After more than 20 years at the helm of the Clarendon County Republican Party, Chairman Moye Graham presided over his final meeting on April 10, stepping down ahead of the county’s GOP convention.
Graham was recognized with a personal letter from South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, who praised his decades of service and leadership in one of the state’s most politically transformed counties.
“Please know that I am grateful for all that you sacrifice to make the future of our state better and brighter for generations to come,” McMaster wrote. “We are better because of your efforts.”
Graham’s leadership saw the party grow from a small, informal group into a well-organized presence with over 140 active members and electoral wins that once seemed out of reach in the historically Democratic county.
House Rep. Fawn Pedalino (R–District 64) also shared her thanks in a written statement.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude for Chairman Graham’s unwavering commitment to growing and strengthening the Republican presence in Clarendon County.
I think it’s wonderful that during his 20-year tenure, he was able to witness something so many thought impossible just a few years ago: Clarendon County flipping red. That milestone is a testament to his persistence, leadership, and faith in the people of this community.
Though he is stepping down from his official role, his legacy will continue to shape the direction of the Clarendon County GOP for years to come. We owe him a debt of gratitude for his decades of service, and I wish him all the best in this next chapter.”
Graham was also presented with the county party’s Wendy Award, in honor of Cecil Frank Windham, Sr., given to individuals who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to Republican values on local, state, and national levels.
As Graham prepares to transition out of his leadership role, The Manning Times sat down with him for a wide-ranging conversation about his early political influences, the evolution of the Clarendon GOP, and what’s next for both him and the party he helped build.
‘You can’t win without Clarendon’: Graham’s legacy in focus
Below is a lightly edited transcript of our conversation with outgoing Chairman Moye Graham.
TMT: You’ve served as Chairman of the Clarendon County Republican Party for over two decades—what first inspired you to get involved in local politics?
MG: I worked for George Bush when he ran for governor of Texas. That’s when I got started. I was living in Houston, working in the oil and gas industry with Halliburton and Brown & Root. I got involved with Bush’s first campaign and again during his re-election. I’ve worked on five continents—Africa, South America, North America, Central America, and Europe—but politics started pulling me back home.
TMT: Can you recall what the political landscape looked like in Clarendon County when you first stepped into the role?
MG: All Democrat. We didn’t have a single local officeholder. Every now and then somebody would win a small part of the county—like Murrell Smith had the Paxville and Home Branch area in his House district—but we weren’t winning anything here. People were scared to show up to a Republican meeting, let alone run for office.
TMT: What were your biggest goals when you became Chair—and do you feel you’ve achieved them?
MG: My goal was never to turn it red overnight. I just wanted to turn it purple. I knew we didn’t have the demographics, but I saw the growth around the lake, and I figured if we could get enough people moving in, it would happen over time. I think we’ve done that. We’re winning races we never used to be competitive in. It’s not just wishful thinking anymore.
TMT: How has the Clarendon County GOP evolved under your leadership?
MG: We started out with about six people coming to meetings. Now we’ve got over 140. That’s a big deal in a rural county like this.
TMT: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in growing the Republican presence in a historically Democratic region?
MG: Getting people brave enough to show up. Back then, folks could lose their jobs if they were known to be Republican—especially if they worked at the highway department or had a state job. Business owners were scared to be seen supporting us. They were afraid they’d be boycotted or lose customers. Meanwhile, Democrats had no problem being public about where they stood. The hardest thing was convincing our people, ‘If they aren’t afraid to take your money, why are you afraid to speak your mind?’
TMT: Are there any moments of particular pride—specific elections, candidates, or initiatives that stand out?
MG: Oh, a few. When Sonny Sanders ran for State House—maybe 10 or 15 years ago—he ran a good campaign. We had a Republican primary between him and Gary Beard. On the Democrat side, it was Dwight Stewart and Kevin Johnson. We figured if Dwight lost the Democratic primary, Kevin would be easier to beat. Sonny won our primary, and we came real close to beating Kevin. The Democrats had to ballot harvest to beat us. If it hadn’t been for that, we’d have won. But we proved something—that we could run a primary, hold our own, and bring people out to vote Republican. That changed everything. It showed we could be a serious party here.
TMT: What role do you believe the local party plays in shaping broader political culture—in Clarendon County and across the state?
MG: You can’t win without Clarendon. And we proved it. Andre Bauer, who was our lieutenant governor a couple of terms—and before that a state senator and state House member—he won a really close race one time, and we covered him. He was only up by three or four hundred votes, but our turnout here pushed him over the line. Not many counties can say that. That’s when we came up with the phrase, ‘You can’t win without Clarendon.’
He continued, pointing out that the shift hasn’t just come from changing opinions, but from new faces in the community.
MG: Look around—there’s hardly anyone in these meetings who’s actually from Clarendon County. Most are from Ohio, Florida, Virginia. That’s how the demographics changed. Conservative, Christian, fiscal conservatives—those are the folks moving here. And we’ve also attracted more minority support. In the last election, we got nearly 20 percent, and that’s significant. We go where the minority voters are. We go to their churches, talk to them directly. We’re not just waiting around—we’re showing up.
TMT: What issues do you believe most resonate with Republican voters in Clarendon County today?
MG: Same as everywhere—lower taxes, smaller government, cutting out waste. People want common sense and accountability.
TMT: What do you hope your legacy will be as you step down?
MG: I hope whoever comes next grows this party twice as big as it is now. When I started, someone said, ‘There’s nothing but white men in here.’ Now? We’ve got women outnumbering the men. I’d like to see more people of color, too. That’s the direction we’re heading, and I hope it keeps going.
TMT: What qualities or values do you hope your successor carries forward?
MG: I hope they out-conservative me. Fiscal conservatism is a big one for me—cut the spending, give folks a tax break. And I hope they’re a believer. We don’t require it, but I’d like to see faith and values continue to lead this party.
TMT: Are there any initiatives or changes you didn’t get to complete but would still like to see happen?
MG: We used to have a website and a media chair, but we lost both. I’d like to see that built back up. We’re strong on Facebook, but we should be on Instagram and elsewhere. I also want to see us doing more with charity and fundraising—get out into the community more. We’ve got the momentum to do it.
TMT: How has this role changed you personally?
MG: It made me stronger in my beliefs. I used to donate to national campaigns—Texas, Louisiana. But one day I realized, ‘I need to bring it back home.’ That’s when I got serious about Clarendon County.
TMT: Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?
MG: I would’ve gone after the youth earlier. Everyone kept saying, ‘Get the young people,’ but we didn’t have many here. So I went after the retirees—and that’s what you see now. I still want to see more youth involved. That’s key going forward.
TMT: What advice would you give to younger generations who may want to be politically active or take on leadership roles in their communities?
MG: Do it. Don’t be shy. I was pretty liberal in college. Then I became a libertarian. Eventually I realized they didn’t believe in any boundaries—just chaos. I moved toward the Republican Party and never looked back. But you’ve got to learn for yourself. Don’t let anyone talk you out of participating.
TMT: What do you see as the future of the Republican Party in Clarendon County?
MG: We’ll control the county for decades—as long as we keep getting new subdivisions. I told more than one official, ‘You give me one more subdivision, and I’ll whip your [butt].’ And we did. We’re winning seats we never dreamed of before.
TMT: Will you continue to be involved in politics or community leadership in some way?
MG: I’m running for executive committeeman for the state party to represent Clarendon. We’ll find out Saturday if anyone’s running against me. But I’m not going anywhere—I’ll still be involved. Editor’s note: Graham was elected Executive Committeeman two days after this interview.
TMT: Any final thoughts or message you’d like to share with the people of Clarendon County?
MG: What I’ve started saying a couple months ago is this—the courthouse is next. I want that courthouse. That’s it. I know it’s gonna fire the other side up, and that’s fine.
When asked if his goal was strictly political or performance-based, Graham didn’t hesitate.
MG: It’s both, okay? I don’t think some of them are doing a good job. I just don’t. I think they could be doing a better job than what they’re doing—and they’re Democrats. So yes, I want to see those seats flipped.
