An Interview with Damian Daly: Candidate for SC House District 98

By Gray Somerville, Dorchester County Democratic Party Communications Director

The most important election facing Dorchester County Democrats over the next three months is the special election for SC House District 98 (see DCDP’s 2025 Election Guide for details), and three Democrats are competing for the party’s nomination in the November 4 primary: Damian Daly (no website), Stephen Kohn, and Dr. Sonja Ogletree Satani.

I sat down virtually with Damian Daly for a one-on-one interview on October 8th. Following are summary impressions I gathered from that conversation followed by a lightly edited transcript that captures the substance of the interview.  To listen to the entire conversation, go to https://www.dorchesterdemocrats.com/interview-damian-daly

Candidate Profile

Damian Daly is a Christian, husband, and father of eight with an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Connecticut and two master’s degrees. He served as a police officer while living in Connecticut but has principally worked as a rideshare driver since moving to South Carolina. Damian brings a unique perspective shaped by his faith, his small town Connecticut upbringing, and his lived experience as a husband, father, and working man. A former Republican turned Democrat, Damian cites his opposition to racism and concern for workers' rights as catalysts for his party switch. His campaign focuses on gun safety reform, establishing a minimum wage and abolishing tip wages, supporting union organizing, and addressing South Carolina's infrastructure needs. Damian positions himself as a moderate, family-oriented Democrat who he believes can appeal to the district's Republican-leaning voters while advancing progressive policy goals.

Key Strengths

Based solely on this interview, here are some of the key strengths I observed:

• Candor and Sincerity - I was impressed throughout the interview with Damian’s “tell-it-like-it-is” candor and the heartfelt sincerity of his appeal for greater racial and economic  justice.

• Personal Investment in Key Issues - As a father of eight, including three daughters who work as servers, Damian has direct family connections to issues like tip wages and sexual harassment in the service industry.

• Specific Policy Focus - Damian has clear priorities around gun safety (age 21 requirement), workers' rights (minimum wage, tip wage reform, union support), and infrastructure improvements (street lights, commuter rail).

Summary Analysis

Damian Daly presents himself as a moderate, family-oriented Democrat who brings years of law enforcement experience and a deep personal commitment to workers' rights, gun safety, and social justice. His transition from Republican to Democrat—motivated by opposition to racism and concern for how workers are treated—reflects a values-driven political evolution that he believes can resonate with District 98's mixed electorate. His emphasis on being a "centrist" candidate, combined with his willingness to work across party lines, offers a pragmatic approach to serving in a heavily Republican district.

However, Democratic voters will need to carefully weigh several factors: Daly is far behind his Democratic competitors in fund raising and campaign activity, and his path to victory seems to rely significantly on external economic events rather than aggressive voter outreach and persuasion. His brief tenure in District 98 may also give voters pause when compared to candidates with deeper district roots or more developed legislative plans.

That said, Daly's authentic passion for key progressive issues—particularly gun safety reform, establishing a living wage, supporting union organizing, and addressing South Carolina's infrastructure deficits—demonstrates a genuine commitment to Democratic values. His lived experience as a father of eight, former police officer, and educator provides real-world perspective on the challenges facing working families. His optimism about Democratic electoral prospects in 2026 and his willingness to engage in civil disobedience and protest when necessary show a fighter's spirit that may be needed in Columbia's super-minority.

The Dorchester County Democratic Party encourages all members to carefully review this interview, attend candidate forums, and participate actively in the November 4th primary election. With three Democrats competing for this seat, the primary will determine who carries the party's banner into the special election.

The Interview

Gray: Let's start with some basic biographical information. Where did you grow up?

Damian: I grew up in Vernon, Connecticut. I went to a private Catholic high school, East Catholic, in Manchester. I played football and baseball—I was the only member of my graduating class to play both sports. I met my wife during high school; we've been together 44 years. She went to the public high school, Rockville High School. I met her through playing Legion Baseball. I told myself if she showed up to a game I was pitching, I would ask her out. She showed up, so I called her from home. Our mothers worked at a hospital together, and her mother told my mother she was interested in me. When I called, she initially said she had to babysit, which I thought was just an excuse. But we eventually went to see "Stripes" with Bill Murray, and we've been together ever since.

My dad took me and my three brothers to church every week since we were little kids. I went to church regularly and decided to try to put Biblical principles into practice. That commitment has shaped my life.

Gray: What about your education and career path?

Damian: I started at Eastern Connecticut State University, which was defending national champions in baseball, though I knew I wasn't that good. I wanted to attend UConn where my brothers went, so I improved my GPA through the baseball team's study program and transferred. I had family members with mental health issues, which led me to major in psychology at UConn.

After graduating, my wife—who was a high school graduate—got a job at a big corporate insurance company through family connections. It was frustrating to have a degree but struggle to find work. In 1987, after watching RoboCop, I decided between becoming a teacher or a cop—I chose police work. I got hired in December 1987. I proposed to my wife on Christmas Eve 1987, playing Journey's "Faithfully," and we married September 3, 1988. We now have eight children.

I later earned a master's degree in school psychology from Fairfield University because I wanted to spend more time with my kids, though I never got certified. Then I got a master's in political science with a concentration in public policy and administration from Southern Connecticut State University, aiming to become chief of police. I scored first on the chief's test, but it didn't impress anyone. Since then, I've been raising my kids, worked briefly at Palmetto Behavioral Health down here, do rideshare now, and receive my police pension. My wife works as a cashier at Harris Teeter.

Gray: You also did some teaching? 

Damian: Yes, I taught in the early college program with Trident Technical College, at Fort Dorchester, Summerville High School, Stratford, Woodland, and Ashley Ridge.

Gray: Prior to running for office, were you engaged in the community as a volunteer?

Damian: I taught religious education for over 20 years. I've been a lector at my church, coached Summerville football and Little League Baseball, and worked at Neighbors Helping Neighbors off Cosgrove Avenue. Through the Democratic Party connection, I was the only volunteer from all of Charleston County—which was fantastic in a way, feeding meals to homeless people in Charleston.

Gray: What's your connection with District 98?

Damian: I haven't been here long, to be honest. I think it's more my kind of district. Chris Murphy was in a debate, and I have to be honest—if he were still the representative, I would not run. I think he's a sharp guy. He had a substance abuse problem and did the honorable thing by resigning after his second time in rehab and getting divorced. Many would have hung on, but he resigned. I think I'm very similar to him in many ways, though I'm thankful I'm not dealing with the craziness in the Republican Party right now. He's more affluent than I am, but I think I'm similar as far as representing District 98, though I would have different values being a Democrat. I think it's really become almost like a cult in the Republican Party.

I think there's going to be a major political shift. If elections are fair—we've had two election commissioners fired in the last month—I think there will be a sea change in 2026 across the country, and South Carolina will be at the forefront.

Gray: When you say you would be like Chris Murphy but have different policies, help me understand that. What do you mean?

Damian: I'm pro-union—I doubt he is. I heard him say at a debate that they will never legalize marijuana in South Carolina. I'm ambivalent about marijuana personally—I think I'd be against it—but if there's demand from constituents, we should research it. We have over 20 states that have legalized it. Let's study what's happening there, examine the drawbacks, and then present findings to South Carolina voters. Maybe put it on a ballot measure and check with constituents.

I think he tried to change some legislation, but I'm definitely more pro-worker. I imagine he's very fiscally conservative—I'm not. I think we need street lights up, a commuter rail from here to Charleston. We're so backwards. You can tell you're in South Carolina by the lousy roads. You drive from here to Columbia and won't see a street light—that's ridiculous. We have high pedestrian accident rates.

Chris is a sharp guy, and I'm sure he's fiscally conservative. If he supports Trump's Project 2025, that's problematic. Maybe he resigned because he saw where the Republican Party was heading.

Gray: Chris Murphy consistently supported abortion restrictions, permitless gun carry laws, DEI restrictions, and school vouchers. Are those policies you oppose?

Damian: On guns—you can't buy beer or tobacco under 21, but you can buy a gun? That's insane. Make it 21 to own a gun, and school shootings will almost be eliminated. No 21-year-old is going to shoot up a school over a grievance from three years ago. Recent shootings involve people under 21. Make gun ownership much more difficult. The Second Amendment says "a militia being necessary to a free state." They needed militias back then—everyone had guns. Not everyone needs one now. We should have tougher gun laws. We have a shooting every day in South Carolina. We need to restrict gun access.

Gray: What inspired you to run in this race?

Damian: I've tried many times. I knew Chris was going to resign. Like I said, if Chris Murphy had stayed, I probably wouldn't run. But I understand one Republican nominee was arrested for participating in the January 6th Capitol incursion. The Republican Party is a mess right now, and I think we have an opportunity to at least get one seat. That might start a groundswell of Democrats regaining power in the state legislature.

Gray: Democrats have lost nearly 25% of their State House seats in the past 12 years. Given that context, how exactly do you plan to win District 98?

Damian: I'll present myself as a moderate Democrat—a guy trying to make ends meet and provide for my family. I've raised my kids and know how hard it is. We don't even have a minimum wage in South Carolina. Let's establish a $15 minimum wage. Tip wages are $3.65—I have three daughters who serve, and when it's slow, they're essentially volunteering. They're not getting paid at all. The number one job for sexual harassment is serving.

I'll position myself as a moderate Democrat, a family man, a Christian first—before any party. I was a Republican in Connecticut, I'm a Democrat now, but I've always been a Christian. That's number one to me.

What I'm confident will happen: Herbert Hoover, George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan—those were all economic calamities, and they were all laissez-faire Republicans. We have an incompetent laissez-faire Republican in the White House now. As James Carville has been saying, they're going to fall under their own weight. If it happens between now and January 6th, we're a lock. If it doesn't, this Republican district becomes much harder. But I really think the economy will take a major hit with their ridiculous economic policies. Like with Hoover, Reagan, and Bush, it will collapse under their administrations. Democrats had to recover it—FDR, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama. Democrats bring it back with sound Keynesian economic policies. It's bound to happen with Trump, the tariffs, and laissez-faire policy. Reagan recovered, to his credit, but it will collapse like it did with George W. Bush in 2007. If major economic trouble doesn't happen by January 6th, it's a tougher road in this Republican district. But I'm confident it will.

Gray: What are your funding goals for your campaign?

[NOTE: Dollar figures and voter turnout figures have been intentionally overwritten.]

Damian: I'd like as much money as possible, but I'm not getting much right now. For a local campaign, I think $XXXXX could run a decent race—you can make your website, put signs up, and hopefully resonate with people. Less than that, you're in trouble. I'd like more, but I really don't solicit as much as I should. This race snuck up on me. I figured Chris would retire or resign, and he did, but I wasn't ready. Whatever I can do to get money in the coffers, I'm willing to do.

Gray: How much have you raised so far?

Damian: About half. I still have a ways to go, but the election's coming soon. Hopefully I'll get some in the near future.

Gray: How do you plan to close the gap?

Damian: Work harder, shift some funds of my own. I should start writing letters—they gave us a donor list. I'll write letters to donors and email as many as I can.

Gray: How much time are you able to devote to your campaign each week?

Damian: About 40 hours. I plan to be at early voting every day when it starts—all day is my ideal. That's a future plan. Last week I spent probably 15-20 hours. In the upcoming week, I really hope to ramp it up. We're having a meeting with all three of us, almost like a debate, and I'm looking forward to that as the jump start for my campaign.

Gray: What sort of activities did you spend your 15 hours on last week?

Damian: Trying to get my website going, reading news daily and transcribing some of it, trying to get my ideas together. I'm working extra to make money to put aside. But I really haven't done much yet. Hopefully in the upcoming week I can really get going.

Gray: Walk me through the numbers. How many votes do you need to win, and how do you plan to get them?

Damian: If I'm not mistaken, we're the only three on the ballot. Charleston County has elections once every four years—everybody's up at once, unlike most counties that rotate half every two years. So it'll be very light turnout—less than XXXXX, I'd imagine. I'll really try to appeal to people in this district who see me as more centrist. The Republican nominee participated in the January 6th insurrection. I'm a more centrist, moderate Democrat. People are looking for someone who can work with the other side more than maybe my opponents can.

Gray: Do you have any special events planned?

Damian: I don't, unfortunately.

Gray: Democrats are now a super-minority in the South Carolina legislature. What does fighting for Democratic values mean to you? What would define success?

Damian: Getting more guns off the street. Kids get killed regularly in this area. Republicans need to see the devastating effects. I'd really like Mercedes, Volvo, and Boeing workers to unionize. We need to look at union representation. Establish a minimum wage—we don't even have one. Investigate what's happening with the election commission—two people got fired last month.

Gun violence is critical. We need to tackle this Wild West mentality. Fair wages and working conditions—I know Republicans try to pare back OSHA. We need higher safety standards for employees. Every other commercial is a lawyer—we need to either cap awards or make them proportionate to accidents to lower insurance premiums.

The Affordable Care Act—South Carolina has never taken the ACA money. We always go through the federal exchange. The federal government allocated money for children's summer lunches, and we turned it down. We turned away money for kids getting lunches in summertime? That's cruel and barbaric. The Republican Party has lost its soul. We need compassion for other human beings. George Bush called it "compassionate conservatism"—you have to be compassionate first. Letting kids go hungry is cruel.

Gray: The state legislature is in session from mid-January to mid-May, meeting three days a week or more. With committee work, constituent services, and campaigning, you're looking at over 500 hours per year. How will you make time for this work?

Damian: That's no problem for me. My kids are grown. I've been to all their football games, dance recitals, and plays. This would be a vocation for me. If I had the honor of being elected, I'd have no problem putting in the hours. I'd look forward to it. My police pension is a big factor too.

Gray: Given the super-minority status of Democrats in the State House, how would you defend and advance Democratic values when Republicans have the votes?

Damian: Like we're doing at the federal level—allowing the shutdown because healthcare subsidies will go up dramatically. It seems like a futile fight, but even Marjorie Taylor Greene is on our side, shockingly. That's what Democrats are doing at the federal level—making their stand. They've had sit-ins at the Capitol. If Republicans do anything too outrageous—turning away that money, not subscribing to the Affordable Care Act—you do what you have to do. I think I can work well with Republicans. I'm a decent orator and can reach people through my speaking and writing skills. We have to make people aware, and South Carolinians aren't dumb. They know there's a problem in this state.

We're caught up in the wind of Fox News and Republicans having their time right now, but it won't last forever. They'll realize it's not too far away before we have a majority. That will lessen any extreme actions they might take. I remember a teacher protest at the Capitol in West Virginia and Oklahoma—teachers struck for a week and got what they wanted. Here in South Carolina, counties told teachers they'd be fired if they attended the rally. Almost no one showed up. That's tragic. I would attend rallies like that. There are measures we can take.

Like you said, we're in the worst minority since after the Civil War. We have to make our voices heard and be articulate. I'll be energized to fight anywhere we can. If the economy stays strong, we're in a deeper hole, but there's no way it will. I think the winds will change. When people's premiums go up 400% on their ACA or federal exchange next year, they'll be outraged. Republicans will be the target. We'll be positioned to save them, and people will appreciate that. That will begin the flood of Democrats into the State House.

I'm more centrist, so I think I can work with Republicans. Being a former Republican, I can work with them. But if we have to take drastic action, so be it. Let's make it smart. I don't know if the federal shutdown will be effective, but time's running out. You do what you have to do short of violence—protest, sleep at the Capitol if necessary.

I'd love to have a sit-in at eviction hearings. Charleston leads the nation in evictions. I'd love to fill the courtroom with people to help those being evicted. People can appeal evictions—they'll never tell them that. If you're paid up, you can get six more months. Or we could raise money to keep a family in their house. There are measures we can take.

The winds of change are coming. We'll be in the majority. We need a strong gubernatorial candidate—that's what we need. I hope Bakari Sellers runs. We need a strong governor candidate to really get this going.

Gray: Do you feel there's anything about your politics that differentiates you from the other Democratic candidates?

Damian: I think I'm more family-oriented. My wife and kids come first. The guns issue—requiring 21 to possess a gun—is major for me. I've talked about reparations, which is unfortunately a dead issue. In my last campaign, I said if you're an African American over 50 from South Carolina, you should get a letter of apology and a $1,500 check. We could tax something to fund it. That didn't resonate, but racism is why I became a Democrat, along with how employees are treated.

I think we need to get Mercedes, Boeing, and Volvo unionized. Mercedes has been unionized in Alabama and Tennessee—red states. Why can't they be unionized here? Hopefully that will resonate with workers at those places.

Gray: What's the number one issue you would like to tackle in the legislature?

Damian: Guns. This Wild West mentality, shootings at Chuck E. Cheese and mass shootings every day. I don't think we should have cops in every school—I've seen many cops overextend their authority. Arrests are way up in schools for things not related to police work. South Carolina has a "disturb schools" law where you can be arrested for disrupting class. We're almost the only state with that. The vast majority of kids arrested are minorities. That's still happening. Guns are a major issue.

Getting in line with Obamacare—unfortunately, I think it's in deep trouble now. Street lights are major for me. Let's get some street lights—this is ridiculous. How about a commuter rail from here to Charleston? Those trains blocking roads all day—can we reduce some of those? Make passenger rails for commuters and reduce I-26 traffic. The roads—I was against the gas tax because any regressive taxation hits lower-income people disproportionately. However, our roads are so bad, something had to be done. I think the 2017 gas tax is finally showing results with improved roads.

Get workers better wages, establish a minimum wage, sensible gun laws. Get some cops out of schools. Minorities should be judged by the content of their character, like Martin Luther King said. When I taught political science, I taught about Briggs v. Elliott, the cornerstone of Brown v. Board of Education right here in South Carolina. The Orangeburg Massacre—everyone my age remembers Kent State, but we had it right here at South Carolina State University. Students were killed by cops protesting a segregated bowling alley. Not one cop was charged. The only person arrested was Cleveland Sellers, Bakari Sellers' father. Then there's the Friendship Nine in Rock Hill—students protesting at Woolworth's who were arrested. Instead of paying bail, they chose 30 days hard labor under the "jail no bail" motto to save the civil rights movement money. They were only recently expunged about seven years ago.

I think that should be taught in every South Carolina high school. On Martin Luther King Day, they should show one of Dr. King's speeches—probably the greatest orator in my lifetime, maybe in American history. Show his speeches around his birthday as curriculum.

Gray: Do you have specific policy proposals you've thought through that you'd like to introduce?

Damian: Abolish tip wages. As I said, the number one job for sexual harassment is serving. Establish a minimum wage. Fight against right-to-work, which is a total misnomer—it's really the right to fire you or not pay union dues if you start a union. That's not right.

Don't shift roads from state to county level—that will break counties' backs. We have the fourth-largest road network in the country, 44,000 miles. Have the state maintain roads because many poor counties could go bankrupt. Maintain county solvency.

I see measles has broken out in Spartanburg. Florida got rid of vaccine mandates. Florida has a huge hegemonic effect on South Carolina due to proximity. It's just a matter of time before we do that with Governor McMaster. It's not if, it's when kids will die from measles, like in Texas. Totally preventable—we almost got rid of it except for these anti-vaccine people. Totally untrue claims. Let's do research like with marijuana. Research has been done—there's no correlation between vaccines and ill effects. They're definitely worth having every kid take them. Keep mandated vaccines in place. Let's get rid of conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. Every court has thrown out everything about election fraud. Let's get rid of these conspiracy theories.

Keep corporations from dominating so much. Google has a big presence in our county. When I go on Google, I see things like "remembering Michael McDonald"—is he dead? Then the article shows pictures of him alive while making you watch 30 ads. It's pathetic how they manipulate us, and unfortunately it's working. I remember at a Dorchester County School Board meeting during COVID, after three or four teachers died from COVID, someone said they died "with COVID," not "from COVID." Come on. So many more people died, some using bleach to inoculate themselves. People didn't get vaccinated and ironically died from it. There's something to be said for science, research, and thinking things through.

Gray: Why should Dorchester County Democrats support you?

Damian: Because I have the best chance to win. Like I said, I'm much like Chris Murphy in many respects. As a centrist, moderate candidate, I have the best chance of winning on January 6th. If we nominate someone more extreme, that won't resonate with voters in this district. They voted for Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024. This is a Republican district made even more Republican with redistricting in 2020. We need someone like me, very much like Chris Murphy. Fortunately, I don't have the alcohol problem. Chris did the honorable thing—he's a sharp guy, but it overtook him. I'm similar to him in many respects on some policy issues you mentioned. We're very alike. We need a centrist candidate to win this election.

Someone like me has the best chance of winning on January 6th. That's why I should get Democratic Party support. Electing a Democrat here will begin a groundswell of Democrats taking seats in 2026.

Gray: Thank you so much for sitting down with me for this interview and sharing your vision for District 98.

Editor's Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and length. The Dorchester County Democratic Party does not endorse candidates in primary elections. This interview is provided as a service to help voters make informed decisions.