SC Governors – Henry Dargan McMaster, 2017-present

South Carolina SC History SC Governors Governor Henry Dargan McMaster Also see: SC Government

Henry Dargan McMaster

Born: May 27, 1947 in Columbia, SC

Died:

Buried:

Religion: Presbyterian

Political Party: Republican

(Photo: Governor's Office)

Henry McMaster: Education

• University of South Carolina - B.A., History, 1969
• University of South Carolina School of Law - J.D., 1973

Henry McMaster: Occupations

• Served in the U.S. Army Reserves, 1969-1975.
  
• Practiced law for more than 40 years, in private practice as well as serving as both a federal and state prosecutor.
  

Partial Term Events, 2017-2019

• McMaster was sworn in as governor on January 24, 2017, when Nikki Haley resigned after being confirmed that same day as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. At 69 years and 8 months of age, McMaster became the oldest person to take over the position of SC governor.
  

1st Term Events, 2019-2023

• McMaster was elected in November 2018 to serve a full-term as governor which began in January 2019.
  
  
• March 2020, McMaster declared a state of emergency and imposed gathering restrictions in response to COVID-19. McMaster pressed to resume economic activities sooner than much of the country.
  
  
• February 18, 2021, McMaster signed into law the "Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act" which banned abortions after six weeks. The following day, a federal judge suspended this law until June 2022.
  

2nd Term Events, 2023-2027

• McMaster continued his support of an abortion ban when in May 2023 he signed similar legislation as in 2021. Once again, the next day the law was blocked in court. The matter was appealed to the South Carolina Supreme Court which lifted the block and reinstating the strict law on August 23, 2023.
  
  
• Creating economic development through business-friendly policies and a push for lower personal state income tax rates were prominent issues for McMaster during his time as governor.
  

Henry McMaster: Other Government Positions

• South Carolina Attorney General, 2003-2011
  
• South Carolina Lieutenant Governor, 2015-2017

Henry McMaster: Other Distinctions

• Awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Governor David Beasley in 1996.
  
• As SC's Attorney General, Henry McMaster was named as the 2005 National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the Humane Society of the United States for his work to combat dog-fighting and animal cruelty.
  
• On January 29, 2025 McMaster became South Carolina's longest serving governor.
  

Henry McMaster: Election Results

Democratic Primary – 1st term, June 12, 2018
James Smith	148,633 votes	61.81%
Marguerite Willis	66,248 votes	27.55%
Phil Noble	25,587 votes	10.64%

Republican Primary – 1st term, June 12, 2018
Henry McMaster	155,723 votes	42.32%
John Warren	102,390 votes	27.82%
Catherine Templeton	78,705 votes	21.39%
Kevin Bryant	24,790 votes	6.74%
John Yancey McGill	6,375 votes	1.73%

Republican Primary Run-off – 1st term, June 26, 2018
Henry McMaster	184,286 votes	53.63%
John Warren	159,349 votes	46.37%

General Election – 1st term, November 6, 2018
Henry McMaster (Republican)	921,342 votes	53.96%
James Smith (Democratic)	784,182 votes	45.92%
Write-ins	2,045 votes	.12%

Democratic Primary – 2nd term, June 14, 2022
Joe Cunningham	102,473 votes	56.43%
Mia S McLeod	56,406 votes	31.06%
Carlton Boyd	9,579 votes	5.28%
William H Williams	6,829 votes	3.76%
Calvin "CJ" Mack McMillan	6,303 votes	3.47%

Republican Primary – 2nd term, June 14, 2022
Henry McMaster	306,543 votes	83.30%
Harrison Musselwhite	61,462 votes	16.70%

General Election – 2nd term, November 8, 2022
Henry McMaster (Republican)	988,501 votes	58.04%
Joe Cunningham (Democratic)	692,691 votes	40.67%
Bruce Reeves (Libertarian)	20,826 votes	1.22%
Write-ins	1,174 votes	.07%