Sylvia Wright, candidate for South Carolina Superintendent of Education, released the following statement after today’s Supreme Court decision weakening a key protection of the Voting Rights Act:
“Our democracy works only when every citizen has an equal voice. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision today, further weakening the Voting Rights Act, is not just a legal ruling, it is a direct threat to the foundation of American self‑government, and it affects every South Carolinian: rural and urban, Black and white, Republican, Democrat, and independent alike.
"I was born and raised in North Charleston and am a proud product of South Carolina’s public schools, Lambs Elementary, Goodwin Elementary, Oakbrook Middle, and Fort Dorchester High. For more than 20 years I’ve served in our classrooms from Sumter to Charleston as a teacher, a military spouse, and a parent. I know how much families depend on a government that listens and represents them fairly. When our voting rights are weakened, that trust is broken for everyone.
"The Voting Rights Act has long helped ensure that every American, no matter race, income, or ZIP code, has a real say in our government. By undermining its protections again, today’s decision makes it easier for politicians to draw districts that serve themselves instead of the people, not only in Louisiana, a state much like South Carolina, but across the country.
"That should concern all of us. When maps are manipulated and communities are sliced apart, parents lose leverage to demand better schools, taxpayers lose power to hold leaders accountable, and rural and urban communities alike see their needs ignored because their votes are diluted. This is not just about Black voters or white voters or any single group. It is about whether all of us still live in a country where the people choose their representatives, not the other way around.
"As a Democratic candidate for State Superintendent of Education, I see every day that democracy and education are inseparable. Our public schools are where we teach young people that their voices matter and that one day they will shape the future with their vote. If adults accept systems that silence communities, we teach the next generation that the rules can be rigged and that participation doesn’t matter. We cannot ask students to believe in democracy while we stand by and watch our voting rights erode.
"This election season, every South Carolinian has both a responsibility and an opportunity to defend the basic promise of American democracy: free, fair, and meaningful elections where each vote has equal weight. That means standing up for fair representation, protecting access to the ballot for every eligible voter, regardless of race, party, income, or ZIP code.
"Defending democracy is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. It is an American responsibility. Whether you live in Greenville or Orangeburg, Myrtle Beach or Aiken, the rules that govern how we vote shape your ability to advocate for your children’s education, your livelihood, and your future.
"As your candidate for State Superintendent, and as someone currently pursuing a Doctor of Education at the University of South Carolina, I am committed to supporting strong civic education, advocating for fair and transparent processes that respect every community’s voice, and working with anyone, of any party, who is prepared to protect equal representation and the integrity of our elections.
"This is a defining moment. Our children are watching how we respond. Let’s show them that when democracy is tested, South Carolinians step up, stand together, and vote, not just for a party or a person, but for the principle that every voice matters.
"By June 9th, I ask you to vote not only for me as your next State Superintendent of Education, but for a future where our democracy is stronger, fairer, and truly of, by, and for the people."