Mia McLeod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mia McLeod
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McLeod's gubernatorial campaign kickoff, 2021
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| Member of the South Carolina Senate from the 22nd district |
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| In office January 10, 2017 – December 4, 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Joel Lourie |
| Succeeded by | Overture Walker |
| Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 79th district |
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| In office January 11, 2011 – January 10, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Anton Gunn |
| Succeeded by | Ivory Torrey Thigpen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 19, 1968 Bennettsville, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (before 2023) Independent (2023–present) |
| Education | University of South Carolina (BA, JD) |
| Profession | Attorney, politician, consultant |
Mia S. McLeod (born August 19, 1968) is an American politician. She served as a member of the South Carolina Senate for the 22nd district from 2017 to 2024. This district includes parts of Kershaw and Richland Counties. In 2021, McLeod made history by becoming the first Black woman to run for Governor of South Carolina. This news was shared widely across the country and around the world.
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Early Life and Education
Mia McLeod is the daughter of James S. and Shirley J. McLeod. She went to the University of South Carolina. There, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Later, she earned a law degree (called a Juris Doctor) from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
Career
Before becoming a politician, Mia McLeod worked in different jobs. She is the President of her own company, McLeod Butler Communications, LLC. She also worked for various state government offices. One of these was the office of the South Carolina Attorney General. An Attorney General is the main legal advisor to the state government.
Political Career
Serving in the S.C. Senate
Mia McLeod has been a member of the South Carolina Senate since 2017. A State Senator helps make laws for their state. She worked on several important committees. These included committees for corrections, law, medical issues, and transportation. In April 2024, she announced that she would not run for re-election. During her time in politics, McLeod often spoke out against what she called the "old guard" of South Carolina politics. This means she wanted to see new ways of doing things.
Serving in the S.C. House of Representatives
Before joining the Senate, McLeod served in the South Carolina House of Representatives. She was a member of the House from 2011 to 2016.
Endorsements
In 2016, Mia McLeod supported Hillary Rodham Clinton for president. An endorsement means publicly supporting a candidate.
Elections
Running for Governor in 2022
In 2021, Mia McLeod announced she would run for Governor of South Carolina. This was a very important moment because she was the first Black woman to ever run for this position. She ran in the Democratic primary election. However, she was not chosen as the Democratic candidate. Joe Cunningham won the primary election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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| Democratic | Joe Cunningham | 102,315 | 57 | |
| Democratic | Mia McLeod | 56,084 | 31 | |
| Democratic | Carlton Boyd | 9,526 | 5 | |
| Democratic | William Williams | 6,746 | 4 | |
| Democratic | Calvin McMillan | 6,260 | 3 | |
| Total votes | 180,931 | 100 | ||
Becoming an Independent Politician
On January 10, 2023, McLeod made a big announcement. She decided to leave the Democratic Party. Instead, she became an Independent. This means she does not belong to any major political party. This decision was widely reported in newspapers across South Carolina.
The 2024 Election
In January 2024, other politicians announced they would run for the State Senate District 22 seat. These included South Carolina House member Ivory Torrey Thigpen and educator Dr. Monica Elkins. On April 1, 2024, Mia McLeod confirmed she would not seek re-election. Later, Richland County Council member Overture Walker also joined the race.
Personal Life
During her early political career, Mia McLeod used different names. She was known as Mia Butler, and sometimes Mia Butler Garrick or Mia Garrick. In 2012, she started using her maiden name again, Mia McLeod. She has two sons, Brian and Cameron.
Honors and Recognition
In 2021, Mia McLeod was chosen to give the Democratic response to the State of the State address. This is an important speech given by the governor each year.
In September 2023, a group of women senators, known as "The Sister Senators," received a special award. They were given the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award. This award honors people who show great courage in politics. The award ceremony took place in October 2023 at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
