Earlier this year, longtime South Carolina Republican politician Henry McMaster, who was elected lieutenant governor in 2014, finally became governor after incumbent Nikki Haley resigned to become U.N. ambassador. However, while it looked for a brief time that McMaster would win the 2018 primary for a full term without much opposition, that’s not how things are shaping up so far. Ex-state Department of Health and Environmental Control chief Catherine Templeton jumped in the primary months ago and has raised a credible amount of money, while ex-state Commerce Secretary Joe Taylor has also expressed interest. State Sen. Katrina Shealy also recently talked about running, while new Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant isn’t saying no.
A long-running political scandal involving McMaster’s longtime allies at the very powerful GOP consulting firm Richard Quinn & Associates has only gotten worse for them in recent days, which helps explain why the governor isn’t looking too strong. This week, state Rep. Rick Quinn, the son of RQ&A founder and owner Richard Quinn, was indicted for allegedly failing to report millions of dollars from unnamed groups that went to companies operated by himself and his father, and then using his elected position to influence policy to help those contributors.
And as we’ve noted before, McMaster isn’t just a simple RQ&A client. In 2000, RQ&A helped him save his re-election campaign for state party chair by funneling money to the bankrupt party, which allowed McMaster to show how flush with cash the South Carolina GOP was. Days before the vote, the money was all wired back in secret—information that didn't come out until long after the election.
McMaster already faces a tough primary next year. Before Haley was nominated by Trump to serve as U.N. ambassador, ex-state Department of Health and Environmental Control chief Catherine Templeton, who made a name for herself with conservatives by fighting unions across the country, made it clear she would run. After it became clear McMaster was about to become governor, Templeton seemed to be ready to back off, but she soon changed course and decided to run.
During the first quarter of 2017, McMaster outraised Templeton $960,000 to $700,000, not an impressive showing for an incumbent, even an unelected one. Other Republicans seem to sense weakness from McMaster. Last month, ex-state Commerce Secretary Joe Taylor said he would decide in June or July whether to run, and two more politicians didn't rule out campaigns when the local blog First In The State News asked them.
Kevin Bryant, a former state senator who replaced McMaster as lieutenant governor in January, has been touring the state recently. When asked if he was interested in running for governor, Bryant only said, “We’ve been preaching conservatism statewide. It’s been well received,” which is far from a no. (McMaster did not choose Bryant to be lieutenant governor. The Senate pro tempore gets the job, and Bryant’s colleagues selected him for that post after the chamber’s leader temporarily stepped down to avoid becoming lieutenant governor.)
Another Republican, state Sen. Katrina Shealy, was more blunt, telling FITS she “feel[s] like I can help the people in South Carolina here whether it is in the state Senate or the governor’s office.” Shealy beat longtime GOP state Sen. Jake Knotts in the 2012 general election after she petitioned her way onto the ballot after state leaders got her removed from the primary ballot, and in office, she has spoken out against the Quinns’ influence. South Carolina requires a runoff if no one takes a majority in the primary, so McMaster may not benefit from facing a crowded field of opponents. The Palmetto State is usually reliably red, though the state GOP’s problems may give Democrats an opening.