Henry McMaster

Henry McMaster
Born	Henry Dargan McMaster 27 5, 1947
Birthplace	Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Known for	117th Governor of South Carolina, Operation Jackpot prosecution
Education	University of South Carolina (BA, JD)
Children	2
Awards	Longest-serving Governor of South Carolina
Website	[Official website Official site]

Henry Dargan McMaster (born May 27, 1947) is an American politician and attorney who has served as the 117th governor of South Carolina since January 24, 2017. A member of the Republican Party, McMaster has held a succession of prominent public offices in South Carolina spanning more than four decades, including service as a United States Attorney, chair of the South Carolina Republican Party, attorney general of South Carolina, and lieutenant governor of South Carolina. Born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, McMaster first gained national attention as a federal prosecutor in the early 1980s when he led Operation Jackpot, a major investigation into marijuana smuggling operations along the South Carolina coast. He ascended to the governorship in 2017 upon the resignation of Nikki Haley, who left to serve as United States Ambassador to the United Nations, and subsequently won election to a full term in 2018 and reelection in 2022. On January 29, 2025, McMaster became South Carolina's longest-serving governor, and he is also the third-longest serving incumbent governor in the United States. In April 2025, President Donald Trump appointed McMaster to the Homeland Security Advisory Council.

Early Life

Henry Dargan McMaster was born on May 27, 1947, in Columbia, South Carolina. He grew up in the state capital and developed roots in South Carolina politics and civic life from an early age. McMaster's upbringing in Columbia placed him in close proximity to the institutions of state government, including the South Carolina State House, which would become central to his decades-long political career.

McMaster served in the United States military from 1969 to 1975, a period that encompassed the latter years of the Vietnam War. His military service preceded his entry into legal and political life and provided him with experience that he would later draw upon in public office.

Education

McMaster attended the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He continued his education at the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree. His legal education at the state's flagship university laid the groundwork for a career that would encompass both private legal practice and public service at the highest levels of South Carolina government. Following law school, McMaster worked alongside United States Senator Strom Thurmond in private legal practice, an association that would prove significant in his subsequent political trajectory.

Career

United States Attorney and Operation Jackpot

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan appointed McMaster as the United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina, a position he held from June 5, 1981, to July 1, 1985. As U.S. Attorney, McMaster oversaw federal prosecutions across the state, but his tenure became most closely associated with Operation Jackpot, a large-scale federal investigation targeting marijuana smuggling operations in South Carolina.

Operation Jackpot focused on a network of smugglers operating along the South Carolina coast, sometimes referred to as "gentlemen smugglers" due to their affluent backgrounds and social standing in Lowcountry communities. The investigation resulted in numerous indictments and convictions and drew significant media attention, both at the time and in later accounts of the case. The prosecution established McMaster's reputation as a tough-on-crime federal prosecutor and provided a foundation for his subsequent political campaigns in South Carolina.

Early Political Campaigns

After leaving the U.S. Attorney's office, McMaster sought higher elected office. In 1986, he ran for the United States Senate but was unsuccessful in his bid. He made another attempt at statewide office in 1990, running for lieutenant governor of South Carolina, but again fell short. These early defeats, while setbacks, did not end McMaster's ambitions. Instead, they led him to a different role within the Republican Party that would prove instrumental in building the political infrastructure he would later use to win statewide office.

Chair of the South Carolina Republican Party

On May 8, 1993, McMaster became chair of the South Carolina Republican Party, succeeding Barry Wynn in the position. He served as party chair until March 28, 2002, when he was succeeded by Katon Dawson. McMaster's nearly nine-year tenure as state party chair coincided with a period of significant Republican growth in South Carolina. During his chairmanship, the Republican Party consolidated its dominance in state politics, building on gains that had been accumulating since the late 20th century political realignment in the Southern United States.

As party chair, McMaster played a role in organizing Republican campaigns across the state and in positioning South Carolina as an important early-primary state in presidential nomination contests. His tenure in this organizational role gave him extensive contacts throughout the state and deepened his relationships with Republican voters and activists, networks that would prove valuable in his later campaigns for attorney general and governor.

Attorney General of South Carolina

McMaster was elected the 50th attorney general of South Carolina in 2002, defeating his Democratic opponent and beginning his first term on January 15, 2003. He served under Governor Mark Sanford and was reelected in 2006, serving until January 12, 2011. As attorney general, McMaster was the state's chief legal officer, responsible for representing South Carolina in legal matters and overseeing the prosecution of certain categories of criminal cases.

His eight years as attorney general represented McMaster's longest continuous period of elected service prior to becoming governor and established him as one of the most prominent Republican officeholders in the state. The position also provided him with a platform from which to pursue a gubernatorial campaign.

2010 Gubernatorial Campaign

In 2010, McMaster entered the Republican primary for governor of South Carolina. He faced several opponents, including Nikki Haley, a state legislator from Lexington County. Haley's campaign gained momentum following high-profile endorsements, and she ultimately defeated McMaster and the other primary contenders to win the Republican nomination. Haley went on to win the general election. Despite the loss, McMaster's relationship with the broader Republican political establishment in South Carolina remained intact, and he continued to be active in state politics.

South Carolina Ports Authority

Following his departure from the attorney general's office and his unsuccessful gubernatorial bid, McMaster was appointed by Governor Nikki Haley to the board of the South Carolina Ports Authority in 2011. The Ports Authority oversees the state's major seaports, including the Port of Charleston, which is one of the busiest container ports on the East Coast of the United States. McMaster's service on the board kept him engaged with significant economic and infrastructure issues in the state during a period when he was not holding elected office.

Lieutenant Governor

In 2014, McMaster ran for lieutenant governor of South Carolina and won the election, taking office on January 14, 2015, as the 91st lieutenant governor, succeeding Yancey McGill. He served under Governor Nikki Haley, with whom he had competed in the 2010 gubernatorial primary.

McMaster's tenure as lieutenant governor was not without controversy. He faced an ethics inquiry related to allegations that he had accepted campaign donations above legal limits. The South Carolina Ethics Commission declined to dismiss the case during proceedings in 2015. Despite this, McMaster continued to serve as lieutenant governor and maintained his position within the state's political leadership.

During his time as lieutenant governor, McMaster also served as president of the South Carolina Senate, a constitutional duty of the office. He held the lieutenant governorship until January 24, 2017, when he ascended to the governorship.

Governor of South Carolina

Ascension to the Governorship

On November 23, 2016, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Governor Nikki Haley to serve as United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Upon Haley's resignation on January 24, 2017, McMaster became the 117th governor of South Carolina, in accordance with the state's constitutional line of succession. Kevin L. Bryant succeeded McMaster as lieutenant governor.

McMaster had been an early supporter of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, and his relationship with Trump played a significant role in his subsequent political trajectory. As governor, McMaster continued to align himself with the Trump administration on various policy matters.

First Full Term and Gas Tax Veto

In 2018, McMaster sought election to a full term as governor. He faced a competitive Republican primary, which went to a runoff election. McMaster narrowly won the runoff to secure the Republican nomination and subsequently won the general election.

During his first years in office, McMaster took notable positions on fiscal policy. He vetoed an increase in the state's gasoline tax, but the South Carolina Senate overrode his veto, and the gas tax increase became law. The veto override represented a rare instance of the state legislature directly overruling the governor on a major fiscal matter and highlighted tensions between McMaster's anti-tax stance and the legislature's desire to fund infrastructure improvements.

McMaster's lieutenant governors during his time as governor have been Kevin L. Bryant, who served from 2017 following McMaster's ascension, and Pamela Evette, who has served since 2019 after being elected on McMaster's ticket in 2018.

Reelection in 2022

McMaster ran for reelection in 2022 and won, securing a second full term as governor. His reelection affirmed his standing as the leader of the South Carolina Republican Party and ensured that he would continue to serve as governor well into the 2020s.

Longest-Serving Governor

On January 29, 2025, McMaster surpassed all previous governors to become South Carolina's longest-serving governor, a milestone reflecting both his initial partial term beginning in 2017 and his subsequent elected terms. He also became the third-longest serving incumbent governor in the United States at that time.

2026 State of the State Address

In January 2026, McMaster delivered his annual State of the State address at the South Carolina State House, outlining his policy priorities for the year. The address covered a range of issues facing the state and reflected McMaster's agenda as he continued to serve in his second full term.

Recent Activities

In February 2026, McMaster announced that the body of the Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr., a native of Greenville, South Carolina, would lie in state at the South Carolina State House in Columbia. The decision to honor Jackson, a prominent civil rights leader, at the State House was notable as a bipartisan gesture by the Republican governor.

McMaster also continued to engage with economic and sporting events in the state, including hosting a press conference at the Governor's Mansion ahead of a race weekend at Darlington Raceway.

In April 2025, President Donald Trump appointed McMaster to the Homeland Security Advisory Council, adding a federal advisory role to his responsibilities as governor.

Personal Life

McMaster resides at the South Carolina Governor's Mansion in Columbia with his wife, Peggy McMaster, who serves as the First Lady of South Carolina. The couple has two children.

McMaster has spent virtually his entire life in South Carolina, maintaining deep ties to the Columbia area where he was born, educated, and has held office. His career in public service has spanned more than four decades, from his appointment as U.S. Attorney in 1981 through his continuing service as governor.

Recognition

McMaster's most notable distinction is his status as the longest-serving governor in South Carolina history, a record he achieved on January 29, 2025. This milestone encompasses his initial partial term, which began on January 24, 2017, when he succeeded Nikki Haley, as well as his two subsequent elected terms. He is also recognized as the third-longest serving incumbent governor in the United States.

His early career as a federal prosecutor brought him recognition through Operation Jackpot, which was one of the most prominent federal drug prosecution cases in South Carolina history. The case has been the subject of subsequent media coverage and published accounts, keeping McMaster's role in the prosecution in the public record long after the trials concluded.

McMaster's appointment to the Homeland Security Advisory Council by President Trump in April 2025 represented additional recognition of his standing within Republican political circles at the national level.

Legacy

As of 2026, McMaster continues to serve as governor, making a full assessment of his legacy premature. However, several aspects of his career are notable in the context of South Carolina political history. He is the longest-serving governor the state has had, a record achieved through a combination of succession and electoral victories. His career arc—from federal prosecutor to party chair to attorney general to lieutenant governor to governor—represents one of the most extensive careers in South Carolina Republican politics.

McMaster's early and vocal support for Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign positioned him as one of the first major elected officials in the nation to endorse Trump, a decision that shaped his political fortunes and influenced South Carolina's relationship with the Trump administration. His service as a bridge figure between the Nikki Haley era and the post-Haley Republican establishment in South Carolina marks his tenure as one of political continuity and party consolidation.

His leadership of the South Carolina Republican Party for nearly a decade during the 1990s and early 2000s coincided with and contributed to the party's rise to dominance in a state that had historically been a Democratic stronghold. McMaster's career thus spans and reflects the broader political transformation of the Southern United States during the late 20th and early 21st centuries.