The2010 South Carolina gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. IncumbentRepublican Governor Mark Sanford wasterm limited and unable to seek re-election.Primary elections took place on June 8, 2010, and arunoff election , as was necessary on the Republican side, was held two weeks later on June 22.
RepublicanNikki Haley defeated DemocratVincent Sheheen in the general election by a margin of 4.5%. As of 2023, this is the closest that the Democrats have come to winning the governorship of South Carolina since their last victory in1998 . This is the first open-seat election since1994 . Haley was re-elected in2014 in a rematch with Sheheen.
According toCNN dark horse candidate. In an article covering her surge in the primary in the weeks prior to the election, it was noted that a "surprise" endorsement from former Alaska governor and2008 vice presidential candidateSarah Palin boosted Haley's candidacy. Haley's campaign was backed by TV ads run by ReformSC, an advocacy group funded by allies of outgoing governorMark Sanford .[ 1]
Former GovernorMike Huckabee (R-AR), former presidential candidate for 2008 Republican nomination[ 12] Poll source Date(s) Sample Margin of Henry Gresham André Nikki Other Undecided Public Policy Polling (report) June 5–6, 2010 998 ± 3.1% 16% 23% 12% 43% -- 7% Public Policy Polling (report) May 22–23, 2010 638 ± 3.9% 18% 16% 13% 39% -- 14% Rasmussen Reports (report) May 17, 2010 931 ± 4.5% 19% 17% 12% 30% 3% 13% Rasmussen Reports (report )March 3, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 21% 14% 17% 12% 9% 29% InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion Research ([2] ) December 16, 2009 371 ± 5.1% 22% 9% 22% 13% 6% 28%
Poll source Date(s) Sample Margin of Nikki Gresham Undecided Public Policy Polling (report ) June 5–6, 2010 998 ± 3.1% 51% 35% 14%
Primary results by county: Haley—60–70%
Haley—50–60%
Haley—40–50%
Haley—<40%
Barrett—40–50%
Barrett—50–60%
Primary runoff results by county: Haley—80–90%
Haley—70–80%
Haley—60–70%
Haley—50–60%
Barrett—50–60%
Barrett—60–70%
Republican primary runoff results on June 22[ 13] Party Candidate Votes % Republican Nikki Haley 233,733 65.1 Republican Gresham Barrett 125,601 34.9 Total votes 359,334 100
Poll source Date(s) Sample Margin of Jim Vincent Robert Dwight Other Undecided Public Policy Polling (report ) May 22–23, 2010 410 ± 4.8% 30% 36% 11% -- -- 23% Rasmussen Reports (report [permanent dead link May 17, 2010 404 ± 5.0% 22% 30% 4% -- 12% 32% Rasmussen Reports (report ) March 3, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 16% 16% 12% 5% 15% 37%
as of March 5, 2010 Dwight Drake withdrew from the race for Governor.[ 17] Primary results by county: Sheheen—>90%
Sheheen—80–90%
Sheheen—70–80%
Sheheen—60–70%
Sheheen—50–60%
Sheheen—40–50%
Sheheen—<40%
Morgan Reeves , Businessman, Minister, and retiredNational Football League player fromIrmo [ 18] Dr. Reeves was nominated on March 30 by the United Citizens Party and South Carolina Green Party on April 7 (see SC Election Commission website). Reeves appeared on the November 2nd general election ballot for both parties. An Independent, Dr. Reeves collected enough voter petition signatures to qualify by the July 15th deadline onto a 3rd ballot line.[ 19] Jim Rex State Superintendent of Education fromFairfield County [ 20] Rex was nominated by theWorking Families Party prior to losing the Democratic primary. Rex did not appear on the Working Families ballot line in November due to South Carolina's "sore loser" law that requires candidates not to seek nominations from multiple parties from appearing on the ballot after they lose any one party's nomination (see candidate party pledge forms). Several election law issues are before US appellate court in Richmond, Virginia regarding conformity to the 1965 Voting Rights Act and US Constitutional provisions, see ACLU/Platt v SC[ 21] "First in the State" Republican Gubernatorial Primary Debate Sponsored by the Republican Parties ofNewberry andLaurens CountiesWIS-TV on September 22, 2009Watch here
"Spotlight on the Candidates" Joint Gubernatorial Primary Debate Sponsored by the SC Natural Resources SocietySCETV on November 3, 2009[ 22] Watch here
SCGOP Gubernatorial Debate Sponsored by theSouth Carolina Republican Party MSNBC hostsJoe Scarborough andMika Brzezinski WCSC-TV on January 28, 2010Watch here
Senator Vincent Sheheen -- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce[ 23]
Representative Nikki Haley --National Rifle Association of America
Representative Nikki Haley -- South Citizens for Life
Poll source Dates administered Nikki Haley (R) Vincent Sheheen (D) Crantford & Associates [ 29] October 21, 2010 48% 37% Crantford & Associates [ 29] October 18, 2010 43% 41% Winthrop University [ 30] October 13, 2010 47% 39% Hamilton Campaigns [ 31] October 5, 2010 49% 44% Hamilton Campaigns [ 31] October 5, 2010 49% 44% Hamilton Campaigns [ 31] October 4, 2010 51% 41% Crantford & Associates [ 29] October 2, 2010 45% 41% Rasmussen Reports [ 32] September 22, 2010 50% 33% Rasmussen Reports [ 33] August 25, 2010 52% 36% Rasmussen Reports [ 34] July 29, 2010 49% 35% Rasmussen Reports [ 35] June 23, 2010 52% 40% Rasmussen Reports [ 36] June 10, 2010 55% 34% Public Policy Polling [ 37] May 22–23, 2010 44% 34%
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic [ edit ] Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican [ edit ] ^ Hamby, Peter (May 20, 2010)."Haley has momentum in South Carolina race, rivals admit" .CNN . Archived fromthe original on May 23, 2010. RetrievedFebruary 8, 2023 . ^ Barrett running for S.C. governor Archived 2009-03-05 at theWayback Machine The State, Mar. 4, 2009^ Lt Gov Bauer makes run for governor official Archived 2011-07-22 at theWayback Machine WPDE, Oct. 29, 2009^ Haley announces run for governor Archived 2013-02-05 atarchive.today The State, May 14, 2009^ Henry McMaster seeking S.C. Governor post Archived 2013-01-19 atarchive.today WCBD, August 3, 2009^ "Governor Mitt Romney Endorses Nikki Haley for South Carolina Governor" . Nikkihaley.com. March 16, 2010. Archived fromthe original on August 19, 2010. RetrievedAugust 21, 2010 .^ "Sarah Palin to Endorse Nikki Haley" . Archived fromthe original on August 29, 2012. RetrievedMarch 27, 2013 .^ O'Connor, John (November 12, 2009)."Jenny Sanford endorses Nikki Haley - Yahoo elections" . TheState.com. Archived fromthe original on October 28, 2010. RetrievedAugust 21, 2010 . ^ "Vice President Cheney Endorses Gresham Barrett" . GreshamBarrett.com. June 1, 2010. Archived fromthe original on June 2, 2010. RetrievedAugust 21, 2010 .^a b ANDY BARR."Rudy latest '08 vet to endorse in S.C. – Jessica Taylor" . Politico.Com.Archived from the original on January 7, 2011. RetrievedAugust 21, 2010 . ^ "Henry McMaster Endorsed by David Beasley wltx.com | Columbia, SC News, Weather and Sports |" . Wltx.com. RetrievedAugust 21, 2010 .^ [1] [dead link ^a b c "South Carolina Primary Results" .Politico . June 8, 2010. RetrievedJune 8, 2010 .^ Ford to focus on return of video poker Post and Courier, Jan. 14, 2009^ Jim Rex announces campaign for governor Archived 2013-01-19 atarchive.today WCBD, September 15, 2009^ Sheheen Announces Run for Governor WLTX, Oct. 28, 2009^ Dwight Drake Drops out of SC race Archived 2011-07-10 at theWayback Machine Drake for South Carolina, March 5, 2010^ Irmo man clears hurdle to run for governor [permanent dead link ^ Green, Libertarian, Working Families, Labor, Constitution, United Citizens, Independence Archived 2010-06-08 at theWayback Machine - List of candidates who have filed with these parties. Candidates are nominated by convention and do not appear on Primary ballots.^ "Rex counting on fusion voters in governor's race" . GoUpstate.com. RetrievedAugust 21, 2010 .^ "ACLU to Argue in Appeals Court That South Carolina's Ballot Access Law Is Unconstitutional" . CommonDreams.org. RetrievedAugust 21, 2010 .^ Ten Gubernatorial Candidates to Share Stage for Historic Debate on ETV Archived 2010-03-01 at theWayback Machine SCETV Website, Oct. 23, 2009^ "WFAE 90.7 FM" . Wfae.org. Archived fromthe original on July 18, 2011. RetrievedAugust 21, 2010 .^ "2010 Governors Race Ratings" .Cook Political Report . Archived fromthe original on October 28, 2010. RetrievedOctober 28, 2010 .^ "Governor Ratings" .Rothenberg Political Report . RetrievedOctober 28, 2010 .^ "2010 Governor Races" .RealClearPolitics . RetrievedOctober 28, 2010 .^ "THE CRYSTAL BALL'S FINAL CALLS" .Sabato's Crystal Ball . October 28, 2010. RetrievedOctober 28, 2010 .^ "Race Ratings Chart: Governor" .CQ Politics . Archived fromthe original on October 5, 2010. RetrievedOctober 28, 2010 .^a b c Crantford & Associates ^ Winthrop University ^a b c Hamilton Campaigns ^ Rasmussen Reports ^ Rasmussen Reports ^ Rasmussen Reports ^ Rasmussen Reports ^ Rasmussen Reports ^ Public Policy Polling ^ "SC - Election Results" .Debates
Official campaign websites
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County results
Precinct results
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