Henry McMaster

Nationalist

Republican

Governor

South Carolina

Current Position: Governor of South Carolina

Policy Positions

Against United Auto Workers unionization campaigns; joined with five other Republican governors in opposing UAW unionization efforts
For selling the Santee Cooper utility; called it a 'rogue agency' and favors its sale due to independence and financial problems

Against federal vaccine mandates; pledged to fight Biden 'to the gates of hell' over vaccine requirements and opposed door-to-door vaccination promotion
Against statewide mask mandates during COVID-19; declined to enact statewide mask requirements despite rising cases

For private school vouchers; attempted to use $32 million in federal COVID relief funds for private school vouchers

Against abortion rights; signed bills banning most abortions and the Heartbeat bill prohibiting abortion after a heartbeat is detected (usually six weeks into pregnancy), stated he 'looks forward to the day we don't have abortions' and would sign any anti-abortion bill
Against same-sex marriage; successfully led the fight to ban same-sex marriage in South Carolina in 2006, stated in 2022 that if the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Obergefell v. Hodges he would enforce South Carolina's preexisting ban on same-sex marriage
Against workplace discrimination protections based on sexual orientation; criticized a bill that would prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation
Against transgender student athletes competing on teams that don't match their birth certificates; signed a bill requiring student athletes to play on teams corresponding to the gender listed on their birth certificates

For deploying National Guard troops to the southern border; offered South Carolina National Guard troops to assist Texas in combating illegal immigration and drug trafficking

For Second Amendment rights and easy access to firearms; strong supporter of the National Rifle Association, signed legislation allowing permit-less open carry and reducing minimum handgun ownership age from 21 to 18
Against student protests for gun control; called walkouts following the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting 'shameful' and a 'tricky move' orchestrated by 'left-wing groups'