Christale Spain

Christale Spain is an American Democratic Party leader serving as Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, the first black woman to hold the role.^[1]

Christale Spain
Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party
Incumbent
Assumed office April 29, 2023
Preceded by	Trav Robertson
Personal details
Born	1976 or 1977 (age 48–49)
Political party	Democratic
Education	University of South Carolina Aiken (BA) Columbia College (MA)

Education

Spain graduated from W. J. Keenan High School in Columbia, South Carolina. She then attended the University of South Carolina Aiken where she became one of the institution's premier women's basketball players, becoming the first player (male or female) in the university's history to score over 1000 career points and pull down over 1000 career rebounds.^[2] She also attended Columbia College, and is a member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority.^[3]

Political career

Spain worked as political director for the Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign and was state director for the Cory Booker 2020 presidential campaign. She was also the Senior Advisor for Black Engagement at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.^[4] She announced her campaign for state party chair in February 2023.^[5] Spain was endorsed by her predecessor Trav Robertson, as well as Jim Clyburn and Jaime Harrison.^[6] Her role meant overseeing the first scheduled Democratic Party presidential primary in South Carolina in February 2024.^[7] In July 2024, she endorsed the Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign.^[8] She gave South Carolinas votes during the ceremonial roll call at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.^[9]

Spain was widely quoted after the 2024 South Carolina general election produced a number of Democratic Party legislators losing their seats, and Republicans gaining a supermajority in the South Carolina Senate.^{[10][11][12][13]}