Many believe the move was made to prepare for the attorney general race in 2026.
South Carolina solicitor and longtime Democrat David Pascoe announced on April 10 that he will be changing party affiliation to join the GOP. This coincides with the solicitor’s interest to desert his long-held position and potentially run for the statewide Attorney General office in 2026.
Pascoe has served as solicitor for South Carolina’s first judicial circuit for over twenty years, representing Orangeburg, Calhoun, and Dorchester counties. All throughout this position Pascoe has identified as a Democrat, notably endorsing Joe Biden for president in 2020.
The solicitor also has a history of investigating corruption within the GOP, overseeing the conviction of multiple influential Republicans in the South Carolina General Assembly.
Despite these affiliations, Pascoe explained in a press release to announce his move to the Republican party that the Democrat Party no longer aligned with his personal values. These include views against illegal immigration, abortion and gun control.
“I could no longer in good conscience wear the label Democrat,” Pascoe said, adding that, “I am not changing my principles for a party or a person.”
Pascoe’s character as a solicitor and approach to law enforcement may better suit current Republican stances, as he considers himself tough on crime and endorses the death penalty. He has also previously supported Republican candidates for law enforcement positions, saying, “Public safety should transcend party and partisan lines.”
The solicitor’s identification with the GOP was welcomed by the Dorchester County Republican Party and many fellow Republican solicitors, applauding in approval of his attacks on Democrats as “extreme”, “radical”, and overly progressive in criminal justice practices.
Pascoe displayed pride in being attacked by Democratic leadership and advocating for the use of a firing squad in state executions, pandering to the opinions of his new party.
The South Carolina Daily Gazette revealed soon after the event that Pascoe is likely interested in running for the state Attorney General position, which will be open for the first time in 16 years in 2026. Current Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson has stated that he is “considering” running for governor, which would then vacate the seat.
Party politics are critical when running for a state office in South Carolina. The Daily Gazette cites that the attorney general position has not been filled by a Democrat in 35 years, and a Democrat has not held a single state office since 2006.
Regardless of Pascoe’s true values and policy preferences, party identification is essential in statewide elections, particularly for down-ballot voters. Any candidate running for the Attorney General position can evaluate their prospects based on their commitment to conservative values, particularly regarding violent crime, immigration, and leniency on crime.
Dr. Scott Huffmon, professor of political science at Winthrop University, shared his thoughts on Pascoe’s recent announcements.
“People are looking at it as opportunistic,” Huffmon said, but what he really wonders is “when was he doing the pretending?”
Huffmon speculates that the solicitor might have been a Republican all along, but claimed the Democratic label to gain votes in his district.
He cited multiple instances of candidates switching to the Republican party to accommodate for their values and run for state offices, including Strom Thurmond of South Carolina and Tricia Cotham of Charlotte, North Carolina. Cothman’s switch in 2023 was particularly influential, as it gave Republicans a supermajority in the North Carolina House, Huffmon explained.
The professor predicts Pascoe will face criticism from voters for being ambiguous in his stances and potentially lacking in values. When asked about a potential run for Attorney General, Huffmon said that yes, “He is probably about to start exploring that,” by setting up a committee to determine his viability in the state.
With over a year until midterm elections, Pascoe and his team have time to refine a Republican image to appeal to South Carolina voters if he so chooses to pursue the position.
