David Beasley
| David Beasley | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 113th Governor of South Carolina | |
|
In office January 11, 1995 – January 13, 1999 |
|
| Lieutenant | Bob Peeler |
| Preceded by | Carroll Campbell |
| Succeeded by | Jim Hodges |
| Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 56th district |
|
|
In office January 9, 1979 – January 10, 1995 |
|
| Preceded by | Gary Byrd |
| Succeeded by | Denny Neilson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
David Muldrow Beasley February 26, 1957 Darlington, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party |
Democratic (Before 1991) Republican (1991–present) |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Wood Payne |
| Children | 4 |
| Education |
Clemson University University of South Carolina, Columbia (BA, JD) |
David Muldrow Beasley (born February 26, 1957) is an American politician who served one term as the 113th Governor of South Carolina from 1995 until 1999, as a member of the Republican Party.
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.
Beasley 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. 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%.
...
Wikipedia