South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster begins his State of the State address Wednesday, Jan. 24. 2024, at the Statehouse in Columbia, S.C. (File photo by Mary Ann Chastain/ Special to The Dailey Gazette)
COLUMBIA — A Richland County legislator running for governor will give the Democratic response to Gov. Henry McMaster’s final State of the State address.
Rep. Jermaine Johnson was chosen by the state House Democratic Caucus to deliver the message for his party, his campaign announced in a release Monday morning.
McMaster is scheduled to give his ninth and last State of the State before a joint assembly of the Legislature in House chambers at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The state’s longest-serving elected governor will lay out his priorities for the 2026 legislative session that started two weeks ago. He’ll also highlight what he considers his administration’s successes for South Carolina and point to initiatives he wants legislators to continue after he leaves office. The Republican governor first ascended to the job in January 2017 when then-Gov. Nikki Haley left to join President Donald Trump’s first administration.
Johnson is among two Democrats who have announced bids to replace McMaster. Charleston attorney Mullins McLeod is also running.
Regardless of the outcome of the governor’s race, Johnson isn’t returning to the Legislature next year. South Carolina law allows candidates to seek more than one office at a time. They just can’t occupy more than one if they win.
But Johnson announced earlier this month that he’s not seeking a fourth term to the House so he can focus on his bid for governor.
It won’t be the first time a Democratic gubernatorial candidate was chosen to lay out Democrats’ vision in an election year.
In 2018, then-state Rep. James Smith of Columbia gave the Democratic response to McMaster’s first State of the State address. McMaster defeated Smith by 8 percentage points that November to win his first elected term as governor. In South Carolina, governors are limited to two elected terms.
SCETV will broadcast the roughly one-hour event, which can be viewed live on its website. The Democratic response, which is pre-recorded, will immediately follow the speech. SCETV will also interview legislators who line up afterward to give their opinions.
