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.
Republican Nikki Haley defeated Democrat Vincent Sheheen in the general election by a margin of 4.5%. As of 2023, this is the closest that the Democrats have come to winning the governorship of South Carolina since their last victory in 1998. This is the first open-seat election since 1994. Haley was re-elected in 2014 in a rematch with Sheheen.
Republican primary According to CNN, Haley initially entered the gubernatorial primary as a dark horse candidate. In an article covering her surge in the primary in the weeks prior to the election, it was noted that a "surprise" endorsement from former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin boosted Haley's candidacy. Haley's campaign was backed by TV ads run by ReformSC, an advocacy group funded by allies of outgoing Governor Mark Sanford.
Candidates Gresham Barrett, U.S. representativeBarrett running for S.C. governor The State, Mar. 4, 2009 André Bauer, lieutenant governorLt Gov Bauer makes run for governor official WPDE, Oct. 29, 2009 Nikki Haley, state representativeHaley announces run for governor The State, May 14, 2009 Henry McMaster, state attorney generalHenry McMaster seeking S.C. Governor post WCBD, August 3, 2009
Endorsements
Nikki Haley Former Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK), former Republican vice presidential candidate Former Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA), former presidential candidate for 2008 Republican nomination Former First Lady of South Carolina Jenny Sanford Republican Liberty Caucus
Gresham Barrett Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney
Henry McMaster Former Governor David Beasley (R-SC) 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
André Bauer Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR), former presidential candidate for 2008 Republican nomination
Polling Poll sourceDate(s) administered Samplesize Margin oferrorHenry McMasterGresham BarrettAndré BauerNikki HaleyOtherUndecided Public Policy Polling (report) June 5–6, 2010 998 ± 3.1% 16% 23% 12% 43% -- 7% Public Policy Polling (report) May 22–23, 2010 638 ± 3.9% 18%16% 13% 39% -- 14%Rasmussen Reports (report) May 17, 2010 931 ± 4.5% 19%17% 12% 30% 3% 13%Rasmussen Reports (report) March 3, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 21%14% 17% 12% 9%29%InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion Research () December 16, 2009 371 ± 5.1% 22% 9% 22% 13%6%28%
Runoff Poll sourceDate(s) administered Samplesize Margin oferror Nikki Haley Gresham Barrett Undecided Public Policy Polling (report) June 5–6, 2010 998 ± 3.1% 51% 35% 14%
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates Robert Ford, state senator from CharlestonFord to focus on return of video poker Post and Courier, Jan. 14, 2009 Jim Rex, state superintendent of education from Fairfield CountyJim Rex announces campaign for governor WCBD, September 15, 2009 Vincent Sheheen, state senator from CamdenSheheen Announces Run for Governor WLTX, Oct. 28, 2009
Polling Poll sourceDate(s) administered Samplesize Margin oferrorJim RexVincent SheheenRobert FordDwight Drake*OtherUndecided Public Policy Polling (report) May 22–23, 2010 410 ± 4.8% 30% 36% 11% -- --23%Rasmussen Reports (report) May 17, 2010 404 ± 5.0% 22% 30% 4% -- 12%32%Rasmussen Reports (report) March 3, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 16% 16% 12% 5% 15%37% As of March 5, 2010 Dwight Drake withdrew from the race for governor.Dwight Drake Drops out of SC race Drake for South Carolina, March 5, 2010
Results
Other parties Morgan Reeves, businessman, minister, and retired National Football League player from IrmoIrmo man clears hurdle to run for governor WACH, March 1, 2010 Reeves was nominated on March 30 by the United Citizens Party and South Carolina Green Party on April 7 (see SC Election Commission website). He appeared on the November 2 general election ballot for both parties. An Independent, Reeves collected enough voter petition signatures to qualify by the July 15 deadline onto a third ballot line.Green, Libertarian, Working Families, Labor, Constitution, United Citizens, Independence - List of candidates who have filed with these parties. Candidates are nominated by convention and do not appear on primary ballots. Jim Rex, state superintendent of education from Fairfield County Rex was nominated by the Working Families Party prior to losing the Democratic primary. He did 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.
General election
Debates "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.Ten Gubernatorial Candidates to Share Stage for Historic Debate on ETV SCETV Website, Oct. 23, 2009) 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
Endorsements Senator Vincent Sheheen - South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
Representative Nikki Haley - National Rifle Association of America
Representative Nikki Haley - South Citizens for Life
Predictions Source Ranking As of Cook Political Report October 14, 2010 Rothenberg October 28, 2010 RealClearPolitics November 1, 2010 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 28, 2010 CQ Politics October 28, 2010
Polling
Poll source Dates administered Nikki Haley (R) Vincent Sheheen (D)Crantford & AssociatesCrantford & Associates October 21, 2010 48% 37%Crantford & Associates October 18, 2010 43% 41%Winthrop UniversityWinthrop University October 13, 2010 47% 39%Hamilton CampaignsHamilton Campaigns October 5, 2010 49% 44%Hamilton Campaigns October 5, 2010 49% 44%Hamilton Campaigns October 4, 2010 51% 41%Crantford & Associates October 2, 2010 45% 41%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 22, 2010 50% 33%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports August 25, 2010 52% 36%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports July 29, 2010 49% 35%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports June 23, 2010 52% 40%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports June 10, 2010 55% 34%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 22–23, 2010 44% 34%
Results
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Colleton (largest city: Walterboro) Kershaw (largest city: Camden) Florence (largest city: Florence) Charleston (largest city: Charleston) Darlington (largest city: Hartsville)
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Newberry (largest city: Newberry) Saluda (largest city: Saluda) Edgefield (largest city: Edgefield) McCormick (largest town: McCormick)
References
External links South Carolina State Election Commission South Carolina Governor Candidates at Project Vote Smart Campaign contributions for 2010 South Carolina Governor from Follow the Money South Carolina Governor 2010 from OurCampaigns.com graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com Election 2010: South Carolina Governor from Rasmussen Reports 2010 South Carolina Governor from Real Clear Politics 2010 South Carolina Governor's Race from CQ Politics Race Profile in The New York Times Debates South Carolina Republican Gubernatorial Primary Debate on C-SPAN, June 1, 2010 South Carolina Democratic Gubernatorial Primary Debate on C-SPAN, June 3, 2010 South Carolina Republican Gubernatorial Primary Runoff Debate on C-SPAN, June 17, 2010 Official campaign websites Gresham Barrett for Governor André Bauer for Governor Dwight Drake for Governor Robert Ford for Governor Nikki Haley for Governor Henry McMaster for Governor Morgan Reeves for Governor Jim Rex for Governor Vincent Sheheen for Governor
fr:Élections de 2010 en Caroline du Sud