Jim Hodges

Early life and career

James Hovis Hodges was born on November 9, 1956 to parents George N. and Betty H. Hodges. He grew up in Lancaster, South Carolina, near the North Carolina border. He attended Davidson College and transferred to the University of South Carolina, where he graduated with a BSBA in 1979. During his undergraduate studies, Hodges worked summers at a cotton mill to pay for his schooling.

In 1982, Hodges earned a J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law. From 1983 to 1986, Hodges served as Lancaster County Attorney.

South Carolina House of Representatives

At age 30, Hodges first won an election in a December 1986 special election for the 45th district seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives vacated by the late Tom Mangum. While in the House, Hodges served as chair of the House Judiciary Committee from 1992 until 1994 and as House Democratic Leader from 1995 until 1997.

The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce named Hodges "Legislator of the Year" in 1993, and the National Federation of Independent Business bestowed Hodges with its "Guardian of Small Business" award.

While serving in the state legislature, Hodges also worked as general counsel for The Springs Company.

1998 campaign

Hodges entered the 1998 gubernatorial election in South Carolina an underdog but took advantage of controversy and missteps by incumbent Republican governor David Beasley, namely Beasley's indecisiveness on allowing a Confederate flag to fly at the state capitol and call to eliminate video poker. Donations from video gambling interests helped Beasley narrow a near million-dollar fundraising gap with Beasley.

In what was reported as an upset victory, Hodges won the gubernatorial race with a 53 to 45 percent margin and won 35 of 46 counties. Hodges became the first challenger to defeat a sitting governor since the South Carolina constitution first allowed consecutive terms in 1980.

Term as governor (1999–2003)

As South Carolina's 114th governor, Hodges signed a law that made Martin Luther King, Jr. Day an official state holiday; South Carolina was the last state in the U.S. to do so. That law also added a Confederate Memorial Day, a move that drew opposition from the NAACP. He played an instrumental role in moving the Confederate flag from the state Capitol's dome to its grounds. He also instituted the construction of the New Cooper River Bridge in Charleston, which is North America's longest cabled spanned bridge.

Public education was a major focus in the Hodges administration, as Hodges oversaw the founding of the South Carolina Education Lottery and the First Steps preschool initiative. The governor also helped pass a $1.1 billion school construction initiative, and the lottery funded millions in college scholarships to South Carolina students.

Hodges received criticism in his first year in office for his management of the Hurricane Floyd evacuation, particularly his decision not to make Interstate 26 one-way westbound. Hodges also received blame for financial problems with the state Department of Commerce and long lines at Division of Motor Vehicles offices.

In 2003, the University of South Carolina self-reported to the NCAA several secondary recruiting violations on Hodges' part. Hodges had met with recruits, something he was prohibited from doing as an ex-oficio trustee of the university.

2002 campaign

Like Hodges' 1998 bid, the race concentrated on issues such as education and the state budget. On November 5, 2002, former U.S. Representative Mark Sanford defeated Hodges in the general election for governor, 53 to 47 percent.

During the campaign, Sanford "likened Hodges to a weasel and to former President Bill Clinton and Al Gore," reported The State in October 2002. To date, Hodges remains the last Democrat to have served as governor of South Carolina.

Post-political career

Since leaving office as governor, Hodges has served as a senior advisor at McGuire Woods Consulting, LLC, and as partner in the affiliated law firm of McGuireWoods, LLP, and is based in Columbia, South Carolina.

He endorsed General Wesley Clark (D-Arkansas) in the 2004 Democratic presidential primaries.

In 2007, Hodges publicly supported Stephen Colbert's attempt to run for president in the South Carolina primaries, and even offered himself up as a vice presidential choice should the comedian actually win the nomination. In February 2008 the former governor officially endorsed U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) in the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries. The Obama campaign, in turn, named Hodges as one of its national co-chairs.

Hodges and his wife Rachel live in Columbia with their two sons. He is an Episcopalian.