2010 South Carolina gubernatorial election

Last updated

2010 South Carolina gubernatorial election
Flag of South Carolina.svg
  2006 November 2, 2010 2014  
  Nikki Haley official portrait.jpg Vincent Sheheen (cropped).jpg
Nominee Nikki Haley Vincent Sheheen
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote690,525630,535
Percentage51.37%46.91%

2010 South Carolina gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
2010 SC Gov.svg
Haley:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Sheheen:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%

Governor before election

Mark Sanford
Republican

Elected Governor

Nikki Haley
Republican

The 2010 South Carolina gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Republican Governor Mark Sanford was term limited and unable to seek re-election. Primary elections took place on June 8, 2010, and a runoff election, as was necessary on the Republican side, was held two weeks later on June 22.

Contents

Republican Nikki Haley defeated Democrat Vincent 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 in 1998. This is the first open-seat election since 1994. Haley was re-elected in 2014 in a rematch with Sheheen.

Republican primary

According to CNN , Haley initially entered the gubernatorial primary as a 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 and 2008 vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin boosted Haley's candidacy. Haley's campaign was backed by TV ads run by ReformSC, an advocacy group funded by allies of outgoing governor Mark Sanford. [1]

Candidates

Endorsements

Nikki Haley

Gresham Barrett

Henry McMaster

André Bauer

  • Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR), former presidential candidate for 2008 Republican nomination [12]

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Henry
McMaster
Gresham
Barrett
André
Bauer
Nikki
Haley
OtherUndecided
Public Policy Polling (report) June 5–6, 2010998± 3.1%16%23%12%43%--7%
Public Policy Polling (report) May 22–23, 2010638± 3.9%18%16%13%39%--14%
Rasmussen Reports (report) May 17, 2010931± 4.5%19%17%12%30%3%13%
Rasmussen Reports (report)March 3, 2010500± 4.5%21%14%17%12%9%29%
InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion Research ()December 16, 2009371± 5.1%22%9%22%13%6%28%

Runoff

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Nikki
Haley
Gresham
Barrett
Undecided
Public Policy Polling (report)June 5–6, 2010998± 3.1%51%35%14%

Results

Primary results by county:
Haley
.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{}
Haley--60-70%
Haley--50-60%
Haley--40-50%
Haley--<40%
Barrett
Barrett--40-50%
Barrett--50-60% 2010 SC GOP gubernatorial primary.svg
Primary results by county:
Haley
  •   Haley—60–70%
  •   Haley—50–60%
  •   Haley—40–50%
  •   Haley—<40%
Barrett
  •   Barrett—40–50%
  •   Barrett—50–60%
Republican primary results [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Nikki Haley206,32648.9
Republican Gresham Barrett91,82421.8
Republican Henry McMaster71,49416.9
Republican André Bauer52,60712.4
Total votes422,251 100
Primary runoff results by county:
Haley
Haley--80-90%
Haley--70-80%
Haley--60-70%
Haley--50-60%
Barrett
Barrett--50-60%
Barrett--60-70% 2010 SC gubernatorial Republican runoff.svg
Primary runoff results by county:
Haley
  •   Haley—80–90%
  •   Haley—70–80%
  •   Haley—60–70%
  •   Haley—50–60%
Barrett
  •   Barrett—50–60%
  •   Barrett—60–70%
Republican primary runoff results on June 22 [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Nikki Haley233,73365.1
Republican Gresham Barrett125,60134.9
Total votes359,334 100

Democratic primary

Candidates

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jim
Rex
Vincent
Sheheen
Robert
Ford
Dwight
Drake*
OtherUndecided
Public Policy Polling (report)May 22–23, 2010410± 4.8%30%36%11%----23%
Rasmussen Reports (report [ permanent dead link ])May 17, 2010404± 5.0%22%30%4%--12%32%
Rasmussen Reports (report)March 3, 2010500± 4.5%16%16%12%5%15%37%

Results

Primary results by county:
Sheheen
Sheheen-->90%
Sheheen--80-90%
Sheheen--70-80%
Sheheen--60-70%
Sheheen--50-60%
Sheheen--40-50%
Sheheen--<40% 2010 SC gubernatorial Democratic primary.svg
Primary results by county:
Sheheen
  •   Sheheen—>90%
  •   Sheheen—80–90%
  •   Sheheen—70–80%
  •   Sheheen—60–70%
  •   Sheheen—50–60%
  •   Sheheen—40–50%
  •   Sheheen—<40%
Democratic primary results [13]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Vincent Sheheen111,63759.0
Democratic Jim Rex43,59023.0
Democratic Robert Ford34,12118.0
Total votes189,348 100

Other Parties

General election

Debates

Sponsored by the Republican Parties of Newberry and Laurens Counties
Aired on WIS-TV on September 22, 2009
Watch here

Sponsored by the SC Natural Resources Society
Aired on SCETV on November 3, 2009
(This debate marked the first time in state history that gubernatorial primary candidates from both parties participated in the same debate.) [22]
Watch here

Sponsored by the South Carolina Republican Party
Moderated by MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski
Aired on WCSC-TV on January 28, 2010
Watch here

Endorsements

Senator Vincent Sheheen -- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce [23]

Representative Nikki Haley-- National Rifle Association of America

Representative Nikki Haley-- South Citizens for Life

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
Cook Political Report [24] Lean ROctober 14, 2010
Rothenberg [25] Safe ROctober 28, 2010
RealClearPolitics [26] Lean RNovember 1, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball [27] Likely ROctober 28, 2010
CQ Politics [28] Lean ROctober 28, 2010

Polling

Poll sourceDates administeredNikki Haley (R)Vincent Sheheen (D)
Crantford & Associates October 21, 201048%37%
Crantford & Associates October 18, 201043%41%
Winthrop University October 13, 201047%39%
Hamilton Campaigns October 5, 201049%44%
Hamilton Campaigns October 5, 201049%44%
Hamilton Campaigns October 4, 201051%41%
Crantford & Associates October 2, 201045%41%
Rasmussen Reports September 22, 201050%33%
Rasmussen Reports August 25, 201052%36%
Rasmussen Reports July 29, 201049%35%
Rasmussen Reports June 23, 201052%40%
Rasmussen Reports June 10, 201055%34%
Public Policy Polling May 22–23, 201044%34%

Results

South Carolina gubernatorial election, 2010 [29]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Nikki Haley 690,525 51.37% -3.75%
Democratic Vincent Sheheen 630,53446.91%+2.12%
United Citizens Morgan B. Reeves20,1141.50%N/A
Write-ins3,0250.23%N/A
Majority59,9914.46%-5.87%
Turnout 1,344,19850.92%+6.42%
Republican hold Swing

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 South Carolina gubernatorial election</span> Election

The 2002 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2002 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. Mark Sanford, the Republican nominee, defeated incumbent Democratic Governor Jim Hodges to become the 115th governor of South Carolina. Hodges became only the third incumbent governor and the first Democratic governor in South Carolina history to lose reelection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikki Haley</span> American politician and diplomat (born 1972)

Nimarata Nikki Haley is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 116th governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017 and as the 29th U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from January 2017 to December 2018. A Republican, Haley is the first Indian American to serve in a presidential cabinet. She was a candidate in the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries. Her victory in the Washington, D.C. primary on March 3, 2024 made her the first woman ever to win a Republican Party presidential primary contest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James E. Smith Jr.</span> American politician

James Emerson Smith Jr. is an American politician who served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1996 to 2019. Smith is a combat veteran and a serving officer in the South Carolina Army National Guard, a small business owner, and a practicing attorney in Columbia, South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vincent Sheheen</span> American politician

Vincent Austin Sheheen is an American attorney and politician. He was a member of the South Carolina Senate from 2004 to 2020, representing the 27th District, which comprises Chesterfield, Kershaw, and Lancaster counties. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2001 to 2004. He ran for Governor of South Carolina twice, in 2010 and 2014, losing both times to Nikki Haley. In 2020, Sheheen lost reelection to Republican Penry Gustafson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Texas gubernatorial election</span> Election for the governorship of the U.S. state of Texas

The 2010 Texas gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, to elect the governor of Texas. Incumbent Republican Governor Rick Perry ran successfully for election to a third consecutive term. He won the Republican primary against U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and political newcomer, Debra Medina. The former mayor of Houston, Bill White, won the Democratic nomination. Kathie Glass, a lawyer from Houston and previous candidate for Texas Attorney General, won the Libertarian nomination. Deb Shafto was the nominee of the Texas Green Party. Andy Barron, an orthodontist from Lubbock, was a declared write-in candidate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 South Carolina elections</span>

Elections were held in South Carolina on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Primary elections were held on June 8, 2010, and a run-off election for certain contests was held on June 22, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Bright</span> American politician

Lee Bright is an American politician who served as the South Carolina State Senator from the 12th district from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Republican Party, his district included Spartanburg County and Greenville County. Bright unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate in 2014 and U.S. House of Representatives in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 South Carolina gubernatorial election</span> Election

The 2014 South Carolina gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the Governor of South Carolina, concurrently with the regularly-scheduled election and special election to both of South Carolina's U.S. Senate seats, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 United States Senate special election in South Carolina</span> Election

The 2014 United States Senate special election in South Carolina took place on November 4, 2014, concurrently with the regular election for the other South Carolina Senate seat. The special-election Senate seat was formerly held by Republican Jim DeMint, who resigned on January 2, 2013, to become president of The Heritage Foundation.

Andy Patrick is an American politician from the state of South Carolina. A member of the Republican Party, Patrick was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing the 123rd district.

Thomas Jonathan Ervin is an American attorney, former judge, one-time politician and former radio station owner. A past member of the Republican Party, he also served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1979 through 1983. He had been running for Governor of South Carolina in the 2014 gubernatorial election as an Independent, but in late October he dropped out and endorsed Democratic nominee Vincent Sheheen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 South Carolina elections</span> Elections

A general election was held in the U.S. state of South Carolina on November 4, 2014. All of South Carolina's executive officers were up for election as well as both United States Senate seats, and all of South Carolina's seven seats in the United States House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 South Carolina gubernatorial election</span> Election

The 2018 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the Governor of South Carolina. Incumbent Republican Governor Henry McMaster, who took office after Nikki Haley resigned to become U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, ran for election to a full term. The primary was held on June 12, with the Democrats nominating State Representative James E. Smith Jr. McMaster failed to win a majority of the vote, and then defeated John Warren in the Republican runoff on June 26. In the general election, McMaster defeated Smith, winning election to a full term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 South Carolina elections</span>

A general election was held in the U.S. state of South Carolina on November 6, 2018. All of South Carolina's executive officers were up for election as well as all of South Carolina's seven seats in the United States House of Representatives.

Catherine Templeton is an American attorney and political figure from South Carolina. She was a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor of South Carolina in the 2018 election. Templeton is the former President of US Brick and the former Director of the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation in the Cabinet of Governor Nikki Haley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 South Carolina's 5th congressional district special election</span>

A special election was held on June 20, 2017, to determine the member of the United States House of Representatives for South Carolina's 5th congressional district. Representative Mick Mulvaney was nominated by President Donald Trump as director of the Office of Management and Budget and confirmed by the United States Senate on February 16, 2017, necessitating his resignation from the House of Representatives.

Iris Faye Campbell was an American health advocate and politician who served as the First Lady of South Carolina from 1987 to 1995. Campbell was the widow of South Carolina Governor Carroll A. Campbell Jr., and became an activist on behalf of Alzheimer's disease patients following his 2005 death from the illness. She remained a highly influential figure in South Carolinian political and state Republican Party circles long after leaving her position in the Governor's Mansion. Her endorsements were sought after by major Republican U.S. presidential and state gubernatorial candidates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 South Carolina gubernatorial election</span> Election for Governor of South Carolina

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. McMaster won the general election with 58% of the vote — a larger margin than in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Republican Party presidential primaries</span> Ongoing electoral process in the United States

Presidential primaries and caucuses are being held to select delegates to the 2024 Republican National Convention to determine the party's nominee for president in the 2024 United States presidential election. The Republican primaries and caucuses have taken place or will take place in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories between January and June 2024. The 2024 Republican National Convention is scheduled to be held in July at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 South Carolina Republican presidential primary</span> Primary election in South Carolina

The 2024 South Carolina Republican presidential primary was held on February 24, 2024, as part of the Republican Party primaries for the 2024 presidential election. 50 delegates to the 2024 Republican National Convention were allocated on a selection basis.

References

  1. Hamby, Peter (May 20, 2010). "Haley has momentum in South Carolina race, rivals admit". CNN. Archived from the original on May 23, 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  2. Barrett running for S.C. governor Archived 2009-03-05 at the Wayback Machine The State, Mar. 4, 2009
  3. Lt Gov Bauer makes run for governor official Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine WPDE, Oct. 29, 2009
  4. Haley announces run for governor Archived 2013-02-05 at archive.today The State, May 14, 2009
  5. Henry McMaster seeking S.C. Governor post Archived 2013-01-19 at archive.today WCBD, August 3, 2009
  6. "Governor Mitt Romney Endorses Nikki Haley for South Carolina Governor". Nikkihaley.com. March 16, 2010. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  7. "Sarah Palin to Endorse Nikki Haley". Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  8. O'Connor, John (November 12, 2009). "Jenny Sanford endorses Nikki Haley - Yahoo elections". TheState.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  9. "Vice President Cheney Endorses Gresham Barrett". GreshamBarrett.com. June 1, 2010. Archived from the original on June 2, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  10. 1 2 ANDY BARR. "Rudy latest '08 vet to endorse in S.C. – Jessica Taylor". Politico.Com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  11. "Henry McMaster Endorsed by David Beasley wltx.com | Columbia, SC News, Weather and Sports |". Wltx.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  12. [ dead link ]
  13. 1 2 3 "South Carolina Primary Results". Politico. June 8, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
  14. Ford to focus on return of video poker Post and Courier, Jan. 14, 2009
  15. Jim Rex announces campaign for governor Archived 2013-01-19 at archive.today WCBD, September 15, 2009
  16. Sheheen Announces Run for Governor WLTX, Oct. 28, 2009
  17. Dwight Drake Drops out of SC race Archived 2011-07-10 at the Wayback Machine Drake for South Carolina, March 5, 2010
  18. Irmo man clears hurdle to run for governor [ permanent dead link ] WACH, March 1, 2010
  19. Green, Libertarian, Working Families, Labor, Constitution, United Citizens, Independence Archived 2010-06-08 at the Wayback Machine - List of candidates who have filed with these parties. Candidates are nominated by convention and do not appear on Primary ballots.
  20. "Rex counting on fusion voters in governor's race". GoUpstate.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  21. "ACLU to Argue in Appeals Court That South Carolina's Ballot Access Law Is Unconstitutional". CommonDreams.org. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  22. Ten Gubernatorial Candidates to Share Stage for Historic Debate on ETV Archived 2010-03-01 at the Wayback Machine SCETV Website, Oct. 23, 2009
  23. "WFAE 90.7 FM". Wfae.org. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  24. "2010 Governors Race Ratings". Cook Political Report. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  25. "Governor Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report . Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  26. "2010 Governor Races". RealClearPolitics . Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  27. "THE CRYSTAL BALL'S FINAL CALLS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  28. "Race Ratings Chart: Governor". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 5, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  29. "SC - Election Results".
Debates
Official campaign websites