Mia McLeod

Mia McLeod
McLeod's gubernatorial campaign kickoff, 2021
Member of the South Carolina Senate from the 22nd district
In office January 10, 2017 – December 4, 2024
Preceded by	Joel Lourie
Succeeded by	Overture Walker
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 79th district
In office January 11, 2011 – January 10, 2017
Preceded by	Anton Gunn
Succeeded by	Ivory Torrey Thigpen
Personal details
Born	(1968-08-19) August 19, 1968 (age 56) Bennettsville, South Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (before 2023) Independent (2023–present)
Education	University of South Carolina (BA, JD)
Profession	Attorney, politician, consultant

Mia S. McLeod (born August 19, 1968)^[1][2] is an independent American politician who served as a member of the South Carolina Senate from the 22nd district (Kershaw and Richland Counties) from 2017 until 2024. 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 and education

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

McLeod is the President of McLeod Butler Communications, LLC.^[11] 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.^[12]

Political career

Tenure

S.C. Senate

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.^[13] In April 2024, she announced she would not be seeking another term.^[14] During her political career, McLeod has criticized what she describes as the "old guard" of South Carolina politics.^[15]

S.C. House of Representatives

McLeod served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2011 to 2016.^[16][17][18]

Policy positions

Legislative action on abortion rights

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.^[19][20]

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 the senate from passing a bill that would ban all abortions in South Carolina.^[21] McLeod favored a codification of Roe v. Wade, which had been overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 2022 Dobbs decision.^[22]

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.^[23]

Endorsements

McLeod endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton for president in 2016.^[24]

Elections

2022 Governor's race

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.^[25]

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

Becoming an Independent

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.^{[26][27][28][29][30][31][32]}

2024 election

In January 2024, South Carolina House member Ivory Torrey Thigpen announced his candidacy for State Senate District 22.^[33][34] Educator Dr. Monica Elkins also announced her intention to run in the Democratic Primary.^[35]

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.^[36] Lee Blatt filed to run as a Republican candidate for the seat.^[14]

Personal life

During her run for the South Carolina House of Representatives, McLeod was known as Mia Butler,^[37][38][39] and later as Mia Butler Garrick or Mia Garrick.^[40][41] In 2012 she resumed use of her maiden name, Mia McLeod.^[42] McLeod has two sons, Brian and Cameron.^[43]

Honors and recognition

In 2021, McLeod gave the Democratic response to the State of the State address.^[44]

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.^[45]

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. 4 June 2021. 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. Self, Jamie (October 18, 2015). "Columbia city manager hired SC legislators as consultants". The Herald. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
12. Robertson, Mike (April 14, 2022). "State Senator McLeod to Speak at College's Bully Pulpit Series". The College Today. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
13. "Senator Mia S. McLeod". South Carolina Legislature. 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Mia S. McLeod".
17. "The South Carolina General Assembly - Historical Information".
18. "South Carolina H5348 | 2015-2016 | 121st General Assembly". LegiScan. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
19. "'Viagra bill' mimics state's restrictions on abortion". MSNBC. 19 December 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
20. "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
21. Republican women are helping block an abortion ban in South Carolina, WBTW, May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
22. The Unexpected Women Blocking South Carolina's Near-Total Abortion Ban, New York Times, Kate Zernike, May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
23. El-Bawab, Nadine (February 9, 2024). "South Carolina bill would offer compensation to women denied abortions". ABC News. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
24. "Growing List of African American Women Leaders Stand with Hillary Clinton". The American Presidency Project. February 3, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
25. "South Carolina Primary Results". CNNpolitics. CNN. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
26. Dew, Rob (January 10, 2023). "Sen. Mia McLeod leaving Democratic Party". WOLO-TV. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
27. Bustos, Joseph (January 10, 2023). "Richland Sen. Mia McLeod says she's leaving the SC Democratic Party". The State Newspaper. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
28. Renaud, Tim (January 10, 2023). "Former SC gubernatorial hopeful Mia McLeod leaving Democratic party". WCBD-TV. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
29. Thompson, Alexander (January 10, 2023). "State Sen. Mia McLeod abruptly quits SC Democratic Party". The Post and Courier. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
30. "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.
31. Bustos, Joseph (January 29, 2023). "Inside McLeod's departure from the Democrats: Blame, worries and next steps". The State Newspaper. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
32. McLeod, Mia (2023). "Setting the Record Straight". Mia for Senate. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
33. Reynolds, Nick (January 22, 2024). "SC Statehouse's only Democrat-turned-independent senator draws another challenger". The Post and Courier. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
34. Davis, Kimberlei (January 22, 2024). "Representative Thigpen launches bid for SC Senate District 22 seat". WACH-TV. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
35. Mcconchie, Brian (November 15, 2023). "Longtime educator to run for State Senate seat". WACH-TV. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
36. "Longtime Richland politician announces she will not seek reelection". WLTX-TV. April 1, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
37. "Mia Butler wins Dem nomination for Anton Gunn's state House seat". WIS-TV. September 22, 2010. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
38. Group, Sinclair Broadcast (2010-09-21). "Butler wins nomination for vacant SC House seat". WACH. Retrieved 2024-08-14. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
39. "SC - Election Results". www.enr-scvotes.org. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
40. "Mia Butler Garrick Seeks Respect for "Disenfranchised" Voters". BET. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
41. Gable, Paul (2012-06-20). "Mia Butler Garrick: Where There's Smoke". Grand Strand Daily. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
42. Warthen, Brad (2012-12-14). "Rep. Mia changes her name again". bradwarthen.com. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
43. "James McLeod Obituary (2011) - Bennettsville, SC - The State". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
44. "Democratic response to SC State of the State address". The Associated Press. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
45. 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
• Democratic Response to State of the State address 2021 on YouTube
• 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

South Carolina House of Representatives
Preceded by Anton Gunn	Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 79th district 2011–2017	Succeeded by Ivory Torrey Thigpen
South Carolina Senate
Preceded by Joel Lourie	Member of the South Carolina Senate from the 22nd district 2017–present	Incumbent