What does it take to win elections and rebuild durable political power in a state where Democrats have been locked out for decades?

In this episode of Great Ships, Taylor Culliver sits down with Democratic strategist and organizer Brady Quirk-Garvan for a wide-ranging conversation about momentum, discipline, and what it will take for Democrats to compete and win again in South Carolina.

Brady brings decades of experience from the trenches of South Carolina politics, including his time as Chair of the Charleston County Democratic Party, where Democrats flipped six seats and built lasting local infrastructure. Together, Taylor and Brady dig into how Democrats lost ground, why chasing “shiny object” races has weakened the party, and how rebuilding electoral muscle starts with local wins, honest strategy, and sustained investment.

This conversation is about power — how it’s built, how it’s lost, and how it can be reclaimed. It’s also a call to action: to run for office, to invest locally, to do the next scary thing, and to understand that momentum gets built cycle by cycle.

This episode explores:

• Why momentum is the single most important force in electoral politics

• How Democrats rebuild power by focusing on local and down-ballot races

• The importance of discipline, realism, and long-term strategy

• Why breaking the supermajority matters

• How money, messaging, and field work actually move votes

• The role of county parties, the state party, and outside infrastructure

• What keeps organizers and strategists showing up in exhausting times

If you’re wondering how Democrats come back from stagnation and what you can do to help rebuild power where you live — this conversation is for you.