It is early in the morning that I see most clearly and struggle with the lessons I have learned over 63 years.
As a former prosecutor and judge, I have spent my life studying facts, the unvarnished truth that emerges when emotions settle and evidence speaks. In the arena of politics particularly for women, the facts reveal a painful pattern: loyalty given freely is too often treated as a disposable commodity.
When women subordinate their own power—believing that by doing the bidding of a stronger figure, that loyalty will be returned in kind—they lose. Their voices are muted, and their ambitions are sidelined once the task is complete. Yet when women are perceived as too aggressive, standing alone with no support structure, forging a path without protection, they also face defeat: minimized, portrayed as unstable, or ostracized for their uniqueness. The question lingers: How, then, do women in politics win?
Consider the national stage. Time and again, we see accomplished women who align their fortunes with a powerful man—often the President of the United States—only to find that loyalty flows in one direction. Once they have carried water for the cause, they risk being cast aside when utility wanes or circumstances shift.
Pam Bondi, a longtime ally who served as Attorney General, demonstrated unwavering loyalty through challenging times, including efforts tied to the President’s agenda. Yet reports detail her eventual ouster, with loyalty alone proving insufficient to sustain her position amid demands for results.
Kristi Noem, who rose as a steadfast supporter and took on significant roles in the administration, faced her own challenges, including reported tensions that highlighted the fragility of such alliances.
Tulsi Gabbard, who shifted paths to endorse and serve, resigned citing personal reasons but left behind narratives of loyalty tested against the realities of the inner circle.
These women brought strength, intellect, and dedication. Yet the pattern persists: loyalty extracted, then expendable.
Closer to home in South Carolina, the story of Lt. Governor Pamela Evette offers a poignant statewide example. Evette worked diligently on key issues, including carrying support for redistricting efforts aligned with the President’s interests. She earned his initial “complete and total endorsement” in the gubernatorial race. Yet, in the final stretch, that support shifted to a co-endorsement with her competitor—a move widely seen as contributing significantly to the dynamics of her defeat in the runoff. It was a stark reminder that even dedicated service on the home front does not guarantee reciprocity.
Then there are women perceived as overtly aggressive—or called “crazy”—who chart their own course without subordination or allies. In their ascension, they learn to depend on no one and therefore view loyalty as weakness. They do not trust and are therefore perceived as not trustworthy. South Carolina’s own Congresswoman Nancy Mace embodies this. Outspoken, combative, and unapologetically unique, she has faced minimization and has been characterized as mentally unstable. Her bombastic tendencies and self-description as “Trump in high heels,” led to ostracism and withheld support. Such women are often hard for the system to categorize or control—too belligerent, too unwilling to bend fully. They pay the price in isolation and humiliation.
So how do women win? Not through blind subordination, nor through pure isolation. The path forward lies in discerning alliances built on mutual respect and shared principles, rather than one-sided loyalty. It requires women to anchor themselves in their own power—rooted in facts, faith, and purpose—while building networks of genuine reciprocity.
I believe mentoring the next generation of women and cultivating leaders who possess not only the tools and confidence to forge ahead but also the wisdom to navigate these dynamics with grace is the only path forward. This means equipping women with practical skills in negotiation, strategic networking, and resilience.
In the spirit of ELYSIAN—women inspiring women—my hope is that we can foster a sisterhood that values reciprocity over one-sided loyalty, ensuring the next wave of women leaders rises stronger, more united, and better prepared to claim their rightful place without subordination or compromise of their unique voices. Let us study the facts, learn from these examples. The fragility of life reminds us there is no time to waste on illusions of returned loyalty that never materialize. Only with competence, wisdom and courage, women rise.
Much love,
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ELYSIAN Publisher & Founder
For context, South Carolina has no Republican women serving in the State Senate. Nationally we have also gone backwards in terms of women in leadership positions. Data from the Center for American Women and Politics reveals a troubling decline—women now represent only about 14% of our state legislature, with Republican women’s representation especially diminished. This reversal mirrors broader national trends where women’s share in key roles have stagnated or declined, reminding us how fragile progress can be.
I hope that you will forgive me for speaking in the context of Republican women only, but that is my vantage point, having served as the only Republican party chairman for the state of South Carolina. My assumption is that the same experiences echo on the other side of the aisle.