Hugh Leatherman


Hugh K. Leatherman Sr. is a Republican member of the South Carolina Senate, serving since 1981. The 31st District, which he currently represents, is anchored in Florence, South Carolina.
He served as President Pro Tempore of the South Carolina Senate for all but one day from June 18, 2014 to January 8, 2019. The position was abolished and replaced with the President of the Senate. He was a member of the State Budget and Control Board until it was abolished in 2014. Leatherman currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and Vice Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.

Early life

Leatherman was born in Lincoln County, North Carolina. He studied at North Carolina State University where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree.

Career

Leatherman began his political career after his election in 1967 to the Town Council in Quinby, South Carolina. He served as a Councilman until 1976. From 1971–1976, Leatherman also served as the Mayor Pro Tempore. In 1981, he was elected to the South Carolina Senate.
In November 2016, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Governor Nikki Haley to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations. As President Pro Tempore, Leatherman would have been next in line to become Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina upon Haley's confirmation and the ascension of Henry McMaster to the governorship. Leatherman, however, stated that he would refuse the position.
On January 24, 2017, when Haley was sworn in as U.N. Ambassador and McMaster became the 117th Governor of South Carolina, Leatherman resigned from his leadership position in the South Carolina Senate in order to avoid ascending to the Office of Lieutenant Governor. He was succeeded as President Pro Tempore by Kevin L. Bryant, who then became the 92nd Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina. The position of President Pro Tempore was then made vacant again.
On January 25, 2017, Leatherman was re-elected as President Pro Tempore on a 28–16 vote.
In December 2018, it was announced that the position of President Pro Tempore would be abolished due to a constitutional change that removes the Lieutenant Governor as President of the Senate, and replaces the position of President Pro Tempore with a President elected from the Senate membership.