Florence, South Carolina – With South Carolina’s Republican primary for governor set for June 9, the race is beginning to take a more public shape in the Pee Dee.
Congressman Russell Fry is scheduled to host a Republican governor’s forum in Florence on Thursday, April 9, bringing several of the party’s statewide contenders together in one place as campaigning continues to intensify.
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The event is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center, located at 201 South Dagan Street in Florence.
According to the event details, five of the seven Republican candidates running for governor have confirmed they will take part in the forum.
Those expected to appear are Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, State Senator Josh Kimbrell, Congresswoman Nancy Mace, Congressman Ralph Norman and Attorney General Alan Wilson.
The gathering places Fry at the center of a major political stop in the region just weeks before Republican voters head to the polls. While the forum is focused on the governor’s race, it also highlights the growing attention being paid to the Pee Dee as candidates work to strengthen support across South Carolina.
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Media members will have an opportunity to speak with Fry before the program begins. He is expected to be available starting at 5:45 p.m., ahead of the evening forum.
Organizers said all members of the press must register in advance in order to attend. Registration is being handled through Taylor Stanley at [email protected] or 803-840-6741.
The event is expected to give voters and observers a closer look at where the candidates stand as the primary approaches. With multiple well-known Republicans sharing the same stage, the forum could offer one of the clearest side-by-side comparisons yet in the contest for the party’s nomination.
Fry, who represents South Carolina’s 7th Congressional District, serves constituents from both the Grand Strand and Pee Dee in Washington. Before being elected to Congress, he represented Horry County in the South Carolina General Assembly. His office describes him as a longtime public servant and advocate for the conservative movement.
As Thursday evening approaches, the Florence forum is shaping up to be a notable stop on the Republican campaign trail, one that could help frame the conversation in the closing stretch before primary voters make their choice.
