Mia McLeod

Mia S. McLeod (born August 19, 1968)^[1][2] is an independent American politician serving as a member of the South Carolina Senate from the 22nd district. She previously served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2011 to 2016. On June 3, 2021, McLeod announced her candidacy for the 2022 South Carolina gubernatorial election,^[3] becoming the first Black woman to run for Governor of South Carolina, generating national and international headlines.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]}

Mia McLeod
McLeod's gubernatorial campaign kickoff, 2021
Member of the South Carolina Senate from the 22nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 2017
Preceded by	Joel Lourie
Personal details
Born	(1968-08-19) August 19, 1968 (age 55) Bennettsville, South Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (before 2023) Independent (2023–present)
Education	University of South Carolina (BA, JD)

Early life

McLeod is the daughter of the late James S. and Shirley J. McLeod. McLeod earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Carolina and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Career

Prior to her election to the South Carolina State Legislature, McLeod worked in various state agencies including the Office of the South Carolina Attorney General.^[1]

In response to recent restrictions on abortion rights in her state, McLeod sponsored a bill (H. 4544) in December 2015 that would impose similar restrictions for access to Viagra and similar drugs that treat erectile dysfunction.^[11][12] During her career, McLeod has criticized what she describes as the "old guard" of South Carolina politics.^[13]

McLeod endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton for president in 2016.^[14]

McLeod serves on the Senate Corrections and Penology; Family and Veterans' Services; Judiciary; Medical Affairs, and Rules Committees.^[15]

In 2021, she announced her candidacy for Governor of South Carolina. She was defeated in the Democratic primary by former United States Representative Joe Cunningham.^[16] On January 10, 2023, she announced her decision to leave the Democratic Party and become an Independent.^[17][18][19]

In 2023, she joined with a Democrat and three Republican women state senators, calling themselves, "The Sister Senators": Sen. Mia McLeod, Sen. Katrina Shealy (R-Lexington), Sen. Penry Gustafson (R-Kershaw), Sen. Margie Bright-Matthews (D-Colleton), and Sen. Sandy Senn (R-Charleston). They blocked male state senators from passing a bill that would ban all abortions in South Carolina.^[20] She favors a codification of Roe, which had been overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.^[21]

In September 2023 it was announced that "The Sister Senators" had been selected to receive the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award. The award was presented in an October 2023 ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.^[22]

Electoral history

South Carolina gubernatiorial Democratic primary election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joe Cunningham	102,315	57
	Democratic	Mia McLeod	56,084	31
	Democratic	Carlton Boyd	9,526	5
	Democratic	William Williams	6,746	4
	Democratic	Calvin McMillan	6,260	3
Total votes			180,931	100

References

1. "Representative Mia S. McLeod". South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Legislative Services Agency. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
2. "United States Public Records, 1970-2009: Butler Maymia Mcleod". Family Search. Intellectual Reserve, Inc. 2015. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
3. "How Mia McLeod could make the 2022 SC governor's race different". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
4. Chamlee, Virginia (June 3, 2021). "South Carolina State Senator Becomes First Black Woman to Run for Governor". People Magazine. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
5. "SC lawmaker makes history as 1st Black woman to run for gov". The Independent UK. Associated Press. June 3, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
6. Walker, DeArbea (February 4, 2022). "These 6 women want to be the first Black female governor in the US, but they have to overcome fundraising and party support obstacles their white counterparts rarely face". The Insider. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
7. Francis, Marquise (December 13, 2021). "There have been zero Black female governors in U.S. history. 2022 may change that". Yahoo News. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
8. Smith, DeMario P. (June 4, 2021). "Mia McLeod Is The First Black Woman To Run For Governor In South Carolina". Blavity. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
9. Lawrence, Stratton (June 14, 2022). "In South Carolina, race and gender animate Democratic gubernatorial primary". Washington Post. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
10. "South Carolina Sen. Mia McLeod Makes History as First Black Woman to Run for Governor". Inside Edition. June 3, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
11. "'Viagra bill' mimics state's restrictions on abortion". MSNBC. 19 December 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
12. "H. 4544". South Carolina General Assembly. Retrieved 19 Dec 2015. TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 88 TO TITLE 44 SO AS TO ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO THE PRESCRIPTION OF DRUGS INTENDED TO TREAT SYMPTOMS OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
13. Hinshaw, Dawn (16 December 2012). . The State. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
14. "Growing List of African American Women Leaders Stand with Hillary Clinton". The American Presidency Project. February 3, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
15. "Senator Mia S. McLeod". South Carolina Legislature. 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
16. "South Carolina Primary Results". CNNpolitics. CNN. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
17. Dew, Rob (January 10, 2023). "Sen. Mia McLeod leaving Democratic Party". WOLO-TV. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
18. Bustos, Joseph (January 10, 2023). "Richland Sen. Mia McLeod says she's leaving the SC Democratic Party". The State Newspaper. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
19. Renaud, Tim (January 10, 2023). "Former SC gubernatorial hopeful Mia McLeod leaving Democratic party". WCBD-TV. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
20. Republican women are helping block an abortion ban in South Carolina, WBTW, May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
21. The Unexpected Women Blocking South Carolina’s Near-Total Abortion Ban, New York Times, Kate Zernike, May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
22. LeBlanc, Steve (September 19, 2023). "'Sister senators' who fought abortion ban to receive JFK Profile in Courage award". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 19, 2023.

External links

• Official website
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Legislative page
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Appearance on MSNBC with Ali Velshi
• Sister Senators' speeches at John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum Profiles in Courage Award Ceremony