| Post: | Governor |
| Body: | South Carolina |
| Insignia: | Seal of the Governor of South Carolina.svg |
| Insigniasize: | 150 |
| Insigniacaption: | Seal of the Governor |
| Incumbent: | Henry McMaster |
| Incumbentsince: | January 24, 2017 |
| Style: | His Excellency |
| Termlength: | Four years, renewable once consecutively |
The governor of South Carolina is the head of government of South Carolina and serves as commander-in-chief of the U.S. state's military forces. The current governor is Henry McMaster.
South Carolina was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and was admitted as a state on May 23, 1788.[1] Before it declared its independence, South Carolina was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain. It seceded from the Union on December 20, 1860,[2] and was a founding member of the Confederate States of America on February 4, 1861.[3] Following the end of the American Civil War, South Carolina during Reconstruction was part of the Second Military District, which exerted some control over governor appointments and elections. South Carolina was readmitted to the Union on July 9, 1868.[4]
Under the first constitution of South Carolina, a president of the state was elected for a term of two years, who then could not run again until four years had passed. The 1865 constitution briefly increased terms to four years, but that was changed in the 1868 constitution back to two years, with no term limit. An amendment in 1926 increased term lengths to four years, but limited governors to not being able to succeed themselves; an amendment in 1981 allowed governors to succeed themselves once. The 1776 constitution created the office of vice-president, renamed to lieutenant governor in 1778, to succeed to the governorship should it become vacant.
| Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | data-sort-value="Rutledge, John" | John Rutledge [5] | [6] – March 6, 1778 | None | 1776 | ||||
| 32 | data-sort-value="Lowndes, Rawlins" | Rawlins Lowndes [7] | – January 9, 1779 | None | 1778 | ||||
| 31 | John Rutledge | – January 31, 1782 | None | 1779 | |||||
| 33 | data-sort-value="Mathews, John" | John Mathews [8] | – February 5, 1783 | None | 1782 | ||||
| 34 | Benjamin Guerard [9] | [10] – February 10, 1785 | None | 1783 | |||||
| Vacant | |||||||||
| 35 | data-sort-value="Moultrie, William" | William Moultrie [11] | [12] – February 21, 1787 | None | 1785 | ||||
| 36 | data-sort-value="Pinckney, Thomas" | Thomas Pinckney [13] | [14] – January 26, 1789 | None | 1787 | ||||
| 37 | Charles Pinckney [15] | [16] – December 5, 1792 | None | 1789 | |||||
| 1791 | |||||||||
| 35 | data-sort-value="Moultrie, William" | William Moultrie | – December 17, 1794 | Federalist | 1792 | ||||
| 38 | data-sort-value="Vanderhorst, Arnoldus" | Arnoldus Vanderhorst [17] | – December 8, 1796 | Federalist | 1794 | ||||
| 37 | data-sort-value="Pinckney, Charles" | Charles Pinckney | [18] – December 19, 1798 | Democratic- Republican | 1796 | ||||
| 39 | data-sort-value="Rutledge, Edward" | Edward Rutledge [19] | [20] – January 23, 1800 | Federalist | 1798 | ||||
| 40 | John Drayton [21] | – December 8, 1802 | Democratic- Republican | Vacant | |||||
| 1800 | |||||||||
| 41 | data-sort-value="Richardson, James" | James Burchill Richardson [22] | – December 7, 1804 | Democratic- Republican | 1802 | ||||
| 42 | data-sort-value="Hamilton, Paul" | Paul Hamilton [23] | – December 9, 1806 | Democratic- Republican | 1804 | ||||
| 37 | data-sort-value="Pinckney, Charles" | Charles Pinckney | – December 10, 1808 | Democratic- Republican | 1806 | ||||
| 40 | data-sort-value="Drayton, John" | John Drayton | [24] – December 10, 1810 | Democratic- Republican | 1808 | ||||
| 43 | data-sort-value="Middleton, Henry" | Henry Middleton [25] | [26] – December 10, 1812 | Democratic- Republican | 1810 | ||||
| 44 | data-sort-value="Alston, Joseph" | Joseph Alston [27] | – December 10, 1814 | Democratic- Republican | 1812 | ||||
| 45 | data-sort-value="Williams, David" | David Rogerson Williams [28] | – December 5, 1816 | Democratic- Republican | 1814 | ||||
| 46 | data-sort-value="Pickens, Andrew" | Andrew Pickens [29] | – December 8, 1818 | Democratic- Republican | 1816 | ||||
| 47 | data-sort-value="Geddes, John" | John Geddes [30] | [31] – December 7, 1820 | Democratic- Republican | 1818 | ||||
| 48 | data-sort-value="Bennett, Thomas" | Thomas Bennett Jr. [32] | [33] – December 9, 1822 | Democratic- Republican | 1820 | ||||
| 49 | data-sort-value="Wilson, John" | John Lyde Wilson [34] | [35] – December 3, 1824 | Democratic- Republican | 1822 | ||||
| 50 | data-sort-value="Manning, Richard 1" | Richard Irvine Manning I [36] | [37] – December 11, 1826 | Democratic- Republican | 1824 | ||||
| 51 | data-sort-value="Taylor, John" | John Taylor [38] | [39] – December 10, 1828 | Democratic- Republican | 1826 | ||||
| 52 | data-sort-value="Miller, Stephen" | Stephen Decatur Miller [40] | [41] – December 9, 1830 | Nullifier | 1828 | ||||
| 53 | data-sort-value="Hamilton, James" | James Hamilton Jr. [42] | [43] – December 11, 1832 | Nullifier | 1830 | ||||
| 54 | data-sort-value="Hayne, Robert" | Robert Y. Hayne [44] | [45] – December 11, 1834 | Nullifier | 1832 | ||||
| 55 | data-sort-value="McDuffie, George" | George McDuffie [46] | [47] – December 10, 1836 | Democratic | 1834 | ||||
| 56 | data-sort-value="Butler, Pierce" | Pierce Mason Butler [48] | – December 10, 1838 | Democratic | 1836 | ||||
| 57 | data-sort-value="Noble, Patrick" | Patrick Noble [49] | [50] – April 7, 1840 | Democratic | 1838 | ||||
| 58 | data-sort-value="Henagan, Barnabas" | Barnabas Kelet Henagan [51] | [52] – December 10, 1840 | Democratic | Vacant | ||||
| 59 | data-sort-value="Richardson, John 2" | John Peter Richardson II [53] | [54] – December 10, 1842 | Democratic | 1840 | ||||
| 60 | data-sort-value="Hammond, James" | James H. Hammond [55] | [56] – December 10, 1844 | Democratic | 1842 | ||||
| 61 | data-sort-value="Aiken, William" | William Aiken Jr. [57] | [58] – December 10, 1846 | Democratic | 1844 | ||||
| 62 | data-sort-value="Johnson, David" | David Johnson [59] | [60] – December 14, 1848 | Democratic | 1846 | ||||
| 63 | data-sort-value="Seabrook, Whitemarsh" | Whitemarsh Benjamin Seabrook [61] | [62] – December 16, 1850 | Democratic | 1848 | ||||
| 64 | data-sort-value="Means, John" | John Hugh Means [63] | [64] – December 13, 1852 | Democratic | 1850 | ||||
| 65 | data-sort-value="Manning, John" | John Lawrence Manning [65] | [66] – December 13, 1854 | Democratic | 1852 | ||||
| 66 | data-sort-value="Adams, James" | James Hopkins Adams [67] | [68] – December 11, 1856 | Democratic | 1854 | ||||
| 67 | data-sort-value="Allston, Robert" | Robert Francis Withers Allston [69] | [70] – December 13, 1858 | Democratic | 1856 | ||||
| 68 | data-sort-value="Gist, William" | William Henry Gist [71] | [72] – December 17, 1860 | Democratic | 1858 | ||||
| 69 | data-sort-value="Pickens, Francis" | Francis Wilkinson Pickens [73] | [74] – December 18, 1862 | Democratic | 1860 | ||||
| 70 | Milledge Luke Bonham [75] | [76] – December 19, 1864 | Democratic | 1862 | |||||
| Vacant | |||||||||
| 71 | data-sort-value="Magrath, Andrew" | Andrew Gordon Magrath [77] | [78] – May 28, 1865 | Democratic | 1864 | ||||
| — | Vacant | - June 30, 1865 | Vacant | ||||||
| 72 | data-sort-value="Perry, Benjamin" | Benjamin Franklin Perry [79] | [80] - November 29, 1865 | ||||||
| 73 | data-sort-value="Orr, James" | James Lawrence Orr [81] | [82] – July 9, 1868 | Democratic | 1865 | ||||
| 74 | Robert Kingston Scott [83] | [84] – December 3, 1872 | Republican | 1868 | |||||
| 1870 | |||||||||
| 75 | data-sort-value="Moses, Franklin" | Franklin J. Moses Jr. [85] | [86] – December 1, 1874 | Republican | 1872 | ||||
| 76 | Daniel Henry Chamberlain [87] | [88] – April 11, 1877 | Republican | 1874 | |||||
| 1876 | |||||||||
| 77 | Wade Hampton III [89] | [90] – February 26, 1879 | Democratic | ||||||
| 1878 | |||||||||
| 78 | data-sort-value="Simpson, William" | William Dunlap Simpson [91] | – September 1, 1880 | Democratic | Vacant | ||||
| 79 | data-sort-value="Jeter, Thomas" | Thomas Bothwell Jeter [92] | [93] – November 30, 1880 | Democratic | |||||
| 80 | data-sort-value="Hagood, Johnson" | Johnson Hagood [94] | [95] – December 5, 1882 | Democratic | 1880 | ||||
| 81 | Hugh Smith Thompson [96] | [97] – July 10, 1886 | Democratic | 1882 | |||||
| 1884 | |||||||||
| 82 | data-sort-value="Sheppard, John" | John Calhoun Sheppard [98] | [99] – November 30, 1886 | Democratic | Vacant | ||||
| 83 | John Peter Richardson III [100] | [101] – December 4, 1890 | Democratic | 1886 | |||||
| 1888 | |||||||||
| 84 | Benjamin Tillman [102] | [103] – December 4, 1894 | Democratic | 1890 | |||||
| 1892 | |||||||||
| 85 | data-sort-value="Evans, John" | John Gary Evans [104] | [105] – January 18, 1897 | Democratic | 1894 | ||||
| 86 | William Haselden Ellerbe [106] | [107] – June 2, 1899 | Democratic | 1896 | |||||
| 1898 | |||||||||
| 87 | Miles Benjamin McSweeney [108] | [109] – January 21, 1903 | Democratic | ||||||
| 1900 | |||||||||
| 88 | Duncan Clinch Heyward [110] | [111] – January 15, 1907 | Democratic | 1902 | |||||
| 1904 | |||||||||
| 89 | Martin Frederick Ansel [112] | [113] – January 17, 1911 | Democratic | 1906 | |||||
| 1908 | |||||||||
| 90 | Cole L. Blease [114] | [115] – January 14, 1915 | Democratic | 1910 | |||||
| 1912 | |||||||||
| 91 | data-sort-value="Smith, Charles" | Charles Aurelius Smith [116] | – January 19, 1915 | Democratic | Vacant | ||||
| 92 | Richard Irvine Manning III [117] | [118] – January 21, 1919 | Democratic | 1914 | |||||
| 1916 | |||||||||
| 93 | Robert Archer Cooper [119] | [120] – May 20, 1922 | Democratic | 1918 | |||||
| 1920 | |||||||||
| 94 | data-sort-value="Harvey, Wilson" | Wilson Godfrey Harvey [121] | [122] – January 16, 1923 | Democratic | Vacant | ||||
| 95 | Thomas Gordon McLeod [123] | [124] – January 18, 1927 | Democratic | 1922 | |||||
| 1924 | |||||||||
| 96 | John Gardiner Richards Jr. [125] | [126] – January 20, 1931 | Democratic | 1926 | |||||
| Vacant | |||||||||
| 97 | data-sort-value="Blackwood, Ibra" | Ibra Charles Blackwood [127] | [128] – January 15, 1935 | Democratic | 1930 | ||||
| 98 | data-sort-value="Johnston, Olin" | Olin D. Johnston [129] | [130] – January 17, 1939 | Democratic | 1934 | ||||
| 99 | data-sort-value="Maybank, Burnet" | Burnet R. Maybank [131] | [132] – November 4, 1941 | Democratic | 1938 | ||||
| 100 | data-sort-value="Harley, Joseph" | Joseph Emile Harley [133] | [134] – February 27, 1942 | Democratic | Vacant | ||||
| — | Vacant | - March 2, 1942 | — | ||||||
| 101 | data-sort-value="Jefferies, Richard" | Richard Manning Jefferies [135] | – January 19, 1943 | Democratic | |||||
| 98 | data-sort-value="Johnston, Olin" | Olin D. Johnston | [136] – January 2, 1945 | Democratic | 1942 | ||||
| 102 | data-sort-value="Williams, Ransome" | Ransome Judson Williams [137] | [138] – January 21, 1947 | Democratic | Vacant | ||||
| 103 | data-sort-value="Thurmond, Strom" | Strom Thurmond [139] | [140] – January 16, 1951 | Democratic | 1946 | ||||
| 104 | data-sort-value="Byrnes, James" | James F. Byrnes [141] | [142] – January 18, 1955 | Democratic | 1950 | ||||
| 105 | data-sort-value="Timmerman, George" | George Bell Timmerman Jr. [143] | [144] – January 20, 1959 | Democratic | 1954 | ||||
| 106 | data-sort-value="Hollings, Fritz" | Fritz Hollings [145] | [146] – January 15, 1963 | Democratic | 1958 | ||||
| 107 | data-sort-value="Russell, Donald" | Donald S. Russell [147] | [148] – April 22, 1965 | Democratic | 1962 | ||||
| 108 | Robert Evander McNair [149] | [150] – January 19, 1971 | Democratic | Vacant | |||||
| 1966 | |||||||||
| 109 | data-sort-value="West, John" | John C. West [151] | [152] – January 15, 1975 | Democratic | 1970 | ||||
| 110 | data-sort-value="Edwards, James" | James B. Edwards [153] | [154] – January 10, 1979 | Republican | 1974 | ||||
| 111 | Richard Riley [155] | [156] – January 14, 1987 | Democratic | 1978 | |||||
| 1982 | |||||||||
| 112 | Carroll A. Campbell Jr. [157] | [158] – January 11, 1995 | Republican | 1986 | |||||
| 1990 | |||||||||
| 113 | data-sort-value="Beasley, David" | David Beasley [159] | [160] – January 13, 1999 | Republican | 1994 | ||||
| 114 | data-sort-value="Hodges, Jim" | Jim Hodges [161] | [162] – January 15, 2003 | Democratic | 1998 | ||||
| 115 | Mark Sanford [163] | [164] – January 12, 2011 | Republican | 2002 | |||||
| 2006 | |||||||||
| 116 | Nikki Haley [165] | [166] – January 24, 2017 | Republican | 2010 | |||||
| 2014 | |||||||||
| 117 | Henry McMaster [167] | [168] – Incumbent | Republican | ||||||
| 2018 | |||||||||
| 2022 | |||||||||