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 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 for the second time, winning with nearly 56 percent of the vote.
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 Samplesize Margin oferrorNikkiHaleySomeoneelseUndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling December 7–9, 2012 506 ± 4.4% 53% 37% 10%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferrorNikkiHaleyCurtisLoftisUndecidedPublic Policy Polling December 7–9, 2012 506 ± 4.4% 66% 18% 17%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferrorNikkiHaleyGlennMcConnellUndecidedPublic 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
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, veteran, 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 November 3, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2014 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2014 Real Clear Politics November 3, 2014
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror NikkiHaley (R) VincentSheheen (D) TomErvin (I) Other UndecidedDaily JournalDaily Journal October 27–30, 2014 139 — 46% 45% 2% 4%Steve French (L) 2%, Morgan Bruce Reeves (UCP) 1%, Write-in 1% 3%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov October 16–23, 2014 1,566 ± 4% 50% 33% — 1% 16%SusquehannaSusquehanna October 2014 917 ± 3.24% 51% 31% 11% 3%Steve French (L) 2%, Morgan Bruce Reeves (UCP) 1% 4%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov September 20–October 1, 2014 2,663 ± 2% 53% 36% — 1% 10%Crantford ResearchCrantford Research September 29, 2014 688 ± 3% 41% 37% 7% — 15%Winthrop UniversityWinthrop University September 21–28, 2014 1,082 ± 3% 44% 34% 4% 4%Steve French (L) 2%, Morgan Bruce Reeves (UCP) 1%, Other 0% 15%Public Policy Polling^Public Policy Polling^ September 4–5, 2014 793 ± 3.5% 50% 45% — — 5%American Research GroupAmerican Research Group September 2–4, 2014 600 ± 4% 43% 33% 18% 1%Steve French (L) 5%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov August 18–September 2, 2014 833 ± 5% 56% 35% — 1% 9%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports August 25–26, 2014 750 ± 4% 51% 36% — 6% 7%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov July 5–24, 2014 1,186 ± 5.4% 55% 38% — 2% 5%Palmetto Politics PollPalmetto Politics Poll July 22, 2014 1,000 ± 4% 53% 40% — — 7% 650 ± 4% 46% 42% 3% 5% 6%Public Policy Polling^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 PollingHarper Polling October 27–28, 2013 676 ± 3.77% 48% 39% — — 13%Clarity Campaign LabsClarity 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 Samplesize Margin oferror CurtisLoftis (R) VincentSheheen (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling December 7–9, 2012 520 ± 4.3% 37% 46% 17%
With McConnell Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror GlennMcConnell (R) VincentSheheen (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling December 7–9, 2012 520 ± 4.3% 41% 44% 15%
Results
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
External links South Carolina gubernatorial election, 2014 at Ballotpedia
Official campaign websites Nikki Haley for Governor incumbent Tom Ervin for Governor Steve French for Governor Vincent Sheheen for Governor