Hour 1 - SC primary logic out. Pascoe & Evette shape local races. Hilton surges in CA. Trump backs Paxton, hits Massie in KY. SC maps give Dems 2-seat hope.

Hour 1 of The Charlie James Show focused heavily on critical midterm timelines, breaking down localized and national GOP primary battles alongside a developing redistricting conflict in South Carolina:Segment 1: The South Carolina Primary TimelineThe Countdown: The South Carolina Statewide Primaries are officially three weeks away, scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, 2026.Early Voting Window: Early voting kicks off in exactly one week on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, and runs through Friday, June 5, 2026 (closed on weekends). Voters must bring a valid Photo ID to cast a ballot at designated SC Votes locations.Segment 2: Local Positioning & The California RaceDavid Pascoe's Shift: Longtime prosecutor and First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe is aggressively campaigning for State Attorney General as a Republican, running an anti-corruption platform targeting the traditional political machine after shifting from the Democratic Party.The Evette Rebrand: Lieutenant Governor Pam Evette was featured on News/Talk 98.9 WORD’s "Governor’s Series." With Gov. Henry McMaster term-limited, the discussion focused on her push to build independent name recognition and separate her brand from the administration.Hilton vs. Bianco in CA: Out West, former Fox News host Steve Hilton is surging in the California gubernatorial race. The GOP establishment is aggressively pressuring Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco to drop out to avoid splitting the conservative vote, though Bianco is refusing.Segment 3: Trump's Endorsements & Election Day in KentuckyThe Texas Shocker: Donald Trump has officially upended the Texas Republican Senate runoff by endorsing Attorney General Ken Paxton. This deals a severe blow to four-term establishment incumbent Sen. John Cornyn just one week before their May 26 runoff.Kentucky Primary Today: Voters in Kentucky are hitting the polls today. The key race to watch is in the 4th Congressional District, where incumbent GOP Rep. Thomas Massie is fighting for his political life against Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein.Segment 4: The South Carolina Redistricting BattleThe Legal Tug-of-War: The show closed out the hour detailing the immense pressure on the SC Statehouse regarding congressional maps.Democratic Opportunities: Following an ongoing scramble regarding racial gerrymandering and map structures, analysts note that if specific redrawn district boundaries are successfully challenged or altered, Democrats have a viable path to pick up two additional U.S. House seats in South Carolina