South Carolina gubernatorial election, 2018

South Carolina gubernatorial election, 2018

November 6, 2018

Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Governor Nikki Haley Republican

The 2018 South Carolina gubernatorial election will take place on November 6, 2018, to elect the Governor of South Carolina. Incumbent Republican Governor Nikki Haley is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Yancey McGill, former Democratic Lieutenant Governor and former Democratic State Senator^[1][2]
• Tommy Pope, Speaker Pro Tempore of the South Carolina House of Representatives^[3][2]
• Catherine Templeton, former Director of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and former Director of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation^[4]

Potential

• Tom Davis, State Senator^[5][2]
• Jeff Duncan, U.S. Representative^[6]
• Kirkman Finlay, State Representative^[5][2]
• Curtis Loftis, State Treasurer^[6][2]
• Henry McMaster, Lieutenant Governor and candidate for Governor in 2010^[2][7]
• Mick Mulvaney, U.S. Representative^[6][2]
• Mark Sanford, U.S. Representative and former Governor^[6][2]
• Tim Scott, U.S. Senator^[8]
• Bill Stern, real estate developer and former South Carolina Ports Authority Chairman^[9][2]
• Joe Taylor, former South Carolina Secretary of Commerce^[10]
• Alan Wilson, Attorney General^[6][2]

Declined

• Mikee Johnson, businessman and former Chairman of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce^[11]
• Billy Wilkins, former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit^[2][12][13]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Potential

• Steve Benjamin, Mayor of Columbia^[6][2][14]
• Elizabeth Colbert Busch, Director of Business Development at Clemson University’s Restoration Institute and nominee for SC-01 in 2013^[15]
• Terrence Culbreath, Mayor of Johnston^[14]
• Brad Hutto, State Senator and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2014^[2][15][14]
• Marlon Kimpson, State Senator^[2][15][14]
• Gerald Malloy, State Senator^[2][14]
• Thomas McElveen, State Senator^[15]
• Russell Ott, State Representative^[15]
• David Pascoe, Solicitor for South Carolina's 1st Circuit^[15]
• Mandy Powers Norrell, State Representative^[15]
• Bakari Sellers, former State Representative and nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 2014^[6][15][14]
• Vincent Sheheen, State Senator and nominee in 2010 and 2014^[2]
• James Smith, State Representative^{[6][2][15][14]}
• Marguerite Willis, attorney^[15]
• Stephen Wukela, Mayor of Florence^[14]

Declined

• Inez Tenenbaum, former State Superintendent of Education, former Chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2004^[15][14]

References

1. Shain, Andrew (March 21, 2016). "EXCLUSIVE: Former Lt. Gov. McGill running for governor as a Republican". The State. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
2. Jackson, Gavin (September 4, 2016). "2018 governor's race starts to loom large after November. So who's going to run?". The Post and Courier. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
3. Marchant, Bristow (November 15, 2014). "State Rep. Pope of York already thinking about 2018 gubernatorial election". The Herald. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
4. Duncan, Emma; Kropf, Schuyler (November 19, 2016). "Catherine Templeton running for governor". The Post and Courier. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
5. "2018 SC Governor's Race: Status Check". FITS News. March 9, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
6. Brack, Andy (July 17, 2015). "Possible candidates already eyeing governor's mansion". Statehouse Report. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
7. Kinnard, Meg (August 25, 2016). "McMaster is 'hoping to be in' next South Carolina gov's race". The Herald. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
8. http://www.postandcourier.com/news/tim-scott-trey-gowdy-could-team-up-for-governor-lt/article_3db2dfa8-a84c-11e6-89a3-6bacb2ef32cd.html
9. Shain, Andrew (April 30, 2016). "Developer considering Trump-like run for SC governor". The State. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
10. "Joe Taylor Mulls 2018 Gubernatorial Bid". FITS News. September 8, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
11. "Governor 2018: Mikee Johnson Is Out". FITS News. March 18, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
12. Dykes, David (August 26, 2016). "Billy Wilkins considering run for governor in '18". Greenville Journal. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
13. Dykes, David (November 14, 2016). "Wilkins won't run for governor in 2018". Upstate Business Journal. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
14. Self, Jamie (September 20, 2016). "Democrats running for SC governor? It's anyone's guess". The State. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
15. Jones, Tyler (September 13, 2016). "2018 SC Governor's Race - 8 Democrats to Watch". Speak Strategic. Retrieved September 21, 2016.