Governor's race

Democrat Joe Cunningham lost his bid for governor but told supporters this is not the nail in his coffin, "far from that, folks"

Republican South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has won a historic reelection bid. The 75-year-old incumbent defeated Democrat Joe Cunningham on Tuesday. If he completes his second term, McMaster would serve as governor a total of 10 years, longer than any other executive in South Carolina history. McMaster touted the state's booming economy and willingness to fight Democratic President Joe Biden when needed. He also said he would likely sign any further restrictions from the state's General Assembly beyond a six-week abortion ban currently under a court review. A Democrat hasn't won South Carolina's governor's race since 1998. Republicans also swept all other statewide races.

Joe Cunningham has chosen a civil litigator who flew combat missions in Iraq to be his running mate. Cunningham is trying to become South Carolina's first Democratic governor in 20 years. He previewed his pick of Tally Parham Casey ahead of a formal announcement Monday in her hometown of Greenville. Cunningham told The Associated Press that Casey's military service, legal savvy and the fact that she's a woman make her the right fit. Casey was South Carolina's first female fighter pilot, serving three combat tours over Iraq, and has been an attorney for more than two decades. Gov. Henry McMaster and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette filed for reelection last week.

Gov. Henry McMaster and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette made history on Wednesday as the first gubernatorial ticket to file for reelection in South Carolina. Evette signed her paperwork with state officials in Columbia. As he sought his first full term in 2018, McMaster became the first governor to run on the same ticket as his pick for lieutenant governor. At the time, Evette was a political newcomer. McMaster said he picked the Greenville businesswoman in part due to her "fresh eyes" when it came to governing, as well as her relationships with the business community.

At least some of the five South Carolina Democrats seeking their party's gubernatorial nomination are expected to debate next week, just more than a week before the state's primary elections. The South Carolina Democratic Party announced Friday that it had sanctioned the production of a debate for June 10. That's a day before South Carolina's Democrats are expected to assemble in Columbia for this year's party convention. Early voting for South Carolina's June 14 primary elections is already underway.

South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mia McLeod has rolled out an agenda she says she hopes will advance opportunities for the state's Black population. This week, the state senator from Columbia released what she called her "Advancement Agenda for Black South Carolina." McLeod says she hopes to further partnerships with historically Black colleges and institutions to increase access to affordable homeownership, quality healthcare and financial stability. McLeod's plan does not otherwise spell out details on how she would propose to achieve those goals. McLeod will face other Democrats in June's primary, including former Rep. Joe Cunningham. Republican Gov. Henry McMaster has yet to draw a primary opponent raising significant money.