David Beasley

David Beasley
113th Governor of South Carolina
In office January 11, 1995 – January 13, 1999
Preceded by	Carroll A. Campbell, Jr.
Succeeded by	Jim Hodges
Personal details
Born	February 26, 1957 ( 1957-02-26) (age 54) Darlington, South Carolina
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Mary Wood Payne
Residence	Society Hill, South Carolina
Alma mater	University of South Carolina University of South Carolina School of Law
Profession	Politician
Religion	Christian

David Muldrow Beasley (born February 26, 1957) is a Republican who served one term as the 113th Governor of South Carolina from 1995 until 1999.

David Beasley, a native of Darlington, South Carolina, began his political career as a member of the Democratic Party, but switched to the Republican Party in September 1991, three years before his election as governor. His first run for public office came in 1978, when, as a 21-year-old junior attending Clemson University, he unexpectedly won a seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He later graduated from the University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Early political career

He served as a member of the House from 1979 until 1995, rising through the party ranks to become Majority Whip. He served as the youngest Speaker pro tempore and Majority Leader in the nation, being elected to the position from 1987–1989.^[1] It was during the 1991–92 legislative session that Beasley switched to the Republican Party. During the 1994 election for governor, both Beasley and his Democratic opponent Lieutenant Governor Nick Theodore had tough primary fights within their own respective parties. Beasley, however, beat his toughest competitor, former Congressman and State Senator Arthur Ravenel, Jr., in both the primary and run-off, and went on to win the general election by a narrow margin of 50%–48%.

Governor

During his term as governor, Beasley was known for injecting his Christian faith into the public discourse^{[citation needed]}.

In 1998, Governor Beasley was defeated in his bid for re-election by Democrat Jim Hodges, 53-45%. There are several reasons for Beasley's surprising loss in such a staunchly Republican state.

First, owners of video poker machines, which were legal in South Carolina at the time, poured millions of dollars into advertisements attacking Beasley for trying to ban video poker. Second, Beasley changed his position on keeping the Confederate flag on top of the Capitol. He ordered it moved to a place nearby on the capitol grounds. Many conservative Republicans remembered this supposed "flip-flop" on Election Day, and simply stayed home. Third, Beasley opposed a proposal for the state to support all-day kindergarten, a decision which cost him Democratic votes^{[citation needed]}.

Post Governor

Following his term as governor, Beasley was invited as a fellow at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 2003, Beasley was awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award by U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) for his controversial decision to remove the Confederate flag from the South Carolina capitol^{[citation needed]}.

In 2004, the former governor unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate. Beasley lost the Republican nomination to Congressman Jim DeMint of Greenville, South Carolina^{[citation needed]}.

In April 2005, Governor Beasley, along with his administration's former Chief Legal Counsel, Henry Deneen, incorporated the Center for Global Strategies, Ltd (CGS). CGS focuses on developmental initiatives in the non-integrated world. Governor Beasley serves as the Chairman of the Board^{[citation needed]}.

In 2007, Beasley endorsed Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) in the 2008 Republican presidential primaries^{[citation needed]}.

In 2010, Beasley endorsed Henry McMaster in the South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primaries^{[citation needed]}.

Personal

Beasley is married to the former Mary Wood Payne and is the father of four children: Mary Hunter, Sarah Catherine, David, Jr., and Samuel Ross. Governor Beasley currently resides in Society Hill, SC, located in Darlington County.

References

1. ^ David Muldrow Beasley

External links

• SCIway Biography of David Muldrow Beasley
• NGA Biography of David Muldrow Beasley

Political offices
Preceded by Carroll A. Campbell, Jr.	Governor of South Carolina 1995–1999	Succeeded by Jim Hodges

Persondata
Name	Beasley, David Muldrow
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 26, 1957
Place of birth	Darlington, South Carolina
Date of death
Place of death