An open letter to Attorney General Alan Wilson
OPEN LETTER TO ATTORNEY GENERAL ALAN WILSON
April 21, 2025
The Honorable Alan Wilson
1000 Assembly Street, Room 519
Columbia, S.C. 29201
Dear Attorney General Wilson,
Because you are the Chief Legal Officer of the State, I am writing to inform you of South Carolina Republican Party’s violations of South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 7, Chapter 9, by the officers of the Darlington County Republican Party (DCRP), JD Chaplin, Dawn Calhoun, John Crawley, and Colin Hungerpiller. I have witnessed actions that undermine the integrity of the Party’s delegate election process.
1. Facts of the Delegate Election Irregularities:
· On March 22, 2025, at the Darlington County Reorganization meeting, I qualified as a delegate to the County Convention and completed the 2025 South Carolina Republican Party Darlington County Precinct Reorganization Form 1 (forwarded to your office via email), indicating my intent to run as a delegate to the 2025 State Republican Party Convention. The Form confirms my eligibility.
· On April 15, 2025, at the Darlington County Convention, my name was excluded from the ballot for state delegate, despite my proper submission of Form 1. Instead, DCRP Officers presented a pre-selected slate of delegates, bypassing the election process mandated by South Carolina Code of Laws Sections 7-9-80 and 7-9-100, which require delegates to be elected, not appointed.
2. Impact on My Candidacy:
· As a candidate in good standing for SCGOP State Chair, I have faced obstacles that appear designed to prevent my nomination. The exclusion of my name from the delegate ballot at the county level directly limits my ability to participate fully in the State Convention, raising questions of conspiracy by the Officers of the DCRP. Because of their actions, I have been harmed.
3. Efforts to Address the Issue:
· I have filed an appeal with the SCGOP.
Excluding eligible delegates and bypassing required elections by the Officers of the DCRP represent a troubling departure from the principles of transparency and fairness enshrined in State Law and Party Rules.
I intend to seek nomination from the floor at the SCGOP State Convention. However, if I am denied entry due to the improper exclusion from the delegate ballot, I am prepared to escalate this matter, including notifying media outlets to ensure public awareness of these issues.
Please be advised the Officers of DCRP have violated the delegate selection process mandated in South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 7, Chapter 9. Because you are the Chief Legal Officer of the State, I ask you to hold accountable those responsible for undermining the electoral process. The integrity of our state’s political institutions depends on your actions.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. I am available to provide further documentation or testimony as needed.
Sincerely,
Barbara Arthur
Candidate for State Chair of the SCGOP
