Mia McLeod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mia McLeod
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McLeod at the start of her campaign for governor in 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) |
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. A politician is someone who works in government, helping to make laws and lead a city, state, or country.
In 2021, McLeod made history when she ran for Governor of South Carolina. She was the first Black woman ever to seek this office. Her campaign received attention from news organizations around the world.
Until 2023, McLeod was a member of the Democratic Party. She then became an independent, which means she is not part of any political party.
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Early Life and Education
Mia McLeod was born in Bennettsville, South Carolina. Her parents were James S. and Shirley J. McLeod.
For her college education, she attended the University of South Carolina. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Later, she went to the University of South Carolina School of Law to earn a JD, which is a degree needed to become a lawyer.
Career Outside of Politics
Before being elected to office, McLeod worked in different government jobs. One of her roles was in the office of the South Carolina Attorney General. The Attorney General is the top lawyer for the state.
McLeod is also the President of a company called McLeod Butler Communications, LLC.
Political Career
McLeod began her political career in the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2011. She served there until 2016. In 2017, she was elected to the South Carolina Senate. The House of Representatives and the Senate are the two parts of South Carolina's state legislature, which is the group of people who make state laws.
In April 2024, McLeod announced that she would not run for her Senate seat again. During her time in office, she often challenged the traditional ways of doing things in South Carolina politics.
Important Laws and Debates
McLeod was involved in many important discussions about laws in South Carolina.
The "Sister Senators"
In 2023, a major debate happened in the South Carolina Senate about a bill that would have created a near-total ban on ending a pregnancy. McLeod joined with four other women senators to stop this bill from passing.
This group became known as the "Sister Senators." It included McLeod, three Republicans, and one other Democrat. They worked together even though they were from different political parties. The other members were:
- Senator Katrina Shealy
- Senator Penry Gustafson
- Senator Margie Bright-Matthews
- Senator Sandy Senn
Their teamwork showed that politicians with different views can find common ground.
Laws to Support Families
In 2024, McLeod introduced a bill called the South Carolina Pro-Birth Accountability Act. This proposed law was designed to give more state support to mothers and babies. It included help for care during pregnancy, childbirth, and after the baby is born.
2022 Race for Governor
In 2021, McLeod announced she would run for governor, the highest office in the state. To become the Democratic Party's choice, she had to compete in a primary election. A primary is an election where voters from a party pick their candidate for the main election.
McLeod was defeated in the Democratic primary by Joe Cunningham.
| 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
On January 10, 2023, McLeod announced she was leaving the Democratic Party. She decided to become an independent politician. This was a major decision that was widely reported in South Carolina news.
Personal Life
When she first ran for office, McLeod used the last names Butler and Garrick. In 2012, she went back to using her birth name, Mia McLeod. She has two sons, Brian and Cameron.
Awards and Recognition
In 2021, McLeod was chosen to give the Democratic Party's official response to the governor's State of the State address. This is an important speech where a political party shares its own ideas for the state.
In September 2023, it was announced that "The Sister Senators" would receive the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award. This is a very respected award given to public servants who show great bravery. The senators received the award in October 2023 at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
Media Portrayals
A documentary film called “Sister Senators” is being made about McLeod and the other senators. The film will tell the story of how they worked together.
