Former Democratic Rep. Joe Cunningham confirms run for South Carolina governor

"I’ve got a history of greatly over performing," Cunningham said of the odds on winning in a conservative-leaning state.

By Nicholas Sherman

Published: April 26, 2021 6:56am

Updated: April 26, 2021 10:11am

Former Democratic Rep. Joe Cunningham on Sunday officially announced plans to run for South Carolina governor.

Cunningham told the Post and Courier newspaper that he will challenge GOP Gov. Henry McMaster in 2022, after filing paperwork last week to run.

Cunningham was elected to the House in 2018 by winning a congressional seat held by Republicans for decades. The GOP regained the seat in November 2020 when party member Nancy Mace defeated Cunningham.

"We flipped a gerrymandered seat that voted for Donald Trump by 13 points, and it was called one of the biggest upsets in South Carolina’s history," Cunningham said. "I've got a history of greatly over performing the top of the ticket, and that’s what’s going take to win statewide."

Cunningham said farewell to Congress in December 2020 after losing his close race to Mace by cracking a beer on the House floor.