WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 7, 2026) — As South Carolina prepares to celebrate the anniversary of American independence, Republican candidate Sam Gibbons for Congressional District 2 is issuing a stark warning and reminder from our founders: George Washington cautioned that the “fury of party spirit” would usurp the will of the people. Gibbons argues that politicians currently redrawing district maps to entrench their power represent a direct betrayal of the founding values of our democracy and a step toward what Washington called “real despotism.”
“Two hundred and fifty years of struggle to create a more perfect union, and instead of empowering the American voter, state legislatures—including our own here in South Carolina—are systematically dismantling the very thing our ancestors fought and died for,” said Gibbons. “Your vote is your constitutional asset. You should be able to pick your representative, and as a candidate, I should have to earn it. But when representatives get to pick their constituents, what else can we call it but the illusion of choice?”
Running on the Republican ticket, Gibbons describes himself as a “People First Patriot” who believes the current system has strayed from its duty to the people. He points to Congress, where he says partisan politics and gerrymandering have, as Washington warned, “rendered alien to each other those who ought to be bound together by fraternal affection.”
Gibbons expressed frustration with politicians who manufacture division to secure their own power, stating that it is time for someone to stand up for the people. As part of his campaign, he aims to educate voters on reforms to eliminate gerrymandering, specifically advocating for Proportional Representation and Multi-Member electoral districts.
He notes that during the founding of our country, several states utilized multi-member districts or at-large elections. While acknowledging those systems had flaws, Gibbons argues the current single-member, first-past-the-post system is untenable.
“If a multi-member district is combined with Ranked-Choice Voting, it could be a clear path toward better representation of the people,” Gibbons explained.
Gibbons acknowledged that voters may not immediately embrace these ideas, noting that the party in power is unlikely to discuss them openly and will likely attack them instead. He is calling on the media to help educate voters on these options and urging citizens to reject division.
“What I’m asking for in this time of contention and turmoil is that members of the media help educate voters on the options, that people have faith in their fellow Americans and do not give in to hate, and that when you find those pretend patriots who put party over country, you vote them out,” Gibbons said. “The primaries are set for June 9th, and we need you to show up to that ballot box with the same passion as you do in November.”
About Sam Gibbons: Sam Gibbons is a resident of West Columbia and a candidate for South Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District. A graduate of The Citadel and a Marine veteran, he has built his career as an educator. Guided by an unwavering commitment to fidelity to the Constitution, a steadfast sense of duty to serve the public, and a promise of total transparency in governance, Gibbons is dedicated to restoring the true spirit of representation for the people of District 2.
# # # Media Note:For interview requests or additional information regarding Sam Gibbons’ platform on electoral reform, please contact the campaign office at [843-460-8583] or [Gibbons4sc@gmail.com].