COLUMBIA, S.C. — Longtime Richland County politician Mia McLeod has announced she will not be seeking reelection to the South Carolina Senate.
McLeod said in a statement the decision to run or not run "is one I’ve always had to think and pray about longer than most of my colleagues. This time was no different... when God speaks, I listen... it is with unspeakable joy and heartfelt gratitude, that I announce I will not seek re-election to the SC Senate."
McLeod has served Richland County in the legislature for 14 years; first in House District 79 for six years, then Senate District 22 for the past eight years.
In December 2015, in response to restrictions placed on abortion rights in the state, McLeod sponsored H.4544, a bill that would impose similar restrictions and access for males to Viagra and similar drugs used to combat erectile dysfunction.
In 2021, McLeod entered the race South Carolina Governor but lost the Democratic Party's primary to Joe Cunningham.
While she started out as a Democrat, she switched to the Independent Party in 2023. Also that year, McLeod joined the four other female senators in office -- Katrina Shealy (R), Margie Bright-Matthews (D), Penry Gustafson (R), and Sandy Senn (R) -- calling themselves the "Sister Senators," initially blocking a bill that would ban all abortions in South Carolina. The Sister Senators were awarded the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award in October 2023 for their efforts to support women's health care.
With her announcement, the senate, which already has just six female senators, could be at risk to lose another female member. In addition to the senators above, Tameika Isaac Devine won a special election last year to District 19 in Richland County.
According to online records, three Democrats have filed for the Senate 22 seat primary, which is in June: Monica Elkins, Ivory Thigpen, and Overture Walker. No Republicans have filed yet.