South Carolinians will chose a new governor on Nov. 6 the general gubernatorial election. In the running are Republican incumbent Henry McMaster and Democrat James Smith.
McMaster is running for his first full-term as governor, as he took office following Nikki Haley’s appointment as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Smith, who has served as a S.C. House Representative since 1997, won the Democratic primary in June. He has since attempted to be listed on the ballot as the candidate for three other parties: the Green Party, the Working Families Party, and the Libertarian Party.
When multiple parties support one candidate and as a result, that candidates name appears multiple times on the ballot then fusion voting occurs and it can create much criticism from other politicians and voters.
After facing this harsh criticism and the potential loss of the Democratic Party nomination, Smith pulled his applications.
“…We withdrew our names from consideration by those other parties on Friday, in large part because we learned that our good-faith gesture was to be attacked by some who were playing the kinds of cynical, destructive political games that are precisely the reason why so many voters are turned off by the whole political process these days,” Smith said in a press release.
Although Smith and running mate Mandy Norrell only have the nomination of the Democratic Party, Smith stated that he seeks to represent all voters.
“We are running to serve ALL South Carolinians, regardless of party. It was in that spirit that we considered running under the banners of several other parties, to let people beyond our own party base know that we intend to serve them in office as well” Smith announced.
Smith is endorsed by former Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate Distinction and former Vice President Joe Biden, while McMaster has endorsements from the National Rifle Association, the pro-life group Citizens for Life, and Donald J. Trump.
McMaster won the Republican nomination following a runoff election against John Warren in June.
“I’m fighting to ensure South Carolina is the best place to live, work, and raise a family. We need conservative reforms to tackle the issues facing our great state,” McMaster’s campaign website stated, “It’s up to us to take a stand against liberals who would force policies that destroy our values.”
McMaster, who was a staunch opponent of Obamacare during his time as Attorney General, said he wishes to improve health care in South Carolina by removing mandates and regulation from the health industry and increasing the use of telemedicine.
Smith’s campaign is running on the idea to expand Medicaid and get South Carolina closer to universal health care.
Smith has stated that he is in favor of changing gun laws in South Carolina that will close the Charleston Loophole, which grants those seemingly unfit to own a firearm the ability to purchase one because of the three-day background check defaults. McMaster uses his position to defend the second amendment.
Both candidates are champions for change in the state’s education system, which includes implementing more technology and computer science based classes and training.
McMaster advocates for a greater number of charter schools in the state and put more funding directly into the classroom, while Smith has said he would like to give all teachers a 2% raise, lower tuition costs, and create more accessible, quality education for students in rural and low-income areas.
The general election will be held on Nov. 6. Along with the governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture, Comptroller General, State Superintendent, and 7 seats in the U.S. House Representatives all being voted on.