2022 South Carolina gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2022 United States gubernatorial elections.

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.

2022 South Carolina gubernatorial election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
Turnout	50.86%
Nominee Henry McMaster Joe Cunningham Party Republican Democratic Running mate Pamela Evette Tally Parham Casey Popular vote 988,501 692,691 Percentage 58.04% 40.67%
County results Congressional district results Precinct results 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

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^[2]
  • Running mate: Pamela Evette, incumbent lieutenant governor^[3]

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

• Al Bellavance, former Fort Lawn town councilor^[6][7]
• Mindy L. Steele, political consultant^[7][8]

Declined

• A. Shane Massey, Majority Leader of the South Carolina Senate^[9]
• Tim Scott, U.S. senator^[10] (ran for re-election)^[11]
• Katrina Shealy, state senator^[12][7]
• John Warren, Greenville businessman and candidate for governor in 2018^[13][14]

Endorsements

Henry McMaster

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)^[15]
• Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States (2017–2021)^[16]

U.S. senators

• Tim Scott, U.S. Senator from South Carolina (2013–present)^[17]

Governors

• Kristi Noem, Governor of South Dakota (2019–present)^[18]
• Kim Reynolds, Governor of Iowa (2017–present)^[19]

Individuals

• Drew McKissick, Chair of the South Carolina Republican Party (2017–present)^[20]

Organizations

• Republican Governors Association (RGA)^[21]
• Susan B. Anthony List, national anti-abortion nonprofit and political action group^[22]

Results

Primary results by county:

  McMaster

•   70–80%
•   80–90%
•   90-100%

South Carolina gubernatorial Republican primary election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Henry McMaster (incumbent)	306,555	83.0%
	Republican	Harrison Musselwhite	61,545	16.7%
Total votes			367,689	100%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Joe Cunningham, former U.S. representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district^[23]

Eliminated in primary

• Carlton Boyd^[7]
• Mia McLeod, state senator^[24]
• Calvin "CJ Mack" McMillan, singer^[7]
• William H. Williams, former postmaster, veteran and candidate for South Carolina's 7th congressional district in 2020^[7][8]

Withdrew

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

Declined

• Stephen K. Benjamin, former mayor of Columbia^[27]
• Mandy Powers Norrell, former state representative and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2018^[24] (endorsed McLeod)^[28]
• Todd Rutherford, Minority Leader of the South Carolina House of Representatives^[24][7]

Endorsements

Joe Cunningham

U.S. senators

• Doug Jones, former U.S. senator from Alabama (2018–2021)^[29]

State representatives

• Todd Rutherford, Minority Leader of the South Carolina House of Representatives (2013–present)^[30]

Local officials

• Kylon Middleton, Charleston County councilor^[31]

Organizations

• 314 Action^[32]

Newspapers

• Charleston City Paper^[33]

Mia McLeod

State legislators

• Marlon Kimpson, state senator (2013–present)^[34]
• Mandy Powers Norrell, former state representative (2012–2020) and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2018^[28]

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%

South Carolina gubernatiorial Democratic primary election, 2022

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			180,931	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

• Tally Parham Casey, law firm CEO and former South Carolina Air National Guard fighter pilot^[36][37]

Made shortlist

• Rosalyn Glenn, financial planner and nominee for South Carolina State Treasurer in 2018^[36]
• Jermaine Johnson, state representative^[36]
• Kimberly Johnson, state representative^[36]
• Meghan Smith, Spartanburg city councilor^[36]
• Ed Sutton, real estate agent and U.S. Air Force pilot^[36]
• Spencer Wetmore, state representative^[36]
• Kathryn Whitaker, law firm chief marketing officer^[36]

Declined

• Mia McLeod, state senator and runner-up in the gubernatorial primary^[36]
• Teresa Wilson, Columbia city manager^[36]

Independence primary

Candidates

Declared

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

Results

Independence primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independence	Jokie Beckett Jr.
	Independence	Michael Copeland
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^[7][8][38]
  • Jessica Ethridge, vice chair of South Carolina Libertarian Party
• Gary Votour (Labor), healthcare advocate and retired GIS mapper.^[26][7] Labor Party candidates' names were kept off the ballot after court ruling.^[39][40]
  • Running mate: Harold Geddings III, candidate for South Carolina's 2nd congressional district in 2014^[26]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[41]	Solid R	July 26, 2022
Inside Elections[42]	Solid R	July 22, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball[43]	Safe R	June 29, 2022
Politico[44]	Solid R	April 1, 2022
RCP[45]	Safe R	June 8, 2022
Fox News[46]	Solid R	May 12, 2022
538[47]	Solid R	July 31, 2022
Elections Daily[48]	Safe R	November 7, 2022

Post-primary endorsements

Henry McMaster (R)

Executive Branch officials

• Mike Pence, 48th vice president of the United States (2017–2021)^[49]

U.S. senators

• Rick Santorum, U.S. senator from Pennsylvania (1995–2007) and candidate for president in 2012^[49]

U.S. representatives

• Tom Rice, U.S. representative from South Carolina's 7th congressional district (2013–2023)^[49]
• Joe Wilson, U.S. representative from South Carolina's 2nd congressional district (2001–present)^[49]

Governors

• Mike Huckabee, 44th governor of Arkansas (1996–2007) and candidate for President in 2008 and 2016^[49]

Statewide officials

• Mark Hammond, Secretary of State of South Carolina (2003–present)^[49]
• Robert Livingston, South Carolina Adjutant General (2011–2019)^[49]
• Hugh Weathers, South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture (2005–present)^[49]

State legislators

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

Sheriffs

• 16 county sheriffs^[49]

Local officials

• Brenda Bethune, Mayor of Myrtle Beach (2018–present)^[49]
• Will Haynie, Mayor of Mount Pleasant (2017–present)^[49]
• Steve MacDougall, Mayor of Lexington (2013–present)^[49]
• Robert McLean, Mayor of Clinton (2011–present)^[49]
• Daniel Rickenmann, Mayor of Columbia (2022–present)^[50]

Organizations

• National Federation of Independent Business^[51]
• NRA Political Victory Fund^[52][49]
• South Carolina Citizens for Life^[49]

Joe Cunningham (D)

State representatives

• Deon Tedder, state representative (2020–present)^[53]

Local officials

• Joseph P. Riley Jr., former mayor of Charleston (1975–2016)^[54]

Organizations

• Everytown for Gun Safety^[55]
• Planned Parenthood^[56]
• South Carolina Education Association^[57]

Polling

Graphical summary

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Henry McMaster (R)	Joe Cunningham (D)	Other	Undecided
Echelon Insights (R)[58]	August 24 – September 7, 2022	600 (LV)	± 3.7%	50%	44%	6%	0%
Impact Research (D)[59][A]	August 24–30, 2022	700 (LV)	± 3.7%	49%	42%	4%[b]	5%
The Trafalgar Group (R)[60]	August 25–28, 2022	1,071 (LV)	± 2.9%	51%	43%	2%[c]	4%
Blueprint Polling (D)[61]	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
					Henry McMaster	Joe Cunningham	Morgan Reeves	Gary Votour
[62]	Oct 26, 2022	South Carolina ETV	Gavin Jackson Andy Shain		P	P	N	N

Results

State Senate districts results

Swing by county

Legend

•   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%

Trend by county

Legend

•   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^[63]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Henry McMaster (incumbent) Pamela Evette (incumbent)	988,501	58.04%	+4.08%
	Democratic	Joe Cunningham Tally Parham Casey	692,691	40.67%	−5.25%
	Libertarian	Morgan Bruce Reeves Jessica Ethridge	20,826	1.22%	N/A
	Write-in		1,174	0.07%
Total votes			1,703,192	100.00%	N/A
Turnout			1,718,626	50.86%
Registered electors			3,379,089
	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 six of seven congressional districts.^[64]

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)
			Russell Fry (118th Congress)

See also

• 2022 South Carolina elections

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