State Senator Hugh Leatherman (R-Florence) has been re-elected to the position he resigned from less than 24 hours ago.
Leatherman quit his post as Senate Pro Tempore yesterday to avoid becoming Lt. Governor following the confirmation of former Governor Nikki Haley to be UN Ambassador.
Haley’s departure paved the way for then Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster to become Governor, a move which created the vacancy that according to the state Constitution would be automatically filled by the position that Leatherman held.
State Senator Kevin Bryant (R-Anderson) was named Senate Pro Tempore and then immediately moved into the role of Lt. Governor.
By a vote of 28-16 the Senate then re-elected Leatherman to the position he formerly held.
Bryant, who was the only Senator to express an interest in the position, was sworn in as Lt. Governor earlier today.