the governor’s] re-election bid” (Live 5 News, 9/6/2022)

“The NFIB says McMaster stood with the business community with his policies during the height of the COVID pandemic. They say he kept the state open for business and [has] protected businesses from frivolous COVID-related lawsuits.” (Live 5 News, Nick Reagan, 9/8/2022)

“Governor McMaster has been an unwavering supporter of small business beginning when he served as attorney general and continuing through his first term as governor. Governor McMaster threaded the needle when it came to South Carolina’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor McMaster’s leadership helped protect both lives and livelihoods, and he has kept South Carolina’s economy strong despite global challenges such as inflation and disruptions in the supply chain.” (NFIB Director Ben Homeyer, News Conference, 9/6/2022)

NFIB Endorses McMaster for Governor

September 6, 2022

CHARLESTON, SC — During an event held at Wulbern-Koval Co., a veteran-owned small business founded in 1970, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) announced its endorsement of Governor Henry McMaster for a second full term.

Wulbern-Koval provides office furniture, interior design, and office supplies on federal, state, and healthcare contracts. The company employs 52 full-time members, and operates out of a company-owned 60,000 square foot facility in downtown Charleston.

NFIB State Director Ben Homeyer made the announcement today at Wulbern-Koval Co, a 50-year NFIB member. NFIB advocates for the interests of small businesses around South Carolina, and has a grassroots membership that is thousands-strong.

“Governor McMaster has been an unwavering supporter of small business beginning when he served as attorney general and continuing through his first term as governor,” Homeyer said.  “Governor McMaster threaded the needle when it came to South Carolina’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor McMaster’s leadership helped protect both lives and livelihoods, and he has kept South Carolina’s economy strong despite global challenges such as inflation and disruptions in the supply chain.”

The governor and lieutenant governor, who were both on hand for the event, were grateful for NFIB’s endorsement.

“I am honored to have the trust and confidence in this campaign and of so many small business owners and employees, who are the backbone of our economy,” said Gov. McMaster. “They fight alongside the NFIB to make it easier to realize the dream of owning and growing a business in our state. When the pandemic hit, we kept businesses, just like this one, open because we knew following the so-called experts in Washington would cost us dearly. Working together with small businesses across South Carolina, we have the wind at our back, and we can’t stop now – we have to continue to reduce the cost of doing business here, from cutting taxes to slashing red tape, and that’s exactly what we’ll do as long as I’m governor.”

“I founded Quality Business Solutions from the ground up and I’m proud of the success we’ve had. I know what it’s like to make a payroll, with people who count on you to make ends meet,” said Lt. Governor Evette. “That’s why it’s important for government to be an ally – not an enemy – for business owners like myself.”

Earlier this year, Homeyer praised the governor for delivering tax relief to small businesses and other South Carolinians:

“Our members are grateful to Gov. Henry McMaster for signing S. 1087 and to both the House and Senate for working together to craft legislation that’s going to help everyone during these difficult days,” Homeyter said. “It’s been a rough two years for South Carolina’s small businesses, beginning with the pandemic and continuing to the present day with supply chain and labor issues, higher fuel costs and inflation. This legislation is going to help small business owners and everyone else in the state by simplifying South Carolina’s tax code, reducing income and property tax rates and providing a $1 billion tax rebate to provide immediate financial relief when people need it most.”

McMaster-Evette Campaign Statement on Cunningham Lt.
Governor Pick

August 1, 2022

COLUMBIA, SC — The McMaster-Evette Campaign released the following
statement on Joe Cunningham’s pick for Lt. Governor:

“While we appreciate Ms. Casey’s service to our nation and welcome her to the
race, Joe Cunningham’s choice of running mate will have far less of an impact
on the campaign than his record as a left-wing, Joe-Biden Democrat who has
spent more time chasing Tik-Tok followers than working to improve the lives of
South Carolinians.

In contrast, Governor McMaster and Lt. Governor Evette have stood up to Joe
Biden’s policies that have caused exploding inflation and record gas prices,
implemented the largest tax-cut in South Carolina history, and kept our state
moving through a generational pandemic so that more South Carolinians are
working today than were in February of 2020.”

McMaster Campaign Launches New Ad “Strong” Ahead of the Republican Primary

June 3, 2022

COLUMBIA, SC — The McMaster Campaign is launching its first TV ad, titled “Strong”, ahead of the upcoming June 14 Republican Primary. The ad will be placed statewide on cable and network TV. 

As Americans face record gas prices, soaring costs for food and massive supply chain shortages under the Biden Administration, the McMaster-Evette ’22 campaign is offering a different direction.

In the ad, Governor McMaster said the following:

“Washington has gone wild. Covid lockdowns, spending like there’s no tomorrow is driving the cost of gas, food, everything else through the roof.  Joe Biden and the woke crowd have lost their minds. In South Carolina we do things different.  When Covid hit, we kept our businesses and churches open to keep our economy and our people strong. I’m Governor Henry McMaster. Washington may be a mess but here in South Carolina, we’re doing it right.“

Watch the new ad here: https://youtu.be/ZuOAzaOcoog

McMaster-Evette Campaign Makes Statement on Joe Cunningham’s New Ad

May 23, 2022

COLUMBIA, SC — McMaster-Evette Campaign Manager Mark Knoop today made the following statement about Joe Cunningham’s new campaign ad:

“Flanked by both South Carolina Democrat and Republican Party chairmen and a bipartisan group of lawmakers last week, Governor Henry McMaster signed into law one of the most secure election measures in the nation. Meanwhile, Joe Cunningham championed in a new ad a federal takeover of elections that would have removed voter ID laws and made elections less secure.

What’s more, Joe Cunningham wasn’t even in Congress to vote on the John Lewis Voting Rights Act in 2021. The hyper-partisan bill he did vote on was HR.1 in 2019, which would have been an unconstitutional overreach and federal takeover of elections. Once again, while Joe Cunningham has no idea what he’s talking about, South Carolina’s real leaders on both sides of the aisle just made it easier to vote and harder to cheat.”