Story at a glance
- A South Carolina lawmaker announced her bid Wednesday to attempt to become the state’s first Black governor and the second woman to hold the office.
- Democratic state Sen. Mia McLeod told The Associated Press that she hopes her 2022 run is defined by what she can offer instead of by her race or gender.
- “I am a fierce advocate who is unafraid to fight for the people and advocate for the people in the state,” McLeod said.
A South Carolina lawmaker announced her bid Wednesday to attempt to become the state’s first Black governor and the second woman to hold the office.
Democratic state Sen. Mia McLeod told The Associated Press (AP) that she hopes her 2022 run is defined by what she can offer instead of by her race or gender, saying she wants to be the one “running not because I’m a woman, and not because I’m Black, but because I am so connected to and so much like the people that I represent.”
A state legislator for more than a decade, McLeod will be challenged on the primary ticket by two other Democrats, Gary Votour and Joe Cunningham, who lost his Congressional seat to Republican Nancy Mace last year. McLeod told the AP she looks to distinguish herself from fellow Democrats by showcasing her abilities as a fearless advocate.
“I am a fierce advocate who is unafraid to fight for the people and advocate for the people in the state,” McLeod said. “Even if I have to fight alone, and even when I have to fight members of my own party, I’ve shown that I have the courage to lead.”
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McLeod has been a vocal opponent of Gov. Henry McMaster’s COVID-19 response, arguing that the Republican governor opened the economy too quickly amid the global pandemic.
But McLeod acknowledged to the AP that she faces an uphill battle, as a Democrat has not won a statewide election in 15 years. She added that she is hopeful her message will cross cultural barriers and resonate with voters across the state.
“It’s not like I’m speaking a different language,” McLeod said. “It’s just that they haven’t ever seen or heard anybody who looks like me speak in a way that resonates with all the people.”
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