The Breakfast Club: Jermaine Johnson Talks Running For Governor Of South Carolina, Affordability, Education + More

Podcast: The Breakfast Club (iHeartPodcasts)
Date: December 15, 2025
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God, Lauren London
Guest: Jermaine Johnson (SC State Representative and Democratic Candidate for Governor)

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth interview with Jermaine Johnson, State Representative of South Carolina and current Democratic candidate for governor. The discussion covers his personal journey from homelessness to public office, his vision for South Carolina’s future, and detailed plans to tackle the state’s pressing issues. Topics include infrastructure, mental health, education reform, economic empowerment, and the realities of southern politics. Johnson also shares personal anecdotes and touches on the emotional toll of politics, the importance of family support, and his approach to both adversaries and allies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Jermaine Johnson is Running for Governor

• Johnson asserts that South Carolina is overdue for a real change, citing alarming statistics such as 600+ unsolved murders since 2020, dangerous roads, and high percentages of crumbling infrastructure.
  • “South Carolina deserves a change. It's time for a new beginning… Yet, we have leaders that want to look at other states and countries and talk trash, when really South Carolina needs all the assistance it can get right now.” (03:49)

2. His Background—Personal and Professional

• Johnson’s impressive resume is unpacked: Dr. of Business Administration, former pro athlete, pilot, motorcycle club member, fluent in Spanish, on an HBCU business school board, first Black state representative for his district.
• Emphasizes the vital support of his wife (a pharmacist/doctor) and family.
  • “I've just been a blessed individual to have the support of my family to allow me to do the things that I need to do.” (05:18)
• Shares that he met his wife at College of Charleston and brags about defeating Steph Curry’s Davidson team in college basketball. (05:38)

3. Facing the Challenges of the Gubernatorial Race

• States he’s not nervous, citing overwhelming support: “The people of South Carolina are just ready for something different.”
• He speaks candidly about his upbringing: moving through seven high schools, enduring homelessness, barely scraping through with a 0.8 GPA, but ultimately persevering—serving as proof for young people that difficult beginnings do not preclude success.
  • “Kids know it's possible.” (07:06)

4. South Carolina’s Infrastructure Crisis

• The state’s population growth has far outpaced infrastructure upgrades.
  • “You can literally see the line in the road about how bad it is…” (07:40)
  • Links the state’s high car insurance rates and road fatalities to this crisis.

5. Top Priorities as Governor: Mental Health

• Johnson’s initiative: bringing former gang members into disenfranchised communities for dialogue.
  • “Every last county said mental health.” (08:17)
• Advocates for mental health providers in every police department and school in the state.

6. Relationship with Andrew Yang

• Originally supported Cory Booker, then shifted to Yang for his Universal Basic Income idea and prescient talk about AI.
  • “A thousand dollars a month would have really changed my life. It would have kept me out of those hoods, kept me out of motels.” (09:16)

7. Boosting Economic Empowerment, Especially in Rural Areas

• Launched the Lower Richland Tech Academy, teaching “low coding/no coding tech” and sparking 40+ businesses in a largely Black and Brown rural area.
• Proposes the “South Carolina Resiliency Act,” aiming for the state to produce at least 25% of its food and resources (currently at only 11%).
  • “We have to import all our food from other states, from other countries... Let’s produce our own stuff.” (10:08)

8. Education Reform

• Points out South Carolina’s ranking: 43rd in the country.
  • “We're more concerned with banning books… We're the number one state of banned books.” (12:37)
• Calls for a statewide audit comparing high- and low-performing schools, assessing funding, administration efficiency, and teacher pay.
• Describes current efforts to divert funds from public to private schools as deeply inequitable.

9. Working with Political Opponents, Including Donald Trump

• Takes an independent, South Carolina-first stance:
  • “If Donald Trump wants to do good for South Carolina, I will gladly work with him. If he wants to do bad, I’ll gladly stand against him.” (11:48)
  • Critiques current governor’s loyalty to Trump at South Carolina’s expense, notably deploying National Guard troops out-of-state during hurricane season instead of using them to address in-state crises.

10. Trade School Advocacy

• Champions vocational education as a practical solution to worker shortages.
  • “People could come out of these trade schools making $80,000 after two years… 19 years old, man!” (17:23)

11. Focusing on Real Issues — Affordability & Safety

• Criticizes the focus on national cable news narratives instead of substantive state issues.
  • “Life ain’t complicated. People just want some more money in their pocket and they want to feel safe.” (18:47)
• Reminds that South Carolina has no statewide minimum wage, highlighting stark economic challenges.

12. Revealing Political Theater and Frustrations

• Describes bipartisanship in South Carolina politics as largely performative:
  • “Behind closed doors, it is all a show… Some of these Republicans come with me in the back room and say, ‘Jermaine, I agree with everything you said’… and then go out there and say the complete opposite.” (20:21)

13. Memorable DEI Speech and Political Courage

• Recounts the story and impact of his viral DEI speech, confronting colleagues voting dishonestly on white supremacy funding
  • “I jumped up so fast… after I said what I had to say, I left out the back steps of the Statehouse… I actually cried, man. I was so hurt…” (21:47)
  • Ultimately led to the offending legislation being removed, with Republicans privately apologizing.

14. Mental Health Toll of Politics

• Details the heavy emotional burden of political decision-making and the need for personal support:
  • “I go to my wife a lot… my pastor… and I have a therapist that I go to. Let me make this PSA: Black folk—it is okay to have Jesus and a therapist.” (24:55)

15. Vision for South Carolina’s Identity

• Wants the state to shed reliance on Washington, D.C.:
  • “No DC in SC. I don't want Washington, D.C. to dictate what we do in South Carolina. I want us to be self-sufficient, addressing the needs of the people here.” (26:05)

16. Personal Triumphs and Humor

• Shares lighthearted but poignant details about growing up poor (e.g., cooking a frozen hot dog with a candle due to having no electricity).
  • “It tasted like burnt dog and wax, man. It was terrible.” (26:44)
• Reveals his hands-on approach to restoring a classic Corvette (and his large stature making it comical).

17. Views on Immigration and ICE

• Critiques the current practices of ICE, advocating for reforms that encourage amnesty and community trust.
  • “They're just looking for anybody who looks Spanish… There's clearly a better way.” (28:59)
  • “Incentivize people to come forward… but we have to start somewhere.” (29:20)

18. Final Call for Grassroots Support

• Urges listeners to donate and support his campaign, stressing the need for grassroots funding and involvement from Black voters especially.
  • “If all 8 million people just gave a dollar, we would have more than enough money to become governor of South Carolina.” (30:17)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On his vision for governing:
  “If it's not good for South Carolina, I'm not supporting it. I'm truly South Carolina first.” (11:48)
• On his childhood struggles:
  “I went to seven different high schools. I had a 0.8 GPA my freshman year… I was homeless most of my upbringing… But yet I still was able to graduate, go to college, get my doctorate, be a professional athlete…” (06:13)
• On why trade schools matter:
  “We put too much emphasis on these four year institutions… People could come out of these school, these trade schools making $80,000 after two years…” (17:23)
• On the reality of politics:
  “It is all a show… they might primary me if I vote this way… I'm like, man, y'all are some real live cowards.” (20:21)
• On balancing faith and therapy:
  “Let me make this PSA: Black folk—it is okay to have Jesus and a therapist.” (24:56)
• On the lasting trauma of politics:
  “The hard part about it is knowing that every time you push red or green, somebody’s going to die based on your vote. That's the hardest part about it.” (23:10)

Important Timestamps

• [03:49] – Jermaine discusses motivation for running and problems facing SC
• [05:18] – Talks about family support and education
• [06:13] – Shares personal story of hardship and resilience
• [07:40] – Assesses the state’s dire infrastructure
• [08:17] – Highlights mental health as a core issue
• [09:16] – Describes meeting Andrew Yang, influence of UBI
• [10:08] – Economic initiatives, tech academy, and rural investment
• [12:37] – Outlines vision for education reform and critiques book bans
• [14:11] – Critiques current governor’s loyalty to Trump
• [17:23] – Explains the case for elevating trade schools
• [18:47] – Addresses affordability and basic economic needs
• [20:21] – Exposes “reality TV” aspect of southern politics
• [21:47] – Recounts pivotal DEI speech
• [24:55] – Discusses balancing political stress through family, faith, therapy
• [26:05] – Outlines the “No DC in SC” credo
• [26:44] – Tells anecdote about cooking a hot dog with a candle
• [28:59] – Criticizes ICE, lays out alternative approach
• [30:17] – Calls for grassroots donations

Tone and Style

The interview is energetic, candid, and full of personal narrative, often playful but always direct about the challenges facing South Carolina. Johnson frequently pivots between heartfelt sincerity and humor, reinforcing core themes of empowerment, honesty, and grassroots organizing.

Conclusion

This episode offers a comprehensive look at Jermaine Johnson's gubernatorial campaign and philosophy, weaving together policy, personal experience, and a strong call for systemic change in South Carolina. The exchange balances policy detail with inspiring life story, making the issues tangible and showing how leadership grounded in lived experience can drive meaningful reform.