The 2010 South Carolina gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Republican Governor Mark Sanford was term limited and unable to seek re-election. Primary elections took place on June 8, 2010, and a runoff election, as was necessary on the Republican side, was held two weeks later on June 22. Republican Nikki Haley defeated Democrat Vincent Sheheen in the general election by a margin of 4.5%. As of 2023, this is the closest that the Democrats have come to winning the governorship of South Carolina since their last victory in 1998. This is the first open-seat election since 1994. Haley was re-elected in 2014 in a rematch with Sheheen.

Republican primary

According to CNN, Haley initially entered the gubernatorial primary as a dark horse candidate. In an article covering her surge in the primary in the weeks prior to the election, it was noted that a "surprise" endorsement from former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin boosted Haley's candidacy. Haley's campaign was backed by TV ads run by ReformSC, an advocacy group funded by allies of outgoing governor Mark Sanford.

Candidates

Endorsements

Nikki Haley

Gresham Barrett

Henry McMaster

André Bauer

Polling

Runoff

Results

[[File:2010 SC GOP gubernatorial primary.svg|thumb|Primary results by county: Haley {{legend|#cc2f4a|Haley—60–70%}} {{legend|#e27f90|Haley—50–60%}} {{legend|#f2b3be|Haley—40–50%}} {{legend|#ffccd0|Haley—<40%}} Barrett {{legend|#ffb380|Barrett—40–50%}} {{legend|#ff9955|Barrett—50–60%}} ]] [[File:2010 SC gubernatorial Republican runoff.svg|thumb|Primary runoff results by county: Haley {{legend|#aa0000|Haley—80–90%}} {{legend|#d40000|Haley—70–80%}} {{legend|#cc2f4a|Haley—60–70%}} {{legend|#e27f90|Haley—50–60%}} Barrett {{legend|#ff9955|Barrett—50–60%}} {{legend|#ff7f2a|Barrett—60–70%}} ]]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Polling

Results

[[File:2010 SC gubernatorial Democratic primary.svg|thumb|Primary results by county: Sheheen {{legend|#002b84|Sheheen—>90%}} {{legend|#0645b4|Sheheen—80–90%}} {{legend|#1666cb|Sheheen—70–80%}} {{legend|#4389e3|Sheheen—60–70%}} {{legend|#86b6f2|Sheheen—50–60%}} {{legend|#b9d7ff|Sheheen—40–50%}} {{legend|#d3e7ff|Sheheen—<40%}} ]]

Other Parties

General election

Debates

Sponsored by the Republican Parties of Newberry and Laurens Counties Aired on WIS-TV on September 22, 2009 Watch here Sponsored by the SC Natural Resources Society Aired on SCETV on November 3, 2009 (This debate marked the first time in state history that gubernatorial primary candidates from both parties participated in the same debate.) Watch here Sponsored by the South Carolina Republican Party Moderated by MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski Aired on WCSC-TV on January 28, 2010 Watch here

Endorsements

**Senator Vincent Sheheen **-- South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Representative Nikki Haley-- National Rifle Association of America Representative Nikki Haley-- South Citizens for Life

Predictions

Polling

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican