It’s a family feud in Horry County, S.C., where there are 2 Republican parties

James Wallner, a Clemson University political science professor and fellow at the R Street Institute, is not surprised.

“I think what you’re really seeing is that people who were not necessarily as engaged in the past are now more engaged in our politics,” he explained. “You’re seeing more people getting involved in politics within the Republican Party and they’re trying to achieve their goals in this system — and they’re being met with a very fierce resistance in many respects.”

Wallner says the angst among Palmetto State Republicans boils down to these new participants questioning the status quo of how things are — or aren’t — done, like Slagle’s mention of South Carolina’s low conservative ranking despite Republican control of the legislature.

“It makes sense if you’re the status quo to try to de-legitimize the reasons why people are upset with you or the reasons why your opponents are getting involved in politics and trying to wrest power from you,” Wallner said. “But too often what we see, I think, is that the status quo will often try to belittle and to delegitimize people instead of engaging them on the issues.”