South-Carolina
Biden thanks South Carolina on final full day in office – Charleston City Paper
President Joe Biden on Sunday marked the final full day of his presidency by visiting South Carolina, the state that propelled him in 2020 to the presidency.
After a tour of the International African American Museum with his friend, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., Biden thanked South Carolinians for their support and spoke on themes of faith and community, history and memory, sacrifice and service.
“Let me close where I started — gratitude for all you’ve done for me,” Biden told an invitation-only crowd at the IAAM. Then he went on to quote a passage from Psalm 37:25, saying, “‘I have been young and now am old. I have not seen the righteous forsaken.’ And after all these years working alongside you [in this state], I know that’s true.”
White House officials said the visit — on the eve of the national holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. — reflected Biden’s commitment to the civil and equal rights movements. That the president chose South Carolina underscores his deep ties to the state, the place that “brought him to the dance,” as he likes to say.
A swansong tour
Biden began his swansong in South Carolina at Royal Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston, where he attended a worship service and addressed the congregation. The president spoke about a range of topics, from King’s legacy to the Israel-Hamas cease fire to the challenges facing the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, before taking his seat in the front pew alongside First Lady Jill Biden and Clyburn. Trump is to be sworn in at noon Monday inside the U.S. Capitol after an outdoor ceremony was moved due to cold weather.
After church, the Bidens toured the IAAM, located in downtown Charleston on Gadsden’s Wharf. The site once served as the single largest point of entry for enslaved people in the United States.
After the tour, Biden prepared to address a small crowd of invited supporters and members of the press while a combined choir called Voices of Liberation performed gospel songs.
IAAM President and CEO Tonya Matthews welcomed attendees. The Rev. Joseph Darby delivered an invocation. Dr. Jill Biden offered her own words of gratitude for the state of South Carolina.
And then Clyburn enumerated the president’s extensive contributions to the state in the form of economic investment, saying “from interstates to infrastructure … [Biden] has benefited this state like nobody since Lyndon Johnson.” Clyburn also presented the president with a special commemorative award made of sweetgrass.
Others joining the president during his Charleston visit were daughter Ashley Biden and son Hunter Biden.
Related
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 14, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from May 14 drawing
Midday: 6-6-6, FB: 3
Evening: 4-8-2, FB: 6
Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from May 14 drawing
Midday: 6-9-9-3, FB: 3
Evening: 4-2-8-2, FB: 6
Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 14 drawing
Midday: 14
Evening: 09
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from May 14 drawing
03-06-13-35-38
Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:
For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.
Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.
SC Education Lottery
P.O. Box 11039
Columbia, SC 29211-1039
For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.
Columbia Claims Center
1303 Assembly Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.
For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.
When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
- Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.
A primer on absentee and early voting as we await clarity on the Palmetto State’s suddenly shifting congressional districts…
by MARK POWELL
***
We’re hearing a lot these days about South Carolina’s partisan primary elections – and with good reason. In addition to the ongoing drama tied to the proposed redrawing of the Palmetto State’s congressional districts, elections for the two most influential statewide offices – governor and attorney general – are also on tap.
For the first time since 2010, neither of those races features an incumbent seeking reelection. Status quo incumbent governor Henry McMaster is term-limited and cannot run again, while attorney general Alan Wilson is stepping down as the state’s top prosecutor to campaign for governor.
Not surprisingly, both races are extremely competitive – with multiple candidates having potential paths to victory.
Although partisan primary elections won’t be held until June 9, 2026, votes are already being cast via absentee ballot. According to the S.C. Election Commission (SCVotes), at last count 9,267 absentee ballots have already been sent for the June 9 primary – with thousands more expected to be mailed out in the coming two weeks.
Of those, 549 ballots have already been completed and returned.
***
For those wanting to vote absentee, the clock is ticking. State law says absentee ballots must be returned eleven (11) days before Election Day… which is May 29, 2026. In requesting, completing and returning absentee ballots this year, voters would be wise to consider the congressional district in which they reside – and know it could change in the coming days.
Under pressure from U.S. president Donald Trump, lawmakers are poised to draw new congressional maps within the next week – meaning votes cast based on the current boundaries may not count. That’s one of many logistical (and potentially legal) headaches confronting lawmakers keen on doing Trump’s bidding.
Next up? Early voting…
Starting on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, and running through Friday, June 5, 2026, early voting centers will be open in all forty-six (46) counties in South Carolina. Ballots can be cast Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT. Remember to bring a valid photo identification with you, because when voting in person you will be asked to show one of the following…
- SC Driver’s License
- Includes standard license and REAL ID
- SC Department of Motor Vehicles ID Card
- Includes standard ID card and REAL ID
- Includes SC Concealed Weapons Permit
- SC Voter Registration Card with Photo
- Federal Military ID
- Includes all Department of Defense Photo IDs and Veterans Affairs Benefits Card
- US Passport
- Includes US Passport ID Card
For a sample ballot, click here. For information on where to vote in your county, click here.
***
RELATED | HENRY McMASTER CALLING SPECIAL SESSION
***
In some areas, curbside voting will also be available during the early voting window. Voters aged 65 and older or those with physical disabilities are eligible to cast their ballots from the convenience of their cars. Again, check with your local voting office about availability in your area.
Those concerned about lengthy waits and long, wrap-around-the-building lines may not have reason to fret – at least if recent history is any guide. While those horrifically long and agonizing queues are common in presidential primaries and general elections, Palmetto State citizens have had a more relaxed view of fulfilling their civic duty in recent years when it comes to primary elections.
In the last statewide primary in 2022, only 17.05% of registered voters cast their ballots. In 2018, it was 20.43%. Those were those landslides compared to 2014’s primary, when an anemic 15.97% participated.
The high-water mark for primary participation was 2010, when controversy swirling around Nikki Haley’s candidacy drove turnout to a whopping 24.11% – proving yet again that scandal always sells.
But I’ll leave any further discussion of that race (and that scandal) to our founding editor…
***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
J. Mark Powell is an award-winning former TV journalist, government communications veteran, and a political consultant. He is also an author and an avid Civil War enthusiast. Got a tip or a story idea for Mark? Email him at mark@fitsnews.com.
***
SOUND OFF…
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