The 2010 South Carolina gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Republican Governor Mark Sanford was term limited and unable to seek re-election. Primary elections took place on June 8, 2010 and a runoff election, as was necessary on the Republican side, was held two weeks later on June 22.
The Republican candidate Nikki Haley defeated the Democratic candidate Vincent Sheheen, in the general election.
Candidates
Robert Ford, State Senator from Charleston
Jim Rex, State Superintendent of Education from Fairfield County
Vincent Sheheen, State Senator from Camden
as of March 5, 2010 Dwight Drake withdrew from the race for Governor.
Candidates
Gresham Barrett, U.S. Congressman
André Bauer, Lieutenant Governor
Nikki Haley, State Representative
Henry McMaster, State Attorney General
Former Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA), former presidential candidate for 2008 Republican nomination
Former Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK), former Republican Vice Presidential candidate
Former First Lady of South Carolina Jenny Sanford
Republican Liberty Caucus
Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney
Former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani (R-NY), former presidential candidate for 2008 Republican Nomination
Senator John McCain (R-AZ), former candidate for 2008 Presidential Election
Former Governor David Beasley (R-SC)
Andre Bauer
Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR), former presidential candidate for 2008 Republican nomination
Green Party and United Citizens Party candidate
Morgan Reeves, Businessman, Roadway Land And Development Clearing: REEVES GROUP Minister (Christianity) A.M.E. Minister and retired National Football League player from Irmo DR Reeves was nominated March 30 by the United Citizens Party and South Carolina Green Party April 7 (see SC Election Commission website). Morgan Bruce Reeves will appear on the November 2nd general election ballot for both parties. An Independent, DR Reeves has collected enough voter petition signatures to qualify by the July 15th deadline onto a 3rd ballot line.
Working Families Party candidate (ineligible)
Jim Rex, State Superintendent of Education from Fairfield CountyRex was nominated by the Working Families Party prior to losing the Democratic primary. Rex will not appear on the Working Families ballot line in November due to South Carolina's "sore loser" law that requires candidates not to seek nominations from multiple parties from appearing on the ballot after they lose any one party's nomination (see candidate party pledge forms). Several election law issues are before US appellate court in Richmond, Virginia regarding conformity to the 1965 Voting Rights Act and US Constitutional provisions, see ACLU/Platt v SC
Senator Vincent Sheheen -- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
Representative Nikki Haley-- National Rifle Association
Representative Nikki Haley-- South Citizens for Life
"First in the State" Republican Gubernatorial Primary Debate
Sponsored by the Republican Parties of Newberry and Laurens Counties
Aired on WIS-TV on September 22, 2009
Watch here
"Spotlight on the Candidates" Joint Gubernatorial Primary Debate
Sponsored by the SC Natural Resources Society
Aired on SCETV on November 3, 2009
(This debate marked the first time in state history that gubernatorial primary candidates from both parties participated in the same debate.)
Watch here
SCGOP Gubernatorial Debate
Sponsored by the South Carolina Republican Party
Moderated by MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski
Aired on WCSC-TV on January 28, 2010
Watch here
Republican Candidates For South Carolina Governor April Debate: Watch here
