South Carolina

UPDATE 9:02 PM

As of 9:02 PM, with 30% of votes in, Henry McMaster is in the lead for Governor of South Carolina. He currently has 54.8% votes, while James Smith has 45.2% votes.

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In January of 2017 Nikki Haley resigned her position, making McMaster the new governor.

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Haley signed the official paperwork moments after the full Unites States Senate confirmed her to be the U.S. Ambassador to the United nations.

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President Donald Trump Announced on Tuesday that Haley will leave her post by the end of the year to become the country’s lead representative at the global organization.

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Sitting side-by-side in the Oval Office, Trump praised Haley as a "fantastic person" who has "done an incredible job" and said he would gladly welcome her back into his administration down the line.

UPDATE 11:48 PM

Around 11:37 PM, behind strong support from President Donald Trump and an improving economy, Henry McMaster was elected tonight to his full four-year term in South Carolina’s governor office.

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After being promoted to governor in 2017, McMaster was rewarded for continuing a stream of economic development announcements, deftly handling hurricanes and maintaining his friendship with Trump, a popular figure among Republicans who dominate the state’s electorate.

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According to the Associated Press, McMaster defeated Democratic State Rep. James Smith. The governor held a 56 percent to 44 percent lead with a large majority of precincts reporting.

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As expected, the Republican-heavy Upstate region centered in Greenville was dominated.

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McMaster’s election culminates nearly four decades in public service and political office, starting with his appointment at US attorney for South Carolina under Ronald Reagan in 1981.

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