SC Sen. McLeod left Democratic Party in 2023. Now she’ll stay off 2024 ballot
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A state senator who left the Democratic party after running for governor won’t be on the ballot for reelection.
State Sen. Mia McLeod, I-Richland, told supporters in an email Monday she will not run for another term in office.
“Thank you for 14 years of love, prayers and support!” McLeod wrote. “Sharing this journey with you has given me the freedom to serve and lead with courage. For that, I’m eternally grateful and looking forward to the next chapter of my journey!”
The announcement came on the last day of filing to run in the June primaries.
McLeod is one of six female senators in the state Senate. Before being elected twice to state Senate, she served six years in the House.
McLeod, along with state Sens. Penry Gustafson, Margie Bright Matthews, Sandy Senn and Katrina Shealy, who were the only female senators at the time, fought against a total abortion ban in the upper chamber.
The Senate ultimately agreed to a six-week ban, but the five “sister senators” were recognized for their efforts and received the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage award.
McLeod in 2022 was the first Black woman to run for governor, but lost in the Democratic primary to former U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham. McLeod later complained about the party and said it didn’t do enough to support Black female candidates. She ended up leaving the party all together.
Three Democrats filed to run for McLeod’s seat: Richland 2 School Board Member Monica Elkins, state Rep. Ivory Thigpen, and Richland County Council Member Overture Walker.
Lee Blatt was the lone Republican to file to run for the seat.
Gary Votour, an activist and member of the Worker’s Party, also filed to run for the seat.
