Charleston City Paper/The Statehouse Report

‘Constitutional requirement’ or an ‘assault on women’? The state of South Carolina and its largest city took dramatic steps this week to begin dismantling decades-old programs designed to increase participation by women- and-minority-owned businesses in government contracting.

“Women will suffer from this,” Lynn Teague, LWVSC VP Issues & Action, said. “We see it as part of an attack on the rights of women from every direction, including efforts to pass draconian abortion bans and attacks on the professional status of jobs that are dominated by women.”

There are some years we’re certain will go down in the history books — 2025 was one of them. 

It was a year of challenges to both our democracy and our spirit. It was also a year when everyday voters showed up by the millions to fight for a country by and for the people.