Governor of South Carolina
| South Carolina Governor | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $106,078 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $4,571,064 |
| Term limits: | Two consecutive terms |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | South Carolina Constitution, Article IV, Section I |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Governor of South Carolina Henry McMaster | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | 2026 |
| Last election: | 2022 |
| Other South Carolina Executive Offices | |
| Governor •Lieutenant Governor •Secretary of State •Comptroller •Attorney General •Treasurer •Auditor •Superintendent of Education •Agriculture Commissioner •Insurance Commissioner •Natural Resources Commissioner •Labor Commissioner •Public Service Commission | |
TheGovernor of the State of South Carolina is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch and the holder of the highest state office inSouth Carolina. The Governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is limited to two consecutive terms.[1]
South Carolina has a Republicantrifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.
South Carolina has a Republicantriplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The current Governor of South Carolina isHenry McMaster (R). McMaster assumed office in 2017.
Authority
Thestate Constitution addresses the office of the governor inArticle IV, the Executive Department.
Under Article IV, Section I:
The supreme executive authority of this State shall be vested in a Chief Magistrate, who shall be styled "The Governor of the State of South Carolina."[1] |
Qualifications
A candidate for the governor must be:
- at least 30 years old
- a citizen of the United States
- a resident of South Carolina for at least five years
- believe in the existence of the "Supreme Being" (unenforceable)
Additionally, the Governor may not hold office or a commission under any other power, excepting that of a militia.[1]
In 1996, a man named Herb Silverman challenged the portion of the state constitution that required a belief in the "Supreme Being," arguing that it violated the First Amendment of theUnited States Constitution and the constitutional prohibition on religious tests being required to hold public office. TheSouth Carolina Supreme Court ruled that the requirement for gubernatorial candidates to believe in the "Supreme Being" did violate the United States Constitution. While the requirement has not technically been repealed, it is unenforceable.[2]
Vacancies
Details of vacancy appointments are addressed underArticle IV, Sections 6 and 7 and underArticle IV, Section 11 and 12
If a governor-elect dies or declines to take office, the lieutenant governor-elect shall take office as the governor and serve the full term. If the governor-elect is temporarily unable to take the oath, the lieutenant governor-elect takes office as acting governor only until the governor-elect is able to take the oath.
If the governor-elect and the lieutenant governor-elect are both unable to take office, the gubernatorial powers devolve through the line of succession, subject to the dual-office holding provision of the Constitution.
Thelieutenant governor is acting governor and has the powers to act in an emergency in the event of the temporary absence or disability of the governor. The governor declares her or his temporary or permanent disability to discharge the office in writing to the President Pro Tem of theSenate and the Speaker of theHouse. In the case of a temporary disability, she or he also declares her or his ability to resume the office in the same manner.
If a majority of the officers serving as attorney general, the secretary of state, the comptroller general, and the state treasurer transmit, in writing, a declaration to the Senate President Pro Tem and the Speaker of the House, that the governor is unfit the serve, the Lieutenant Governor shall immediately become the acting governor.
The governor then may declare to theGeneral Assembly that no such inability exists and will resume the office unless a majority of the members of the Assembly transmit their written declaration to the contrary to the President Pro Tem and the Senate. In that case, the Assembly has 21 days, excluding Sundays, to convene and vote on the issue, requiring a two-thirds vote to remove the governor.
The lieutenant governor also becomes the acting governor in the event of the death, resignation, or removal of the governor, and acts as governor during an impeachment until a judgment is rendered in the impeachment trial.
Elections
South Carolina elects governors in the midterm elections, that is, even years that are not presidential election years. For South Carolina, 2018, 2022, 2026, 2030, and 2034 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the first Wednesday following the second Tuesday in the January following an election.
If there is a tie, a joint session of the legislature shall cast ballots to choose the governor from the two highest vote-getters.[1]
As of 2018, the governor andlieutenant governor are elected on a joint ticket. The change is the result of aballot measure passed by voters in 2012.
Term limits
South Carolina governors are restricted to two consecutive terms in office, after which they must wait one term before being eligible to run again.
South Carolina Constitution, Article IV, Section 3
| “ | No person shall be elected Governor for more than two successive terms.[1][3] | ” |
Partisan composition
The chart below shows the partisan breakdown of South Carolina governors from 1992 to 2013.
Election results
See also: South Carolina gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2030
There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.
See also: South Carolina gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on June 9, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Governor of South Carolina
Justin Bennett (D),Jermaine Johnson (D), andMullins McLeod (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Governor of South Carolina on June 9, 2026.
| There are noincumbents in this race. | |||
 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary
Republican primary for Governor of South Carolina
Pamela Evette (R),Josh Kimbrell (R),Nancy Mace (R),Ralph Norman (R), andAlan Wilson (R) are running in the Republican primary for Governor of South Carolina on June 9, 2026.
| There are noincumbents in this race. | |||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Thomas Ravenel (R)
See also: South Carolina gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022
General election
General election for Governor of South Carolina
IncumbentHenry McMaster (R) defeatedJoe Cunningham (D) andMorgan Bruce Reeves (L) in the general election for Governor of South Carolina on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Henry McMaster (R) | 58.0 | 988,501 |
 | Joe Cunningham (D) | 40.7 | 692,691 | |
 | Morgan Bruce Reeves (L) | 1.2 | 20,826 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1% | 1,174 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 1,703,192 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jokie Beckett Jr. (Independence Party)
- Michael Copland (Independence Party)
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Governor of South Carolina
Joe Cunningham (D) defeatedMia McLeod (D),Carlton Boyd (D),William Williams (D), andCalvin McMillan (D) in the Democratic primary for Governor of South Carolina on June 14, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joe Cunningham | 56.4 | 102,473 |
 | Mia McLeod | 31.1 | 56,406 | |
 | Carlton Boyd | 5.3 | 9,579 | |
 | William Williams | 3.8 | 6,829 | |
 | Calvin McMillan | 3.5 | 6,303 | |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 181,590 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary
Republican primary for Governor of South Carolina
IncumbentHenry McMaster (R) defeatedHarrison Musselwhite (R) in the Republican primary for Governor of South Carolina on June 14, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Henry McMaster | 83.3 | 306,543 |
 | Harrison Musselwhite | 16.7 | 61,462 | |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 368,005 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Al BellaVance (R)
- Mindy Steele (R)
Independence Party convention
Independence convention for Governor of South Carolina
Jokie Beckett Jr. (Independence Party) andMichael Copland (Independence Party) advanced from the Independence Party convention for Governor of South Carolina on May 27, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Jokie Beckett Jr. | |
| ✔ |  | Michael Copland |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | |||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Labor Party convention
The Labor Party convention scheduled for July 30, 2022, was canceled.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Gary Votour (Labor Party)
Libertarian Party convention
Libertarian convention for Governor of South Carolina
Morgan Bruce Reeves (L) advanced from the Libertarian Party convention for Governor of South Carolina on June 18, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Morgan Bruce Reeves |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | |||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
See also: South Carolina gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018
General election
General election for Governor of South Carolina
IncumbentHenry McMaster (R) defeatedJames Smith Jr. (D) in the general election for Governor of South Carolina on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Henry McMaster (R) | 54.0 | 921,342 |
 | James Smith Jr. (D) | 45.9 | 784,182 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1% | 2,045 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 1,707,5690 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Martin Barry (American Party)
Republican primary runoff
Republican primary runoff for Governor of South Carolina
IncumbentHenry McMaster (R) defeatedJohn Warren (R) in the Republican primary runoff for Governor of South Carolina on June 26, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Henry McMaster | 53.6 | 184,286 |
| John Warren | 46.4 | 159,349 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. | Total votes: 343,635 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Governor of South Carolina
James Smith Jr. (D) defeatedMarguerite Willis (D) andPhil Noble (D) in the Democratic primary for Governor of South Carolina on June 12, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James Smith Jr. | 61.8 | 148,633 |
 | Marguerite Willis | 27.5 | 66,248 | |
 | Phil Noble | 10.6 | 25,587 | |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. | Total votes: 240,468 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary
Republican primary for Governor of South Carolina
IncumbentHenry McMaster (R) andJohn Warren (R) advanced to a runoff. They defeatedCatherine Templeton (R),Kevin Bryant (R), andJohn McGill (R) in the Republican primary for Governor of South Carolina on June 12, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Henry McMaster | 42.3 | 155,723 |
| ✔ | John Warren | 27.8 | 102,390 | |
 | Catherine Templeton | 21.4 | 78,705 | |
 | Kevin Bryant | 6.7 | 24,790 | |
 | John McGill | 1.7 | 6,375 | |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. | Total votes: 367,983 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Duties
Under theSouth Carolina Constitution, theGovernor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The governor is the ex officio Commander-in-Chief of the state National Guard when not called into federal use and of the state's unorganized militia (§ 13).
The governor's responsibilities include making yearly "State of the State" addresses to theSouth Carolina General Assembly, submitting an executivestate budget and ensuring that state laws are enforced (§ 15).
Other duties and privileges of the office include:
- Commuting death sentences to life imprisonment (§ 14); all other clemency matters are regulated by statute
- Requiring written reports from the officers of any agency or institute in the executive branch on any aspect of their duties (§ 17)
- Periodically addressing the General Assembly on the state of the state and making recommendations concerning legislation (§ 18)
- Convening special session of the legislation and, when the legislature is five days without a quorum, adjourning them (§ 19)
- Residing at the official Governor's Residence, the South Carolina Executive Mansion, except in cases of epidemic, natural disaster, or war (§ 20)
- Vetoing bills and joint resolutions, subject to a two-thirds legislative override (§ 21)[1]
Divisions
Note:Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Governor of South Carolina has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, pleaseemail us.
State budget
Role in state budget
The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows[4]
- InAugust of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year, thegovernor sends budget instructions to state agencies.
- BetweenSeptember and October, agencies submit their budget requests to the governor.
- Budget hearings are held with state agencies inOctober.
- InJanuary, the governor submits his or her proposed budget to thestate legislature.
- Both theHouse and theSenate pass a budget. If these versions do not match, a conference committee consisting of both House and Senate members is assembled to reconcile the differences.[5]
- The legislature adopts a budget inMay. The fiscal year beginsJuly 1.
South Carolina is one of 44 states in which the governor hasline item veto authority.[4][6]
The governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget to the legislature. In turn, thelegislature must pass a balanced budget, and any budget signed into law by the governor must be balanced.[4]
Governor's office budget
The budget for the Governor's Office (Executive Control of State only) in Fiscal Year 2025 was $4,571,064.[7]
Compensation
See statutes:SC Code § 1-1-1210 (2013)
The governor is entitled to receive annual compensation, paid bi-monthly, in accordance with Title 1, Chapter 1, Section 1210 of the South Carolina Code of Laws.[8] Pursuant toArticle IV, Section 16 of the South Carolina Constitution, the governor's salary shall not be increased or diminished effective during his elected term.[1]
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $106,078, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[9]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $106,078, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[10]
2021
In 2021, the governor received a salary of $106,078, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[11]
2020
In 2020, the governor received a salary of $106,078, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[12]
2019
In 2019, the governor received a salary of $106,078, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[13]
2018
In 2018, the governor received a salary of $106,078, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[14]
2017
In 2017, the governor received a salary of $106,078, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[15]
2016
In 2016, the governor received a salary of $106,078, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[16]
2015
In 2015, the governor received a salary of $106,078, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[17]
2014
In 2014, the governor received a salary of $106,078, according to theCouncil of State Governments.[18]
2013
In 2013, the governor's salary remained at $106,078.[19]
2010
In 2010, the governor was paid $106,078 a year, the 38th highest gubernatorial salary in America at the time.[20]
Historical officeholders
There have been 89 governors of South Carolina since 1776. Of the 89 officeholders, 56 were Democrats, 13 were Democratic-Republicans, nine were Republican, five had no party affiliation, five were Federalists, and one was Conservative.[21]
| List of officeholders from 1776-present | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Tenure | Party | ||
| 31 | John Rutledge | 1776 - 1778 | No Party | ||
| 32 | Rawlins Lowndes | 1778 - 1779 | No Party | ||
| 31 | John Rutledge | 1779 - 1782 | No Party | ||
| 33 | John Mathews | 1782 - 1783 | No Party | ||
| 34 | Benjamin Guerard | 1783 - 1785 | No Party | ||
| 35 | William Moultrie | 1785 - 1787 | Federalist | ||
| 36 | Thomas Pinckney | 1787 - 1789 | Federalist | ||
| 37 | Charles Pinckney | 1789 - 1792 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 35 | William Moultrie | 1792 – 1794 | Federalist | ||
| 38 | Arnoldus Vandershorst | 1794 - 1796 | Federalist | ||
| 36 | Charles Pinckney | 1796 - 1798 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 39 | Edward Rutledge | 1798 - 1800 | Federalist | ||
| 40 | John Drayton | 1800 - 1802 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 41 | James Burchill Richardson | 1802 - 1804 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 42 | Paul Hamilton | 1804 - 1806 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 36 | Charles Pinckney | 1806 - 1808 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 40 | John Drayton | 1808 - 1810 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 43 | Henry Middleton | 1810 - 1812 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 44 | Joseph Alston | 1812 - 1814 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 45 | David Rogerson Williams | 1814 - 1816 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 46 | Andrew Pickens | 1816 - 1818 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 47 | Geddes John | 1818 - 1820 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 48 | Thomas Bennett | 1820 - 1822 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 49 | John Lyde Wilson | 1822 - 1824 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 50 | Richard Irvine Manning | 1824 - 1826 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 51 | John Taylor | 1826 - 1828 | Democratic-Republican | ||
| 52 | Stephen Decatur Miller | 1828 - 1830 |  Democratic | ||
| 53 | James Jr. Hamilton | 1830 - 1832 | Democratic | ||
| 54 | Robert Young Hayne | 1832 - 1834 | Democratic | ||
| 55 | George McDuffie | 1834 - 1836 | Democratic | ||
| 56 | Pierce Mason Butler | 1836 - 1838 | Democratic | ||
| 57 | Patrick Noble | 1838 - 1840 | Democratic | ||
| 58 | Barnabas Kelet Henagan | 1840 - 1840 | Democratic | ||
| 59 | John Peter Richardson II | 1840 - 1842 | Democratic | ||
| 60 | James Henry Hammond | 1842 - 1844 | Democratic | ||
| 61 | William Aiken | 1844 - 1846 | Democratic | ||
| 62 | David Johnson | 1846 - 1848 | Democratic | ||
| 63 | Whitemarsh Benjamin Seabrook | 1848 - 1850 | Democratic | ||
| 64 | John Hugh Means | 1850 - 1852 | Democratic | ||
| 65 | John Laurence Manning | 1852 - 1854 | Democratic | ||
| 66 | James Hopkins Adams | 1854 - 1856 | Democratic | ||
| 67 | Robert Francis Withers Allston | 1856 - 1858 | Democratic | ||
| 68 | William Henry Gist | 1858 - 1860 | Democratic | ||
| 69 | Francis Wilkinson Pickens | 1860 - 1862 | Democratic | ||
| 70 | Milledge Luke Bonham | 1862 - 1864 | Democratic | ||
| 71 | Andrew Gordon MacGrath | 1864 - 1865 | Democratic | ||
| 72 | Benjamin Franklin Perry | 1865 - 1865 | Democratic | ||
| 73 | James Lawrence Orr | 1865 - 1868 | Conservative | ||
| - | Edward R. S. Canby | 1868 - 1868 | - | ||
| 74 | Robert Kingston Scott | 1868 - 1872 |  Republican | ||
| 75 | Franklin J. Moses | 1872 - 1874 | Republican | ||
| 76 | Daniel Henry Chamberlain | 1874 - 1876 | Republican | ||
| 77 | Wade Hampton III | 1876 - 1879 | Democratic | ||
| 78 | William Dunlap Simpson | 1879 - 1880 | Democratic | ||
| 79 | Thomas Bothwell Jeter | 1880 - 1880 | Democratic | ||
| 80 | Johnson Hagood | 1880 - 1882 | Democratic | ||
| 81 | Hugh Smith Thompson | 1882 - 1886 | Democratic | ||
| 82 | John Calhoun Sheppard | 1886 - 1886 | Democratic | ||
| 83 | John Peter Richardson | 1886 - 1890 | Democratic | ||
| 84 | Benjamin Ryan Tillman | 1890 - 1894 | Democratic | ||
| 85 | John Gary Evans | 1894 - 1897 | Democratic | ||
| 86 | William Haselden Ellerbe | 1897 - 1899 | Democratic | ||
| 87 | Miles Benjamin McSweeney | 1899 - 1903 | Democratic | ||
| 88 | Duncan Clinch Heyward | 1903 - 1907 | Democratic | ||
| 89 | Martin Frederick Ansel | 1907 - 1911 | Democratic | ||
| 90 | Coleman Livingston Blease | 1911 - 1915 | Democratic | ||
| 91 | Charles A. Smith | 1915 - 1915 | Democratic | ||
| 92 | Richard Irvine Manning III | 1915 - 1919 | Democratic | ||
| 93 | Robert Archer Cooper | 1919 - 1922 | Democratic | ||
| 94 | Wilson Godfrey Harvey | 1922 - 1923 | Democratic | ||
| 95 | Thomas Gordon McLeod | 1923 - 1927 | Democratic | ||
| 96 | John Gardiner Richards | 1927 - 1931 | Democratic | ||
| 97 | Ibra Charles Blackwood | 1931 - 1935 | Democratic | ||
| 98 | Olin De Witt Talmadge Johnston | 1935 - 1939 | Democratic | ||
| 99 | Burnet Rhett Maybank | 1939 - 1941 | Democratic | ||
| 100 | Joseph Emile Harley | 1941 - 1942 | Democratic | ||
| 101 | Richard Manning Jeffries | 1942 - 1943 | Democratic | ||
| 102 | Ransome Judson Williams | 1945 - 1947 | Democratic | ||
| 103 | James Strom Thurmond | 1947 - 1951 | Democratic | ||
| 104 | James Francis Byrnes | 1951 - 1955 | Democratic | ||
| 105 | George Bell Timmerman | 1955 - 1959 | Democratic | ||
| 106 | Ernest Frederick Hollings | 1959 - 1963 | Democratic | ||
| 107 | Donald Stuart Russell | 1963 - 1965 | Democratic | ||
| 108 | Robert Evander McNair | 1965 - 1971 | Democratic | ||
| 109 | John Carl West | 1971 - 1975 | Democratic | ||
| 110 | James Burrows Edwards | 1975 - 1979 | Republican | ||
| 111 | Richard Wilson Riley | 1979 - 1987 | Democratic | ||
| 112 | Carroll A. Campbell | 1987 - 1995 | Republican | ||
| 113 | David M. Beasley | 1995 - 1999 | Republican | ||
| 114 | Jim Hodges | 1999 - 2003 | Democratic | ||
| 115 | Mark Sanford | 2003 - 2011 | Republican | ||
| 116 | Nikki Haley | 2011 - 2017 | Republican | ||
| 117 | Henry McMaster | 2017 – present | Republican | ||
History
Partisan balance 1992-2013
From 1992-2013, in South Carolina there were Democratic governors in office for four years while there were Republican governors in office for 18 years, including the last 11. South Carolina is one of eight states that were run by a Republican governor for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. South Carolina was under Republicantrifectas for the final 11 years of the study.
Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%) from 1992 to 2013.
Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.
The chart below shows the partisan composition of theOffice of the Governor of South Carolina, theSouth Carolina State Senate and theSouth Carolina House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
.PNG)
SQLI and partisanship
South Carolina was one of eight states to demonstratea dramatic partisan shift in the 22 years studied. A dramatic shift was defined by a movement of 40 percent or more toward one party over the course of the study period. South Carolina was Republican-dominated during the years of the study but experienced a shift toward much stronger Republican control, resulting in Republican trifectas from 2003-2013.
The chart below depicts the partisanship of the South Carolina state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. South Carolina ranked in the bottom-10 during every year of the study except the most recent. In 2012 it improved, finishing at 38th. The state's worst ranking, finishing 47th, occurred during both divided government and Republican trifectas.
- SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: N/A
- SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 44.30
- SQLI average with divided government: 45.00
State profile
| Demographic data for South Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 4,894,834 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 30,061 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 67.2% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 27.5% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 1.4% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 5.3% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 85.6% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 25.8% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $45,483 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 22% | 11.3% |
| Source:U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Clickhere for more information on the 2020 census andhere for more on its impact on the redistricting process in South Carolina. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the censushere. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
South Carolinavoted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Pivot Counties (2016)
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted forDonald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting forBarack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won thesePivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, five are located in South Carolina, accounting for 2.43 percent of the total pivot counties.[22]
Pivot Counties (2020)
In2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won asRetained Pivot Counties and those won byJoe Biden (D) asBoomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. South Carolina had five Retained Pivot Counties, 2.76 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.
More South Carolina coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in South Carolina
- United States congressional delegations from South Carolina
- Public policy in South Carolina
- Endorsers in South Carolina
- South Carolina fact checks
- More...
Contact information
The Honorable Henry McMaster
State House
1100 Gervais Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Phone: 803-734-2100
Fax: 803-734-5167
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑1.01.11.21.31.41.51.6South Carolina Legislature, "South Carolina Constitution," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑South Carolina State Constitution, "Silverman v. Campbell, 486 SE 2d 1 - SC: Supreme Court 1997," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑4.04.14.2National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
- ↑WLTX, "Where key bills stand as 2019 session ends," May 9, 2019
- ↑National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
- ↑South Carolina Legislature, "Appropriations Bill H. 5100," accessed January 22, 2025
- ↑Justia.com, "Title 1 - Administration of the Government: CHAPTER 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS: SECTION 1-1-1210: Annual salaries of certain state officers," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑Council of State Governments, "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries," June 25, 2013
- ↑Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑National Governors Association, " Former governors of South Carolina," accessed January 18, 2021,South Carolina Office of the Governor, "Governor Henry McMaster," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip ofAtlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
