Charleston Attorney Mullins McLeod Enters SC Governor Race as First Democrat

Mullins McLeod, a Charleston personal injury attorney, has officially launched his campaign for South Carolina governor as the first Democrat to enter the 2026 race. Campaigning on an anti-corruption platform, McLeod decries what he calls a "cancer" of corruption that has infiltrated state government over the last 25 years, primarily blaming the Republican-led legislature for prioritizing corporate interests over the working class. He advocates for servant leadership, aiming to reverse policies he sees as harmful to South Carolinians, including opposing large corporate incentives and supporting a near doubling of teacher salaries despite calling for eliminating the state’s personal income tax. McLeod emphasizes his outsider status as a non-politician and his legal experience fighting corruption, pledging to restore public trust and focus on the needs of everyday workers. His campaign also responds to skepticism following an incident this spring involving a public disorderly conduct charge. Other Democratic candidates, like State Rep. Jermaine Johnson, have yet to formally enter the race, while Republicans such as Nancy Mace and Alan Wilson continue to compete for the governorship.