Mia McLeod

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Mia McLeod
McLeod's gubernatorial campaign kickoff, 2021
Member of the South Carolina Senate
from the 22nd district
Assumed office
January 2017
Preceded byJoel Lourie
Personal details
Born (1968-08-19) August 19, 1968 (age 55)
Bennettsville, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (before 2023)
Independent (2023–present)
Parent(s)James S. and Shirley J. McLeod
ResidenceNortheast Columbia, South Carolina
EducationUniversity of South Carolina (BA, JD)
ProfessionAttorney, politician, consultant

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 (Kershaw and Richland Counties). 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]

Early life[edit]

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[edit]

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]

Political career[edit]

S.C. House of Representatives[edit]

McLeod previously served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2011 to 2016.[where?]

S.C. Senate[edit]

Elections[edit]

2024 election[edit]

In January 2024, South Carolina House member Ivory Torrey Thigpen announced his candidacy for State Senate District 22.[11] [12] Educator Dr. Monica Elkins also announced her intention to run in the Democratic Primary.[13]

On April 1, 2024, McLeod announced that she would not seek re-election. Richland County Council member Overture Walker joined Thigpen and Elkins as candidates for the Democratic Primary nomination.[14] Lee Blatt filed to run as a Republican candidate for the seat.[15]

Tenure[edit]

McLeod is a member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 22nd district since 2017. McLeod serves on the Senate Corrections and Penology; Judiciary; Medical Affairs, Rules and Transportation Committees.[16] In April 2024, she announced she would not be seeking another term.[15] During her career, McLeod has criticized what she describes as the "old guard" of South Carolina politics.[17]

Legislative action on abortion rights[edit]

In response to restrictions on abortion rights in South Carolina, 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.[18][19]

In 2023, McLeod joined with a Democrat and three Republican women state senators, calling themselves, "The Sister Senators": Sen. 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] McLeod favored a codification of Roe v. Wade, which had been overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 2022 Dobbs decision.[21]

In 2024, McLeod introduced the South Carolina Pro-Birth Accountability Act, which would provide additional support from the State for prenatal, intrapartal, and postpartal care.[22]

Becoming an Independent[edit]

On January 10, 2023, McLeod announced her decision to leave the Democratic Party and become an Independent, a decision given extensive coverage in statewide press.[23][24][25][26][27][28][29]

2022 Governor's race[edit]

See 2022 South Carolina gubernatorial election; 2022 United States gubernatorial elections

In 2021, McLeod announced her candidacy for Governor of South Carolina. She was defeated in the Democratic primary by former United States Representative Joe Cunningham.[30]

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

Endorsements[edit]

McLeod endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton for president in 2016.[31]

Honors and recognition[edit]

In 2021, McLeod gave the Democratic response to the State of the State address.[32]

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.[33]

Personal life[edit]

McLeod is the President of McLeod Butler Communications, LLC. She is a Baptist.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "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. ^ Reynolds, Nick (January 22, 2024). "SC Statehouse's only Democrat-turned-independent senator draws another challenger". The Post and Courier. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  12. ^ Davis, Kimberlei (January 22, 2024). "Representative Thigpen launches bid for SC Senate District 22 seat". WACH-TV. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  13. ^ Mcconchie, Brian (November 15, 2023). "Longtime educator to run for State Senate seat". WACH-TV. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  14. ^ "Longtime Richland politician announces she will not seek reelection". WLTX-TV. April 1, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Bustos, Joseph (April 1, 2024). "SC Sen. McLeod left Democratic Party in 2023. Now she'll stay off 2024 ballot". The State Newspaper. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  16. ^ "Senator Mia S. McLeod". South Carolina Legislature. 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  17. ^ Hinshaw, Dawn (16 December 2012). "Richland lawmaker not afraid to stir the pot". The State. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  18. ^ "'Viagra bill' mimics state's restrictions on abortion". MSNBC. 19 December 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  19. ^ "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
  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. ^ El-Bawab, Nadine (February 9, 2024). "South Carolina bill would offer compensation to women denied abortions". ABC News. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  23. ^ Dew, Rob (January 10, 2023). "Sen. Mia McLeod leaving Democratic Party". WOLO-TV. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  24. ^ Bustos, Joseph (January 10, 2023). "Richland Sen. Mia McLeod says she's leaving the SC Democratic Party". The State Newspaper. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  25. ^ Renaud, Tim (January 10, 2023). "Former SC gubernatorial hopeful Mia McLeod leaving Democratic party". WCBD-TV. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  26. ^ Thompson, Alexander (January 10, 2023). "State Sen. Mia McLeod abruptly quits SC Democratic Party". The Post and Courier. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  27. ^ "SOUTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATIC PARTY STATEMENT ON STATE SENATOR MIA MCLEOD'S DECISION TO LEAVE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY". South Carolina Democratic Party. January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  28. ^ Bustos, Joseph (January 29, 2023). "Inside McLeod's departure from the Democrats: Blame, worries and next steps". The State Newspaper. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  29. ^ McLeod, Mia (2023). "Setting the Record Straight". Mia for Senate. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  30. ^ "South Carolina Primary Results". CNNpolitics. CNN. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  31. ^ "Growing List of African American Women Leaders Stand with Hillary Clinton". The American Presidency Project. February 3, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  32. ^ "Democratic response to SC State of the State address". The Associated Press. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  33. ^ 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[edit]

South Carolina Senate
Preceded by Member of the South Carolina Senate
from the 22nd district
2017–present 		Incumbent
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