The 25-year-old congressional candidate discusses rising costs, healthcare, education, gun violence and her vision for a new generation of leadership.
By Bob Gatty | Lean to the Left
At just 25 years old, Courtney McClain is taking on one of South Carolina’s established Republican congressmen, William Timmons, and arguing that the state’s Fourth Congressional District needs a new generation of political leadership.
In an interview launching the new Lean to the Left Special Reports, McClain discussed her campaign, her criticism of President Donald Trump and Timmons, and the issues she says are affecting families throughout Greenville, Spartanburg and surrounding Upstate communities.
Her message centers on affordability, healthcare, public education and greater responsiveness from elected officials.
McClain, a Democrat and Spartanburg native, believes her background in community organizing and civil rights advocacy has prepared her for Congress.
But she also acknowledges the significance of challenging an incumbent in a district with a long history of Republican representation.
Watch the Interview
Listen to the Interview
From Grassroots Activism to Congressional Candidate
McClain’s family has lived in Spartanburg for more than two centuries, she said, with relatives who helped integrate local schools and served their communities as educators, healthcare providers and religious leaders.
That history has influenced her political ambitions.
A former president of the South Carolina NAACP Youth and College Division, McClain originally considered becoming a political journalist. She holds a journalism degree and a master’s degree in political science.
But her experiences organizing communities, encouraging voter participation and advocating for legislation persuaded her that she wanted to become directly involved in the political process.
Now she is seeking to bring that grassroots experience to Washington.
McClain said she has visited more than 500 small businesses during her campaign, along with churches, festivals and other community gathering places.
She criticized Timmons for what she described as insufficient engagement with constituents, arguing that elected representatives need to spend more time listening to the communities they serve.
Rising Costs, Trump Tariffs and the Iran War
Affordability emerged as one of the interview’s major themes.
McClain argued that Trump’s tariffs and the ongoing war in Iran are contributing to higher costs for American families and businesses.
She specifically discussed the impact on restaurants, tourism and hospitality businesses in Greenville and Spartanburg, where rising food and transportation costs can affect local economic activity.
If elected, she said, she would support repealing Trump’s tariffs and congressional action under the War Powers Resolution to end U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict.
McClain also raised concerns about the growing use of dynamic pricing, particularly the possibility that retailers could use consumer information to adjust prices.
She believes Congress should pay greater attention to pricing practices that could place additional financial pressure on consumers.
Healthcare and the Future of Rural Hospitals
Healthcare was another major concern.
McClain said thousands of people in Greenville and Spartanburg depend on Affordable Care Act coverage and that she has encountered constituents struggling with substantial premium increases.
She supports maintaining and strengthening ACA funding and opposes Medicaid cuts scheduled to take effect in 2027.
She also expressed concern about the financial condition of rural hospitals, warning that reductions in federal support could threaten access to care in communities where residents already face significant barriers to medical treatment.
Her proposed priorities include protecting rural healthcare funding and ensuring that people can obtain necessary services without unreasonable travel burdens.
Gun Violence: A Personal Issue
For McClain, gun violence is not simply a political talking point.
She revealed that two members of her family died because of gun violence.
Those losses, she explained, helped shape her support for what she calls gun discipline.
Her proposals include universal background checks, closing the Charleston loophole and strengthening the ability of law enforcement to trace firearms used in crimes, including so-called ghost guns.
McClain emphasized that her approach is not intended to eliminate lawful gun ownership but to reduce access to weapons by people who might use them to commit crimes.
Trump, Timmons and the Political Climate
McClain also challenged the assumption that Trump’s endorsement carries the same influence it once did among South Carolina voters.
She pointed to signs of Republican dissatisfaction and public opposition to the president, arguing that political attitudes in the state may be changing.
Whether those developments translate into electoral gains for Democrats remains to be determined.
McClain also criticized Timmons’ positions on federal spending, tariffs and the Iran war, contending that his support for Trump administration policies conflicts with his concerns about the federal deficit.
During the interview, she argued that the costs of war, tax policies and other federal decisions should be part of any discussion about controlling the national debt.
Social Security and Public Education
On Social Security, McClain said she supports proposals requiring higher-income Americans to contribute more to the system.
She also expressed concern about public education in South Carolina, particularly school funding and the use of public money for private-school voucher programs.
McClain argued that students should have access to quality education regardless of their ZIP code.
She cited problems she said she encountered while visiting schools, including overcrowded classrooms, inadequate supplies and students struggling academically.
Would Democrats Impeach Trump?
One of the interview’s more revealing exchanges concerned the possibility of another impeachment of President Trump.
Asked whether Democrats should pursue impeachment if they regain control of Congress, McClain took a cautious approach.
She said she would not make impeachment an immediate priority unless there were sufficient votes in the Senate to remove Trump from office.
Instead, she argued, Democrats should concentrate on addressing affordability, healthcare and other issues affecting voters.
Her response highlighted a tension Democrats could face if they return to power: how to balance demands for accountability with the practical task of delivering on campaign promises.
A Potential Historic Milestone
If elected, McClain would become the first Black woman to represent South Carolina in Congress.
She acknowledged the historical significance of that possibility but emphasized that her candidacy should be judged on more than the milestone itself.
She pointed to the long history of Black women’s involvement in South Carolina’s social and political movements and described her campaign as another chapter in that history.
As the November 3 election approaches, McClain is asking voters to consider whether their current representation has adequately addressed the concerns of Upstate communities.
Her argument is that a different generation of leadership could bring new priorities and approaches to Washington.
Whether voters agree will become clear on Election Day.
Watch the Interview
Courtney McClain discusses these issues and more in the first edition of Lean to the Left Special Reports, hosted by journalist Bob Gatty.
The new format will feature occasional interviews and commentary about important news developments, public policy and people whose perspectives deserve attention.
Important voices. Timely issues. When the story demands it.
Watch the complete Courtney McClain interview on the Lean to the Left YouTube channel.