For related races, see 2014 United States gubernatorial elections.
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 County results Congressional district resultsHaley: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%Sheheen: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 2014 South Carolina gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor of South Carolina, concurrently with the regularly-scheduled election and special election to both of South Carolina's U.S. Senate seats, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
Incumbent Republican governor Nikki Haley ran for re-election to a second term in office. She faced Democratic state senator Vincent Sheheen in the general election. Republican-turned-Independent Tom Ervin had been running, but he withdrew from the race and endorsed Sheheen.
Haley defeated Sheheen again in 2014, as she won nearly 56 percent of the vote to his 41 percent.
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Nikki Haley, incumbent governor
Withdrew
- Tom Ervin, attorney, former state representative and former circuit court judge (ran as an Independent and later dropped out of the race to endorse Vincent Sheheen)
Declined
- Tom Davis, state senator
- Bobby Harrell, Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives
- Curtis M. Loftis, Jr., state treasurer
- Glenn F. McConnell, Lieutenant Governor
- Mick Mulvaney, U.S. representative
- William Walter Wilkins, former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- Alan Wilson, Attorney General of South Carolina
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Nikki Haley |
Someone else |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | December 7–9, 2012 | 506 | ± 4.4% | 53% | 37% | 10% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Nikki Haley |
Curtis Loftis |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | December 7–9, 2012 | 506 | ± 4.4% | 66% | 18% | 17% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Nikki Haley |
Glenn McConnell |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | December 7–9, 2012 | 506 | ± 4.4% | 58% | 26% | 17% |
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Vincent Sheheen, state senator and nominee for governor in 2010
Declined
- Stephen K. Benjamin, Mayor of Columbia
- Harry L. Ott, Jr., Minority Leader of the South Carolina House of Representatives
Endorsements
Vincent SheheenElected Officials
- Welborn Adams, Mayor of Greenwood
- Lovith Anderson, Mayor of Lake City
- John Douglas, Mayor of Chesterfield
- Doug Echols, Mayor of Rock Hill
- Tom Ervin, attorney, former state representative and former circuit court judge
- Jim Hodges, former governor of South Carolina
- Andy Ingram, Mayor of Cheraw
- Joseph McElveen, Mayor of Sumter
- Wayne Rhodes, Mayor of Kershaw
- Joseph Riley, Mayor of Charleston
- Richard Riley, former United States Secretary of Education and former governor of South Carolina
- Tony Scully, Mayor of Camden
- Ann Taylor, Mayor of Heath Springs
- Junie White, Mayor of Spartanburg
- Steve Wukela, Mayor of Florence
Independent and third parties
Candidates
Declared
- Steve French (Libertarian), businessman
- Morgan Bruce Reeves (United Citizens Party), former NFL player and nominee for governor in 2010
- Angry Grandpa (Charles Green) YouTuber, comedian, former nut salesman, and weed rights activist
Withdrew
- Tom Ervin (Independent), attorney, former Republican state representative and former circuit court judge (endorsed Sheheen)
Declined
- André Bauer (Independent), former Republican Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, candidate for governor in 2010 and candidate for SC-07 in 2012
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report | Likely R | November 3, 2014 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Likely R | November 3, 2014 |
| Rothenberg Political Report | Likely R | November 3, 2014 |
| Real Clear Politics | Likely R | November 3, 2014 |
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Nikki Haley (R) |
Vincent Sheheen (D) |
Tom Ervin (I) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Journal | October 27–30, 2014 | 139 | — | 46% | 45% | 2% | 4% | 3% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | October 16–23, 2014 | 1,566 | ± 4% | 50% | 33% | — | 1% | 16% |
| Susquehanna | October 2014 | 917 | ± 3.24% | 51% | 31% | 11% | 3% | 4% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | September 20–October 1, 2014 | 2,663 | ± 2% | 53% | 36% | — | 1% | 10% |
| Crantford Research | September 29, 2014 | 688 | ± 3% | 41% | 37% | 7% | — | 15% |
| Winthrop University | September 21–28, 2014 | 1,082 | ± 3% | 44% | 34% | 4% | 4% | 15% |
| Public Policy Polling^ | September 4–5, 2014 | 793 | ± 3.5% | 50% | 45% | — | — | 5% |
| American Research Group | September 2–4, 2014 | 600 | ± 4% | 43% | 33% | 18% | 1% | 5% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | August 18–September 2, 2014 | 833 | ± 5% | 56% | 35% | — | 1% | 9% |
| Rasmussen Reports | August 25–26, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 51% | 36% | — | 6% | 7% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov | July 5–24, 2014 | 1,186 | ± 5.4% | 55% | 38% | — | 2% | 5% |
| Palmetto Politics Poll | July 22, 2014 | 1,000 | ± 4% | 53% | 40% | — | — | 7% |
| 650 | ± 4% | 46% | 42% | 3% | 5% | 6% | ||
| Public Policy Polling^ | June 20–22, 2014 | 698 | ± 3.7% | 49% | 46% | — | — | 5% |
| Rasmussen Reports | April 14–15, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 52% | 37% | — | 3% | 7% |
| Harper Polling | October 27–28, 2013 | 676 | ± 3.77% | 48% | 39% | — | — | 13% |
| Clarity Campaign Labs | October 15–16, 2013 | 760 | ± 3.53% | 44% | 40% | — | — | 16% |
| Public Policy Polling | December 7–9, 2012 | 520 | ± 4.3% | 44% | 46% | — | — | 10% |
With Loftis
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Curtis Loftis (R) |
Vincent Sheheen (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | December 7–9, 2012 | 520 | ± 4.3% | 37% | 46% | 17% |
With McConnell
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Glenn McConnell (R) |
Vincent Sheheen (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling | December 7–9, 2012 | 520 | ± 4.3% | 41% | 44% | 15% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Nikki Haley (incumbent) | 696,645 | 55.90% | +4.53% | |
| Democratic | Vincent Sheheen | 516,166 | 41.42% | −5.49% | |
| Libertarian | Steve French | 15,438 | 1.24% | N/A | |
| Independent | Tom Ervin | 11,496 | 0.92% | N/A | |
| United Citizens | Morgan B. Reeves | 5,622 | 0.45% | −1.05% | |
| Write-in | 934 | 0.07% | -0.16% | ||
| Total votes | 1,246,301 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Abbeville (largest city: Abbeville)
- Barnwell (largest city: Barnwell)
- Chester (largest town: Chester)
- Chesterfield (Largest city: Cheraw)
- Colleton (largest city: Walterboro)
- Florence (Largest city: Florence)
- Kershaw (Largest city: Camden)
- McCormick (largest town: McCormick)
- Union (Largest city: Union)
References
- "Democratic nominee for 2018? It's anybody's guess | The Buzz | The State". Archived from the original on November 13, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
- Kopan, Tal (August 12, 2013). "Aide: Nikki Haley running for reelection". Politico. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
- "Nikki Haley Draws a Primary Opponent". FITSNews. March 29, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
- "Nikki Haley Challenger to Run as Independent". FITSNews. April 11, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
- Smith, Gina (February 1, 2013). "EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Tom Davis will not run for U.S. Senate, governor's office". The Island Packet. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
- ^ West, Bill (August 16, 2012). "Will Governor Haley survive 2014 gubernatorial race?" (PDF). Lexington County Chronicle and The Dispatch-News. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
- McGinnis, Tim (January 25, 2013). "SC State Treasurer won't run for governor". WPDE. Archived from the original on December 6, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
- Moredock, Will (March 28, 2012). "Will Glenn McConnell go after Nikki Haley's job?". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
- Hutchins, Corey (October 23, 2013). "Haley ally Pat McKinney to challenge Glenn McConnell for lieutenant governor | Features". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- Drury, Shawn (May 31, 2013). "Dems Eyeing Challenge to Mulvaney in 2014, GOP Not Worried - Government". Columbia, SC Patch. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- "Alan Wilson Sitting Pretty For Reelection". FITSNews. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- ^ Public Policy Polling
- Shain, Andrew (April 10, 2013). "Sheheen announces another run for governor". Herald Online. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
- "Steve Benjamin Plotting Gubernatorial Bid". FITSNews. February 26, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
- "Steve Benjamin To Announce Reelection Bid". FITSNews. May 10, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
- Beam, Adam (June 26, 2013). "Former SC House Democratic leader accepts Obama Administration job". The State. Archived from the original on July 31, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
- ^ "SC Mayors Endorse Vincent Sheheen for Governor | Vincent Sheheen for Governor, South Carolina". Vincentsheheen.com. August 21, 2013. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- Shain, Andrew (March 15, 2014). "Libertarian joins SC governor's race". The State. Archived from the original on March 16, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
- "SC politics: GOP governors take another shot at Democrat Sheheen". The State. March 31, 2014. Archived from the original on April 3, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
- GRANDPA FOR GOVERNOR!, retrieved August 11, 2023
- "Ervin drops out of SC governor's race, backs Sheheen". The State. October 28, 2014. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
- Andrew Shain (7 December 2013). "Sunday Buzz: Andre Bauer not putting brakes on possible SC governor's run". The State. Archived from the original on 10 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
- "2014 Governor Race Ratings for November 3, 2014". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
- "The Crystal Ball's Final 2014 Picks". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
- "2014 Gubernatorial Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
- "2014 Elections Map - 2014 Governors Races". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
- Daily Journal
- Steve French (L) 2%, Morgan Bruce Reeves (UCP) 1%, Write-in 1%
- CBS News/NYT/YouGov
- Susquehanna
- Steve French (L) 2%, Morgan Bruce Reeves (UCP) 1%
- CBS News/NYT/YouGov
- Crantford Research
- Winthrop University
- Steve French (L) 2%, Morgan Bruce Reeves (UCP) 1%, Other 0%
- Public Policy Polling^
- American Research Group
- ^ Steve French (L)
- CBS News/NYT/YouGov
- ^ Rasmussen Reports
- CBS News/NYT/YouGov
- Palmetto Politics Poll
- Public Policy Polling^
- Harper Polling
- Clarity Campaign Labs
- "South Carolina Election Results". South Carolina Board of Elections. November 13, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
External links
Official campaign websites
- Nikki Haley for Governor incumbent
- Tom Ervin for Governor
- Steve French for Governor
- Vincent Sheheen for Governor
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| See also: Political party strength in South Carolina | |
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