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Conventional wisdom holds that the influence of evangelical Republicans is on the wane nationally – and also in early-voting South Carolina, a state which continues to see significant migration from other parts of the country.
Last spring, Gallup published its annual report on the religious preferences of American adults, finding 68% of them identified as Christians compared to 22% who did not identify with any religion. Just a quarter century ago, 87% identified as Christians compared to 6% percent who did not identify with any religion.
The trend lines are unmistakeable…
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In addition to these declining overall numbers, Gallup pollsters found religious intensity was also on the wane…
“Forty-five percent of Americans say religion is ‘very important’ in their life, with another 26% saying it is ‘fairly important’ and 28% saying it’s ‘not very important,'” they noted. “When Gallup first asked this question in 1965, 70% said religion was very important. That fell to 52% in a 1978 survey, but the percentage ticked up to nearly 60% between 1990 and 2005. Over the past 20 years, a declining share of Americans have said religion is important, dropping below 50% for the first time in 2019.”
Politicians are paying attention to these trends, too. They’ve also stuck their fingers into the wind on the defining social conservative issue of the last half-century: Abortion.
Why else would president Donald Trump have distanced himself from the GOP’s traditional pro-life position during the 2024 election?
Obviously, because he knew by doing so he would gain more ground than he lost…
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RELATED | PRO-LIFE GROUP CHIDES GOP
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South Carolina legislative leaders appear to be pivoting away from social issues, too – most notably the protracted battle over abortion. The right to life was hotly contested at the S.C. State House from 2021-2023, and while social conservatives have been clamoring to get this issue back on the radar – thus far their efforts have come up short.
The S.C. Family Caucus is hoping to change all of that in 2025. This group – which includes dozens of evangelical conservative lawmakers – has been defying the prevailing political winds by expanding its influence over Palmetto politics.
And abortion is very much on its radar…
The 54-member organization is planning a major push during the 2025-2026 legislative session behalf of H. 3457, the “Human Life Protection Act.” Current state law bans abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. The proposed legislation – which has 32 sponsors in the S.C. House – would ban it completely, from the moment of conception. It would also repeal existing exemptions for rape, incest and fetal anomalies.
While the S.C. Freedom Caucus has been dominating headlines in its battles with GOP leadership – or rather the GOP leadership’s battle with it – the Family Caucus boasts many Republican leaders amongst its ranks.
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“The Family Caucus has seen record growth in size and broad reach – we include Republican Caucus members, Freedom Caucus members, Senators Republican Caucus members and one Democrat,” the group’s chairman, John R. McCravy III of Greenwood, S.C. told FITSNews. “We do not focus on the political wars but we stay focused on conservative policies with an emphasis on the social issues that strengthen the family. We have unprecedented momentum going forward. We started out with 17 and are now at 54 members with several more asking to join. We’ve had good favor with leadership and we function as the conscience of South Carolina legislature.”
McCravy’s group will welcome at least two additional members in the coming weeks, we’re told… with more likely to join as the legislative session heats up. Assuming its growth continues, the caucus could wind up exerting significant influence not only at the S.C. State House… but on the campaign trail during next spring’s partisan primary elections.
And in the 2028 ‘First in the South’ GOP presidential primary…

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In my position as founding editor of FITSNews, I have generally editorialized from a fiscally conservative, socially libertarian perspective – a vantage point which is frequently at odds with the stated views of the Family Caucus. For example, I have consistently supported the decriminalization of marijuana for medical and recreational use, the legalization of gambling and the decriminalization of prostitution, among other ostensibly left-of-center social views.
I am also satisfied with the current abortion law in the Palmetto State – a position which doubtless will not endear me either to the Family Caucus or to the far left.
Furthermore, I would humbly suggest to each Family Caucus member the best way to protect the family in South Carolina is to ensure its breadwinners can work and earn – while also pointing out just how far many of its members have veered from the Biblical notion of stewardship when it comes to state appropriations.
Jesus didn’t dig on swine, y’all… and neither should a caucus proclaiming his values.
Having said that, I believe the presence of a robust Family Caucus within the S.C. General Assembly is a good thing for the Palmetto policy arena – and for the state’s marketplace of ideas. The S.C. General Assembly is indeed desperate for a “conscience,” and if a group like the Family Caucus can contribute to keeping this notoriously left-leaning body from trending further in that direction… South Carolina will be the better for it.
Count on FITSNews to continue tracking the emerging forces vying for influence at the S.C. State House… and the impact they are having on our state’s political process.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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6 comments
The Republican party must be begging to lose elections by trying to pass anti-abortion laws. I’ll bet they don’t have the same reverence for life when it comes to the death penalty even though God says vengeance is His, not ours.
Justice and vengeance ae not the same. Justice upholds the laws which applies to all people, and the government of the people administers the punishment for crimes. Vengeance is personal, based on individual grievances, and administered by the aggrieved. It may follow social norms, or not – it can be arbitrary or even petty. The death penalty is reserved for the worst of crimes in our society, and even then it is only carried out after multiple appeals and 15-20 years in jail. The comparision of abortion of completely innocent helpless life to competent adults intentionally murdering other person (usually with horrific cruelty) is a complete farce.
Those rhinos need to put abortion on the ballot. I am pro-life but a total ban is not the answer.
Sorry, didn’t mean to post twice.
What makes them a rhino [sic]? These look like standard Republicans to me. i.e. fake Christians and hypocrites to the core.
They need to represent the people. A total abortion ban is not the answer. Being pro-life I still think that is going too far