Republican Runoff Clash in South Carolina

Two fierce Republican contenders, Councilwoman Jenny Costa Honeycutt and House Rep. Mark Smith, clashed in a high-stakes debate for South Carolina’s First Congressional District runoff, both loyal to Trump but sharply divided on how to fix the nation’s affordability crisis, national debt, and border security. Honeycutt favors cutting red tape and capital gains taxes, while Smith pushes for smarter zoning and density to boost housing. On debt, Smith champions fiscal discipline like a business owner; Honeycutt wants line-item scrutiny and sunset clauses. Border policy saw Smith demand enforcement and deportations, while Honeycutt called for a functional legal immigration system to protect victims’ privacy. Both warned of AI risks and the need to lead in tech and data control. The Epstein Files sparked tension: Smith demanded full transparency, Honeycutt prioritized victim protection. Yet both vowed to champion veterans and military families. With early voting underway and the runoff next Tuesday, voters face a pivotal choice between these two ideologically aligned but strategically different Republicans. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/d5ccb31531703b38