South Carolina Senator Is Now The First Black Woman in the State to Run for Governor

South Carolina is one step closer to getting its first Black woman governor, with Democrat Mia McLeod joining the race.

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McLeod officially announced her entrance into South Carolina’s 2022 gubernatorial race, calling the job “a tremendous responsibility,” but one she is “excited about.”

“I want to be the person that is running not because I’m a woman, and not because I’m Black, but because I am so connected to and so much like the people that I represent,” she explained to the Associated Press.

The 52-year-old raised in Bennettsville, South Carolina, was elected to the state House in 2010 and the Senate six years later. She was the first woman and first African-American to secure the state Senate seat, winning by more than 24 points. She is in for an uphill battle with her race for governor, as the state is primarily Republican. Nevertheless, McLeod is up for the challenge.

If she wins, McLeod will be South Carolina’s second female governor. The first was Republican Nikki Haley, who served as governor from 2011 to 2017.