# 2022 South Carolina gubernatorial election

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vte :
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.
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

* Henry McMaster, incumbent governor
** Running mate: Pamela Evette, incumbent lieutenant governor

#### Eliminated in primary

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

#### Withdrew

* Al Bellavance, former Fort Lawn town councilor
* Mindy L. Steele, political consultant

#### Declined

* A. Shane Massey, Majority Leader of the South Carolina Senate
* Tim Scott, U.S. senator (ran for re-election)
* Katrina Shealy, state senator
* John Warren, Greenville businessman and candidate for governor in 2018

### Endorsements

Executive Branch officials
* Mike Pompeo, former U.S. Secretary of State (2018–2021), former Director of the CIA (2017–2018), and former U.S. representative from Kansas's 4th congressional district (2011–2017)
* Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States (2017–2021)
U.S. senators
* Tim Scott, U.S. Senator from South Carolina (2013–present)
Governors
* Kristi Noem, Governor of South Dakota (2019–present)
* Kim Reynolds, Governor of Iowa (2017–present)
Individuals
* Drew McKissick, Chair of the South Carolina Republican Party (2017–present)
Organizations
* Republican Governors Association (RGA)
* Susan B. Anthony List, national anti-abortion nonprofit and political action group

### Results

South Carolina gubernatorial Republican primary election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Henry McMaster (incumbent) | 306,555 | 83.0% |
| | Republican | Harrison Musselwhite | 61,545 | 16.7% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 367,689 | 100% |

## Democratic primary
### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Joe Cunningham, former U.S. representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district

#### Eliminated in primary

* Carlton Boyd
* Mia McLeod, state senator
* Calvin "CJ Mack" McMillan, singer
* William H. Williams, former postmaster, veteran and candidate for South Carolina's 7th congressional district in 2020

#### Withdrew

* Gary Votour, healthcare advocate and retired GIS mapper (running under Labor nomination)

#### Declined

* Stephen K. Benjamin, former mayor of Columbia
* Mandy Powers Norrell, former state representative and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2018 (endorsed McLeod)
* Todd Rutherford, Minority Leader of the South Carolina House of Representatives

### Endorsements

U.S. senators
* Doug Jones, former U.S. senator from Alabama (2018–2021)
State representatives
* Todd Rutherford, Minority Leader of the South Carolina House of Representatives (2013–present)
Local officials
* Kylon Middleton, Charleston County councilor
Organizations
* 314 Action
Newspapers
* Charleston City Paper
State legislators
* Marlon Kimpson, state senator (2013–present)
* Mandy Powers Norrell, former state representative (2012–2020) and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2018
Individuals
* Amanda Bonfiglio Cunningham, ex-wife of Joe Cunningham

### Results

South Carolina gubernatiorial Democratic primary election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joe Cunningham | 102,315 | 56.5% |
| | Democratic | Mia McLeod | 56,084 | 31.0% |
| | Democratic | Carlton Boyd | 9,526 | 5.3% |
| | Democratic | William Williams | 6,746 | 3.7% |
| | Democratic | Calvin McMillan | 6,260 | 3.5% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 180,931 | 100% |

### Lieutenant governor selection

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

#### Chosen as running mate

* Tally Parham Casey, law firm CEO and former South Carolina Air National Guard fighter pilot

#### Made shortlist

* Rosalyn Glenn, financial planner and nominee for South Carolina State Treasurer in 2018
* Jermaine Johnson, state representative
* Kimberly Johnson, state representative
* Meghan Smith, Spartanburg city councilor
* Ed Sutton, real estate agent and U.S. Air Force pilot
* Spencer Wetmore, state representative
* Kathryn Whitaker, law firm chief marketing officer

#### Declined

* Mia McLeod, state senator and runner-up in the gubernatorial primary
* Teresa Wilson, Columbia city manager

## Independence primary
### Candidates
#### Declared

* Jokie Beckett Jr., veteran
* Michael Copeland

### Results

Independence primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate |
| | Independence | Jokie Beckett Jr. |
| | Independence | Michael Copeland |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes |

## Independents and third parties
### Candidates
#### Declared

* Morgan Bruce Reeves (Libertarian), United Citizens and Green nominee for governor in 2010 and United Citizens nominee in 2014
** Jessica Ethridge, vice chair of South Carolina Libertarian Party
* Gary Votour (Labor), healthcare advocate and retired GIS mapper. Labor Party candidates' names were kept off the ballot after court ruling.
** Running mate: Harold Geddings III, candidate for South Carolina's 2nd congressional district in 2014

## General election
### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Solid R | July 26, 2022 |
| Inside Elections | Solid R | July 22, 2022 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe R | June 29, 2022 |
| Politico | Solid R | April 1, 2022 |
| RCP | Safe R | June 8, 2022 |
| Fox News | Solid R | May 12, 2022 |
| 538 | Solid R | July 31, 2022 |
| Elections Daily | Safe R | November 7, 2022 |

### Post-primary endorsements

Executive Branch officials
* Mike Pence, 48th vice president of the United States (2017–2021)
U.S. senators
* Rick Santorum, U.S. senator from Pennsylvania (1995–2007) and candidate for president in 2012
U.S. representatives
* Tom Rice, U.S. representative from South Carolina's 7th congressional district (2013–2023)
* Joe Wilson, U.S. representative from South Carolina's 2nd congressional district (2001–present)
Governors
* Mike Huckabee, 44th governor of Arkansas (1996–2007) and candidate for President in 2008 and 2016
Statewide officials
* Mark Hammond, Secretary of State of South Carolina (2003–present)
* Robert Livingston, South Carolina Adjutant General (2011–2019)
* Hugh Weathers, South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture (2005–present)
State legislators
* 34 state representatives
* 14 state senators
Sheriffs
* 16 county sheriffs
Local officials
* Brenda Bethune, Mayor of Myrtle Beach (2018–present)
* Will Haynie, Mayor of Mount Pleasant (2017–present)
* Steve MacDougall, Mayor of Lexington (2013–present)
* Robert McLean, Mayor of Clinton (2011–present)
* Daniel Rickenmann, Mayor of Columbia (2022–present)
Organizations
* National Federation of Independent Business
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* South Carolina Citizens for Life
State representatives
* Deon Tedder, state representative (2020–present)
Local officials
* Joseph P. Riley Jr., former mayor of Charleston (1975–2016)
Organizations
* Everytown for Gun Safety
* Planned Parenthood
* South Carolina Education Association

### Polling

Graphical summary
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Henry McMaster (R) | Joe Cunningham (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Echelon Insights (R) | August 24 – September 7, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 50% | 44% | 6% | 0% |
| Impact Research (D) | August 24–30, 2022 | 700 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 49% | 42% | 4% | 5% |
| The Trafalgar Group (R) | August 25–28, 2022 | 1,071 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 51% | 43% | 2% | 4% |
| Blueprint Polling (D) | August 24–25, 2022 | 721 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 50% | 39% | 1% | 9% |

### Debates and forums

2022 South Carolina gubernatorial debates :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Republican | Democratic | Libertarian | Labor |
| Key: P Participant N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant N Non-invitee | | | | |
| Key: P Participant N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant N Non-invitee | Key: P Participant N Non-invitee | Henry McMaster | Joe Cunningham | Morgan Reeves | Gary Votour |
| | Oct 26, 2022 | South Carolina ETV | Gavin Jackson Andy Shain | | P | P | N | N |

### Results

* Democratic — +7.5-10%
* Democratic — +5-7.5%
* Democratic — +2.5-5%
* Democratic — +0-2.5%
* Republican — +0-2.5%
* Republican — +2.5-5%
* Republican — +5-7.5%
* Republican — +7.5-10%
* Republican — +10-12.5%
* Republican — +12.5-15%
* Republican — +>15%
* Democratic — +7.5-10%
* Democratic — +5-7.5%
* Democratic — +2.5-5%
* Democratic — +0-2.5%
* Republican — +0-2.5%
* Republican — +2.5-5%
* Republican — +5-7.5%
* Republican — +7.5-10%
* Republican — +10-12.5%
* Republican — +12.5-15%
* Republican — +>15%
2022 South Carolina gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Henry McMaster (incumbent)Pamela Evette (incumbent) | 988,501 | 58.04% | +4.08% |
| | Democratic | Joe CunninghamTally Parham Casey | 692,691 | 40.67% | −5.25% |
| | Libertarian | Morgan Bruce ReevesJessica Ethridge | 20,826 | 1.22% | N/A |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 1,174 | 0.07% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,703,192 | 100.00% | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,718,626 | 50.86% | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 3,379,089 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

#### Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

* Calhoun (largest city: St. Matthews)
* Clarendon (largest city: Manning)
* Dillon (largest city: Dillon)
* Jasper (largest city: Hardeeville)

#### By congressional district

McMaster won 6 of 7 congressional districts.
| District | McMaster | Cunningham | Representative |
| 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) |
| 7th | 63% | 36% | Russell Fry (118th Congress) |