2022 South Carolina gubernatorial election

Last updated

2022 South Carolina gubernatorial election
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←  2018 November 8, 2022 2026  →
Turnout50.86% Decrease2.svg
  Governor Henry McMaster (crop).jpg Joe Cunningham, Official Porrtait, 116th Congress (cropped).jpg
Nominee Henry McMaster Joe Cunningham
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Pamela Evette Tally Parham Casey
Popular vote988,501692,691
Percentage58.04%40.67%
2022 South Carolina gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
2022 South Carolina gubernatorial election by congressional district.svg
2022 SC Gov.svg
McMaster:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Cunningham:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Tie:     50%     No data
Governor before election

Henry McMaster
Republican

Elected Governor

Henry McMaster
Republican

The 2022 South Carolina gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of South Carolina. Incumbent Republican governor Henry McMaster ran for re-election for a second full term in office and secured the Republican nomination in the June 14 primary. Joe Cunningham, former United States Representative from South Carolina's 1st congressional district, was the Democratic nominee. [1] McMaster won the general election with 58% of the vote — a larger margin than in 2018.

Contents

McMaster became the first Republican gubernatorial candidate to win Calhoun County since 1994 and the first to win Clarendon County and Dillon County since 1990. This election marks the largest gubernatorial victory in the state since 1990, when incumbent Republican Carroll Campbell won his re-election bid by a margin of 41.7%.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Eliminated in primary

  • Harrison "Trucker Bob" Musselwhite, trucker and Chairman of Legislate Liaison Committee for the Greenville County Republican Party [4]
    • Running mate: Zoe Warren, filmmaker and editor-at-large for The Standard SC [5]

Withdrew

Declined

Endorsements

Henry McMaster

Executive Branch officials

U.S. senators

Governors

Individuals

Organizations

Results

Primary results by county: .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} McMaster 70-80% 80-90% 90-100% 2022 South Carolina gubernatorial Republican primary election results map by county.svg
Primary results by county:
  McMaster
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  •   90-100%
South Carolina gubernatorial Republican primary election, 2022
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Henry McMaster (incumbent) 306,555 83.0%
Republican Harrison Musselwhite61,54516.7%
Total votes367,689 100%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Withdrew

  • Gary Votour, healthcare advocate and retired GIS mapper [25] (running under Labor nomination) [7] [26]

Declined

Endorsements

Joe Cunningham

U.S. senators

State representatives

Local officials

Organizations

Newspapers

  • Charleston City Paper [33]
Mia McLeod

State legislators

Individuals

  • Amanda Bonfiglio Cunningham, ex-wife of Joe Cunningham [35]

Results

Primary results by county: Cunningham 30-40% 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% McLeod 40-50% 50-60% 70-80% 2022 South Carolina gubernatorial Democratic primary election results map by county.svg
Primary results by county:
  Cunningham
  •   30-40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  McLeod
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   70–80%
South Carolina gubernatiorial Democratic primary election, 2022
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Joe Cunningham 102,315 56.5%
Democratic Mia McLeod 56,08431.0%
Democratic Carlton Boyd9,5265.3%
Democratic William Williams6,7463.7%
Democratic Calvin McMillan6,2603.5%
Total votes180,931 100%

Lieutenant governor selection

After winning the primary, on July 18, Cunningham released a shortlist of potential running mates. [36] He announced Tally Parham Casey as his running mate on August 1. [37]

Chosen as running mate

Made shortlist

Declined

Independence primary

Candidates

Declared

  • Jokie Beckett Jr., veteran [7]
  • Michael Copeland [7]

Results

Independence primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
IndependenceJokie Beckett Jr.
IndependenceMichael Copeland
Total votes

Independents and third parties

Candidates

Declared

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [41] Solid RJuly 26, 2022
Inside Elections [42] Solid RJuly 22, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball [43] Safe RJune 29, 2022
Politico [44] Solid RApril 1, 2022
RCP [45] Safe RJune 8, 2022
Fox News [46] Solid RMay 12, 2022
538 [47] Solid RJuly 31, 2022
Elections Daily [48] Safe RNovember 7, 2022

Post-primary endorsements

Henry McMaster (R)

Executive Branch officials

U.S. senators

U.S. representatives

Governors

Statewide officials

State legislators

  • 34 state representatives [49]
  • 14 state senators [49]

Sheriffs

  • 16 county sheriffs [49]

Local officials

Organizations

Joe Cunningham (D)

State representatives

Local officials

Organizations

Polling

Graphical summary

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Henry
McMaster (R)		Joe
Cunningham (D)		OtherUndecided
Echelon Insights (R) [58] August 24 – September 7, 2022600 (LV)± 3.7%50%44%6%0%
Impact Research (D) [59] [A] August 24–30, 2022700 (LV)± 3.7%49%42%4% [b] 5%
The Trafalgar Group (R) [60] August 25–28, 20221,071 (LV)± 2.9%51%43%2% [c] 4%
Blueprint Polling (D) [61] August 24–25, 2022721 (LV)± 3.7%50%39%1%9%

Debates and forums

2022 South Carolina gubernatorial debates
No.DateHostModeratorLink Republican Democratic Libertarian Labor
Key:  P Participant   N Non-invitee  
Henry McMaster Joe Cunningham Morgan ReevesGary Votour
[62] Oct 26, 2022 South Carolina ETV Gavin Jackson
Andy Shain		PPNN

Results

State Senate districts results SC GOV 2022 SS.svg
State Senate districts results
2022 South Carolina gubernatorial election swing map by county.svg
2022 South Carolina gubernatorial election trend map by county.svg
2022 South Carolina gubernatorial election [63]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican
988,501 58.04% +4.08%
Democratic
692,69140.67%−5.25%
Libertarian
  • Morgan Bruce Reeves
  • Jessica Ethridge
20,8261.22%N/A
Write-in 1,1740.07%
Total votes1,703,192 100.00% N/A
Turnout 1,718,62650.86%
Registered electors 3,379,089
Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

McMaster won six of seven congressional districts. [64]

DistrictMcMasterCunninghamRepresentative
1st 55%44% Nancy Mace
2nd 56%42% Joe Wilson
3rd 71%28% Jeff Duncan
4th 61%37% William Timmons
5th 62%37% Ralph Norman
6th 36%63% Jim Clyburn
7th 63%36% Tom Rice (117th Congress)
Russell Fry (118th Congress)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ↑ Reeves with 4%
  3. ↑ Reeves with 2%

Partisan clients

  1. ↑ This poll was sponsored by Cunningham's campaign

References

  1. ↑ "South Carolina Primary Results". CNNpolitics. CNN. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  2. ↑ Byrd, Caitlyn. "He's in: Democrat Joe Cunningham, former congressman, to announce run for SC governor". The State. Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Meet Pamela". henrymcmaster.com. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  4. ↑ Folks, Will (December 1, 2021). "'Trucker Bob' Running For Governor Of South Carolina". FITSNews . Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  5. ↑ Folks, Will (December 1, 2021). "'Trucker Bob' Running For Governor Of South Carolina". FITSNews . Archived from the original on March 14, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  6. ↑ Folks, Will (July 27, 2021). "Former Town Councilman From Chester County To Campaign For Governor Of South Carolina" . FITSNews . Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Gale, Heather; Parkhouse, Emma (March 30, 2022). "Know Your Candidate: A brief look at who is running for the upcoming 2022 election season". ABC 15 News. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 "South Carolina". Politics1. March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  9. ↑ Folks, Will (July 27, 2021). "South Carolina Senate Majority Leader On 2022 Gubernatorial Bid: 'I'm Not Running'" . Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  10. ↑ "A South Carolina Senatorial Shakeup?". FITSNews. June 25, 2019. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  11. ↑ Frazin, Rachel (August 9, 2019). "GOP Sen. Tim Scott says if he runs in 2022 it will be his last race". The Hill . Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  12. ↑ Folks, Will (September 8, 2021). "South Carolina Senator Katrina Shealy Mulls 2022 GOP Gubernatorial Bid". FITSNews . Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  13. ↑ Shain, Andy (May 19, 2019). "SC Gov. Henry McMaster already gearing up for 2022 re-election bid". The Post and Courier . Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  14. ↑ Folks, Will (January 6, 2022). "John Warren Won't Run For Governor Of South Carolina In 2022" . FITSNews . Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  15. ↑ Joseph Bustos (July 30, 2021). "Mike Pompeo endorses SC Gov. McMaster's reelection bid". The State.
  16. ↑ McFall, Caitlin (March 5, 2021). "Trump issues GOP endorsements in latest sign he is reentering political arena". Fox News. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  17. ↑ Kinnard, Meg (October 12, 2021). "SC's Tim Scott Gives Early Nod to McMaster in Governor Race". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  18. ↑ Bustos, Joseph (August 24, 2021). "Here's what potential presidential candidate South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said in SC" . The State . Anderson, S.C. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  19. ↑ Jamie Lovegrove (April 9, 2021). "Iowa governor to stump for McMaster's SC reelection campaign in sign of RGA support". Post and Courier.
  20. ↑ Thomas Novelly (August 21, 2021). "SC Democrat Joe Cunningham tells McMaster to 'step aside' in first TV ad in governor's race". The Post and Courier.
  21. ↑ Andy Shain (April 11, 2021). "McMaster campaign fundraising rises as COVID eases. Governor still has no major foes". The Post and Courier.
  22. ↑ Lexi Lonas (August 10, 2021). "Susan B. Anthony List backing SC governor in first 2022 endorsement". The Hill.
  23. ↑ Bean, Riley (April 26, 2021). "Former Congressman Cunningham officially announces run for governor". WCSC 5. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  24. 1 2 3 "Sen. McLeod to run for SC governor; A win would make her the first Black female governor in U.S. history". The Associated Press . June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  25. ↑ Byrd, Caitlin; Derickson, Cailyn (April 22, 2021). "SC Democrat Joe Cunningham files preliminary paperwork for possible run for governor". The State . Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021. Democratic activist Gary Votour of Columbia declared a bid earlier this year.
  26. 1 2 3 "Gary4GovSC". Gary4GovSC. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin won't run again, will focus on family, law firm". wltx.com. February 4, 2021.
  28. 1 2 Lovegrove, Jamie. "State Sen. Mia McLeod launches 2022 Democratic bid for SC governor". Post and Courier. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  29. ↑ Garrison, Steve. "Former Alabama U.S. Senator Doug Jones rallies local Dems at Blue Jamboree". Post and Courier.
  30. ↑ Adcox, Seanna (June 7, 2022). "Endorsement in SC governor's race turns into Democrat vs. Democrat squabble". The Post and Courier . Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  31. ↑ Byrd, Cailtin (April 28, 2021). "Joe Cunningham wants to change SC Democrats' gubernatorial chances. But can he?". The State . Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  32. ↑ Schechter, Maayan (June 14, 2021). "National pro-science PAC endorses Democrat Joe Cunningham's 2022 SC governor bid". The State . Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Our View: Elect Joe Cunningham to be South Carolina's next governor". Charleston City Paper. October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  34. ↑ "Sen. Kimpson endorses Mia McLeod in SC governor's race". WOLO-TV . June 3, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  35. ↑ "Ex-wife of Joe Cunningham endorses Mia McLeod for governor". June 13, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Dem. Lieutenant Governor Selection". thestate. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  37. 1 2 "Cunningham picks former fighter pilot as SC gov running mate". August 2022.
  38. ↑ Folks, Will (August 12, 2014). ""Pharaoh" Is On The Ballot Again" . FITSNews . Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  39. ↑ ""Labor Party Argues Whether to Put Candidates on SC Ballot"". US News and World Report. Associated Press. August 5, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  40. ↑ ""SC Democrats sue to keep Labor Party candidates off ballot"". WPDE-TV. Associated Press. August 13, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  41. ↑ "2022 Governor Race Ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  42. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections . Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  43. ↑ "2022 Gubernatorial race ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  44. ↑ "South Carolina Governor Race 2022". Politico. April 1, 2022.
  45. ↑ "2022 Governor Races". RCP. January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  46. ↑ "2022 Election Forecast". Fox News. May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  47. ↑ "2022 Election Forecast". FiveThirtyEight. June 30, 2022. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  48. ↑ Szymanski, Joe (November 7, 2022). "Elections Daily Unveils Final 2022 Midterm Ratings". Elections Daily. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  49. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "Endorsements - Henry McMaster for Governor". henrymcmaster.com. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  50. ↑ "Governor McMaster kicks off Early Voting with rally". October 24, 2022.
  51. ↑ "Small business group backs McMaster for governor". WIS News 10 . September 6, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  52. ↑ "South Carolina Grades & Endorsements". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  53. ↑ "Cunningham to hold campaign rally in Charleston on Monday". August 20, 2022.
  54. ↑ "Joe Riley endorses Joe Cunningham in SC governor's race". June 2, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  55. ↑ "Joe Cunningham's Ratings and Endorsements". justfacts.votesnart.org. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  56. ↑ "South Carolina Endorsed Candidates". Planned Parenthood. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  57. ↑ Gatlin, James (September 27, 2022). "Joe Cunningham accepts South Carolina Education Association Endorsement in Governor's Race". WACH FOX 57 . Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  58. ↑ Echelon Insights (R)
  59. ↑ Impact Research (D)
  60. ↑ The Trafalgar Group (R)
  61. ↑ Blueprint Polling (D)
  62. ↑ McMaster, Cunningham set to face off in SC governor debate. How to watch
  63. ↑ Results State of South Caroline. Retrieved March 11, 2023
  64. ↑ "DRA 2020". Daves Redistricting. Retrieved August 18, 2024.

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