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Governor of South Carolina | |
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Style | His Excellency |
Term length | Four years, renewable once consecutively |
Part of a series on the | ||||||||||
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History of South Carolina | ||||||||||
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This is a list of South Carolina governors. The current governor of South Carolina is Henry McMaster who has been in office since January 24, 2017. South Carolina governors are counted only once; therefore, Joseph West, for instance, a colonial governor who served three non-consecutive terms, is considered the 2nd Governor of South Carolina, not the 2nd, 4th, and 7th.
Henry Dargan McMaster is an American politician, attorney and member of the Republican Party, who is the 117th Governor of South Carolina, in office since January 24, 2017.
Joseph West, was an English ship captain, and an early Colonial governor of South Carolina.
The General Assembly chose the president for a term of two years.
The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and the upper South Carolina Senate. Altogether, the General Assembly consists of 170 members. The legislature convenes at the State House in Columbia.
# | President | Took Office | Left Office | Lt. Governor | Party | Notes | |
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31 | John Rutledge | March 26, 1776 | March 5, 1778 | Henry Laurens | No party | 1st time, Resigned | |
32 | Rawlins Lowndes | March 6, 1778 | January 9, 1779 | James Parsons | No party | British prisoner during Revolutionary War |
The General Assembly chose the governor for a term of two years.
# | Governor | Took Office | Left Office | Lt. Governor | Party | Notes | |
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John Rutledge | January 9, 1779 | January 31, 1782 | Thomas Bee Christopher Gadsden | No party | 2nd time | ||
33 | John Mathews | January 31, 1782 | February 4, 1783 | Richard Hutson | No party | ||
34 | Benjamin Guerard | February 4, 1783 | February 11, 1785 | Richard Beresford William Moultrie William Moultrie | No party | ||
35 | William Moultrie | February 11, 1785 | February 20, 1787 | Charles Drayton | No party | 1st time | |
36 | Thomas Pinckney | February 20, 1787 | January 26, 1789 | Thomas Gadsden | Federalist | ||
37 | Charles Pinckney | January 26, 1789 | December 5, 1792 | Alexander Gillon | Federalist | 1st time |
The General Assembly chose the governor for a term of two years.
Democratic Federalist Democratic-Republican
# | Governor | Took Office | Left Office | Lt. Governor | Party | Notes | |
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William Moultrie | December 5, 1792 | December 17, 1794 | James Ladson | Federalist | 2nd time | ||
38 | Arnoldus Vanderhorst | December 17, 1794 | December 8, 1796 | Lewis Morris | Federalist | ||
Charles Pinckney | December 8, 1796 | December 18, 1798 | Robert Anderson | Democratic-Republican | 2nd time | ||
39 | Edward Rutledge | December 18, 1798 | January 23, 1800 | John Drayton | Federalist | Died in office | |
40 | John Drayton | January 23, 1800 | December 8, 1802 | Richard Winn | Democratic-Republican | 1st time | |
41 | James Burchill Richardson | December 8, 1802 | December 7, 1804 | Ezekiel Pickens | Democratic-Republican | ||
42 | Paul Hamilton | December 7, 1804 | December 9, 1806 | Thomas Sumter, Jr. | Democratic-Republican | ||
Charles Pinckney | December 9, 1806 | December 10, 1808 | John Hopkins | Democratic-Republican | 3rd time | ||
John Drayton | December 10, 1808 | December 8, 1810 | Frederick Nance | Democratic-Republican | 2nd time | ||
43 | Henry Middleton | December 8, 1810 | December 10, 1812 | Samuel Farrow | Democratic-Republican | ||
44 | Joseph Alston | December 10, 1812 | December 10, 1814 | Eldred Simkins | Democratic-Republican | ||
45 | David Rogerson Williams | December 10, 1814 | December 5, 1816 | Robert Creswell | Democratic-Republican | ||
46 | Andrew Pickens | December 5, 1816 | December 8, 1818 | John A. Cuthbert | Democratic-Republican | ||
47 | John Geddes | December 8, 1818 | December 7, 1820 | William Youngblood | Democratic-Republican | ||
48 | Thomas Bennett, Jr. | December 7, 1820 | December 7, 1822 | William Pinckney | Democratic-Republican | ||
49 | John Lyde Wilson | December 7, 1822 | December 3, 1824 | Henry Bradley | Democratic-Republican | ||
50 | Richard Irvine Manning I | December 3, 1824 | December 9, 1826 | William Bull | Democratic-Republican | ||
51 | John Taylor | December 9, 1826 | December 10, 1828 | James Witherspoon | Democratic-Republican | ||
52 | Stephen Decatur Miller | December 10, 1828 | December 9, 1830 | Thomas Williams | Democratic (Nullifier) | ||
53 | James Hamilton, Jr. | December 9, 1830 | December 10, 1832 | Patrick Noble | Democratic (Nullifier) | ||
54 | Robert Young Hayne | December 10, 1832 | December 9, 1834 | Charles Cotesworth Pinckney | Democratic (Nullifier) | ||
55 | George McDuffie | December 9, 1834 | December 10, 1836 | Whitemarsh B. Seabrook | Democratic | ||
56 | Pierce Mason Butler | December 10, 1836 | December 7, 1838 | William DuBose | Democratic | ||
57 | Patrick Noble | December 7, 1838 | April 7, 1840 | Barnabas Kelet Henagan | Democratic | Died in office | |
58 | Barnabas Kelet Henagan | April 7, 1840 | December 9, 1840 | vacant | Democratic | Not elected | |
59 | John Peter Richardson II | December 9, 1840 | December 8, 1842 | William K. Clowney | Democratic | ||
60 | James Henry Hammond | December 8, 1842 | December 7, 1844 | Isaac D. Witherspoon | Democratic | ||
61 | William Aiken, Jr. | December 7, 1844 | December 8, 1846 | J.F. Ervin | Democratic | ||
62 | David Johnson | December 8, 1846 | December 12, 1848 | William Cain | Democratic | ||
63 | Whitemarsh B. Seabrook | December 12, 1848 | December 13, 1850 | William Henry Gist | Democratic | ||
64 | John Hugh Means | December 13, 1850 | December 9, 1852 | Joshua John Ward | Democratic | ||
65 | John Lawrence Manning | December 9, 1852 | December 11, 1854 | James Irby | Democratic | ||
66 | James Hopkins Adams | December 11, 1854 | December 9, 1856 | Richard de Treville | Democratic | ||
67 | Robert F.W. Allston | December 9, 1856 | December 10, 1858 | Gabriel Cannon | Democratic | ||
68 | William Henry Gist | December 10, 1858 | December 14, 1860 | M. E. Carn | Democratic | ||
69 | Francis Wilkinson Pickens | December 14, 1860 | December 17, 1862 | W.W. Harllee | Democratic | ||
70 | Milledge Luke Bonham | December 17, 1862 | December 18, 1864 | Plowden Weston | Democratic | ||
71 | Andrew Gordon Magrath | December 18, 1864 | May 25, 1865 | Robert McCaw | Democratic | Deposed by the Union Army | |
72 | Benjamin Franklin Perry | June 30, 1865 | November 29, 1865 | vacant | Unionist Democrat | Appointed by President Andrew Johnson |
First Constitution of South Carolina to provide for the direct election of the governor.
# | Governor | Took Office | Left Office | Lt. Governor | Party | Notes | |
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73 | James Lawrence Orr | November 29, 1865 | July 6, 1868 | W.D. Porter | No party (Democratic) | 1st popularly elected Governor |
# | Governor | Took Office | Left Office | Lt. Governor | Party | Notes | |
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74 | Robert Kingston Scott | July 6, 1868 | December 7, 1872 | Lemuel Boozer Alonzo J. Ransier | Republican | ||
75 | Franklin J. Moses, Jr. | December 7, 1872 | December 1, 1874 | Richard Howell Gleaves | Republican | ||
76 | Daniel Henry Chamberlain | December 1, 1874 | December 14, 1876 | Richard Howell Gleaves | Republican | Claimed Governorship after 1876 election | |
77 | Wade Hampton III | December 14, 1876 | February 26, 1879 | William Dunlap Simpson | Democratic | Resigned | |
78 | William Dunlap Simpson | February 26, 1879 | September 1, 1880 | John D. Kennedy | Democratic | Not elected | |
79 | Thomas Bothwell Jeter | September 1, 1880 | November 30, 1880 | vacant | Democratic | ||
80 | Johnson Hagood | November 30, 1880 | December 1, 1882 | John D. Kennedy | Democratic | ||
81 | Hugh Smith Thompson | December 1, 1882 | July 10, 1886 | John Calhoun Sheppard | Democratic | Resigned | |
82 | John Calhoun Sheppard | July 10, 1886 | November 30, 1886 | vacant | Democratic | Not elected | |
83 | John Peter Richardson III | November 30, 1886 | December 4, 1890 | William Mauldin | Democratic | ||
84 | Benjamin Ryan Tillman | December 4, 1890 | December 4, 1894 | Eugene Gary W.H. Timmerman | Democratic | ||
85 | John Gary Evans | December 4, 1894 | January 18, 1897 | W.H. Timmerman | Democratic |
Democratic (27) Republican (6)
# | Governor | Took Office | Left Office | Lt. Governor | Party | Notes | |
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86 | William Haselden Ellerbe | January 18, 1897 | June 2, 1899 | Miles Benjamin McSweeney | Democratic | Died in office | |
87 | Miles Benjamin McSweeney | June 2, 1899 | January 20, 1903 | Robert B. Scarborough | Democratic | ||
88 | Duncan Clinch Heyward | January 20, 1903 | January 15, 1907 | James Tillman John Sloan | Democratic | ||
89 | Martin Frederick Ansel | January 15, 1907 | January 17, 1911 | Thomas Gordon McLeod | Democratic | ||
90 | Coleman Livingston Blease | January 17, 1911 | January 14, 1915 | Charles Aurelius Smith | Democratic | Resigned | |
91 | Charles Aurelius Smith | January 14, 1915 | January 19, 1915 | vacant | Democratic | Not elected | |
92 | Richard Irvine Manning III | January 19, 1915 | January 21, 1919 | Andrew Bethea | Democratic | ||
93 | Robert Archer Cooper | January 21, 1919 | May 20, 1922 | J.T. Liles Wilson Godfrey Harvey | Democratic | Resigned | |
94 | Wilson Godfrey Harvey | May 20, 1922 | January 16, 1923 | vacant | Democratic | Not elected | |
95 | Thomas Gordon McLeod | January 16, 1923 | January 18, 1927 | E.B. Jackson | Democratic | ||
96 | John Gardiner Richards, Jr. | January 18, 1927 | January 20, 1931 | Thomas Bothwell Butler | Democratic | 1st to be elected to a four-year term | |
97 | Ibra Charles Blackwood | January 20, 1931 | January 15, 1935 | James Sheppard | Democratic | ||
98 | Olin D. Johnston | January 15, 1935 | January 17, 1939 | Joseph Emile Harley | Democratic | 1st time | |
99 | Burnet R. Maybank | January 17, 1939 | November 4, 1941 | Joseph Emile Harley | Democratic | Resigned | |
100 | Joseph Emile Harley | November 4, 1941 | February 27, 1942 | vacant | Democratic | Not elected, Died in office | |
— | vacant | February 27, 1942 | March 2, 1942 | vacant | |||
101 | Richard Manning Jefferies | March 2, 1942 | January 19, 1943 | vacant | Democratic | Not elected | |
98 | Olin D. Johnston | January 19, 1943 | January 2, 1945 | Ransome Judson Williams | Democratic | 2nd time, Resigned | |
102 | Ransome Judson Williams | January 2, 1945 | January 21, 1947 | vacant | Democratic | Not elected | |
103 | Strom Thurmond | January 21, 1947 | January 16, 1951 | George Bell Timmerman, Jr. | Democratic | ||
104 | James Francis Byrnes | January 16, 1951 | January 18, 1955 | George Bell Timmerman, Jr. | Democratic | ||
105 | George Bell Timmerman, Jr. | January 18, 1955 | January 20, 1959 | Ernest Hollings | Democratic | ||
106 | Ernest Hollings | January 20, 1959 | January 15, 1963 | Burnet R. Maybank Jr. | Democratic | ||
107 | Donald Stuart Russell | January 15, 1963 | April 22, 1965 | Robert Evander McNair | Democratic | Resigned | |
108 | Robert Evander McNair | April 22, 1965 | January 19, 1971 | vacant John C. West | Democratic | ||
109 | John C. West | January 19, 1971 | January 21, 1975 | Earle Morris, Jr. | Democratic | ||
110 | James B. Edwards | January 21, 1975 | January 10, 1979 | W. Brantley Harvey, Jr. | Republican | ||
111 | Richard Riley | January 10, 1979 | January 14, 1987 | Nancy Stevenson Michael R. Daniel | Democratic | 1st elected to two consecutive four-year terms | |
112 | Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. | January 14, 1987 | January 11, 1995 | Nick Theodore (Democratic) | Republican | ||
113 | David Beasley | January 11, 1995 | January 13, 1999 | Bob Peeler | Republican | Lost reelection | |
114 | Jim Hodges | January 13, 1999 | January 15, 2003 | Bob Peeler | Democratic | Lost reelection | |
115 | Mark Sanford | January 15, 2003 | January 12, 2011 | André Bauer | Republican | ||
116 | Nikki Haley | January 12, 2011 | January 24, 2017 | Ken Ard Glenn F. McConnell J. Yancey McGill (Democratic) Henry McMaster | Republican | Resigned to become UN Ambassador | |
117 | Henry McMaster | January 24, 2017 | Incumbent [1] | Kevin L. Bryant | Republican |
Number of Governors by Party | |
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Colonial Governors | 30 |
No party | 6 |
Federalist | 4 |
Democratic-Republican | 13 |
Democratic | 55 |
Republican | 9 |
This is a table of congressional seats, other federal offices, other governorships, and other high offices held by governors after leavnig office. All representatives and senators mentioned represented South Carolina except where noted. *denotes those offices which the governor resigned to take.
As of April 2019 [update] , there are five former governors currently living, the oldest being Richard Riley (served 1979–1987, born 1933). The most recent governor to die was Fritz Hollings (served 1959–1963, born 1922), on April 6, 2019. [3]
Richard Wilson "Dick" Riley is an American politician, the United States Secretary of Education under President Bill Clinton and the 111th governor of South Carolina. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Riley is the only Democrat to serve two consecutive terms as governor in the time since the state constitution was amended to allow governors to serve consecutive terms.
Ernest Frederick "Fritz" Hollings was an American politician who served as a United States Senator from South Carolina from 1966 to 2005. A conservative Democrat, he was also the Governor of South Carolina and the 77th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. He served alongside Republican Senator Strom Thurmond for 36 years, making them the longest-serving Senate duo in history. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living former U.S. Senator.
Governor | Party | Gubernatorial term | Birth |
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Richard Riley | Democratic | 1979–1987 | January 2, 1933 |
David Beasley | Republican | 1995–1999 | February 26, 1957 |
Jim Hodges | Democratic | 1999–2003 | November 19, 1956 |
Mark Sanford | Republican | 2003–2011 | May 28, 1960 |
Nikki Haley | Republican | 2011–2017 | January 20, 1972 |
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the state of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the governor 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 National Guard when not called into federal use. The governor's responsibilities include making yearly "State of the State" addresses to the South Carolina General Assembly, submitting an executive budget and ensuring that state laws are enforced.
Prior to 1865, the Governor of South Carolina was chosen by the General Assembly. The constitution of 1865 provided for the voters of South Carolina to choose the governor; James Lawrence Orr was the first elected governor of South Carolina. The following is a list of gubernatorial election results for the state of South Carolina:
The 1998 United States Senate elections were held on November 3 and seen as an even contest between the Republican Party and Democratic Party. While the Democrats had to defend more seats up for election, Republican attacks on the morality of President Bill Clinton failed to connect with voters and anticipated Republican gains did not materialize. The Republicans picked up open seats in Ohio and Kentucky and narrowly defeated Democratic incumbent Carol Moseley Braun (Illinois), but these were cancelled out by the Democrats' gain of an open seat in Indiana and defeats of Republican Senators Al D'Amato and Lauch Faircloth. The balance of the Senate remained unchanged at 55–45 in favor of the Republicans. With Democrats gaining five seats in the House of Representatives, this marked the first time since 1934 that the out-of-presidency party failed to gain congressional seats in a mid-term election, and the first time since 1822 that the party not in control of the White House failed to gain seats in the mid-term election of a President's second term. These are the last senate elections that resulted in no net change in the balance of power.
The 1968 United States Senate elections were elections for the United States Senate which coincided with the presidential election. Although Richard Nixon won the presidential election narrowly, the Republicans picked up five net seats in the Senate. Republicans would gain another seat after the election when Alaska Republican Ted Stevens was appointed to replace Democrat Bob Bartlett.
The 1966 United States Senate elections was an election on November 8, 1966 for the United States Senate which occurred midway through the second term of President Lyndon B. Johnson. With divisions in the Democratic base over the Vietnam War, and with the traditional mid-term advantage of the party not holding the presidency, the Republicans took three Democratic seats. Despite Republican gains, the balance remained overwhelmingly in favor of the Democrats, who retained a 64–36 majority. This was also the first election that occurred after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 became law.
The 1962 United States Senate elections was an election for the United States Senate which was held in the middle of President John F. Kennedy's term. His Democratic Party made a net gain of three seats from the Republicans, increasing their control of the Senate.
The 1954 United States Senate elections was a midterm election in the first term of Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidency. Eisenhower's Republican party lost a net of two seats to the Democratic opposition. This small change was just enough to give Democrats control of the chamber with the support of an Independent who caucused with them.
The 1966 South Carolina United States Senate special election was held on November 8, 1966 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. The election resulted from the death of Senator Olin D. Johnston in 1965. Then Governor Donald S. Russell entered in a prearranged agreement with Lieutenant Governor Robert Evander McNair in which Russell would resign his post so that he could be appointed Senator. However, former Governor Fritz Hollings won the Democratic primary election and went on to beat Republican state senator Marshall Parker in the general election to fill the remaining two years of the unexpired term.
The 1998 United States Senate election in South Carolina was held November 3, 1998. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Fritz Hollings won reelection to his sixth full term. As of 2019, this is the last Senate election in South Carolina won by a Democrat.
The 2004 United States Senate election in South Carolina was held on November 2, 2004. Longtime incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Fritz Hollings retired, and Republican U.S. Representative Jim DeMint won the open seat.
The 1992 United States Senate election in South Carolina was held on November 3, 1992. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Fritz Hollings won reelection to his fifth full term.
The 1966 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 8, 1966 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina simultaneously with the special election to fill out the remainder of Olin D. Johnston's term. Incumbent Senator Strom Thurmond, who had switched parties from Democratic to Republican in 1964, easily defeated state senator Bradley Morrah in the general election.
The 1968 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 5, 1968, to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Incumbent Democratic Senator Fritz Hollings easily defeated Republican state senator Marshall Parker in a rematch of the election two years earlier to win his first full term.
The 1986 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 4, 1986 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Popular incumbent Democratic Senator Fritz Hollings easily defeated Republican challenger Henry McMaster to win his fourth full term. This is also the last US Senate election in South Carolina where the Democrat won with a double-digit margin.
The 1962 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 6, 1962 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Incumbent Democratic Senator Olin D. Johnston defeated Governor Fritz Hollings in the Democratic primary and Republican W. D. Workman, Jr. in the general election.
The 1980 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 4, 1980 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Incumbent Democratic Senator Fritz Hollings easily defeated Republican challenger Marshall Mays to win his third full term.
The 1974 South Carolina United States Senate election was held on November 5, 1974 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. Incumbent Democratic Senator Fritz Hollings easily defeated Republican challenger Gwen Bush to win his second full term.
South Carolina government and politics covers the three different branches of government, as well as the state constitution, law enforcement agencies, federal representation, state finances, and state taxes.
The 2016 United States presidential election was held on November 8, 2016, as part of the 2016 General Election in which all 50 states plus The District of Columbia participated. South Carolina voters chose electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting the Republican Party's nominee, businessman Donald Trump, and running mate Indiana Governor Mike Pence against Democratic Party nominee, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her running mate, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine.