the Republican primary. This decision effectively stymied the rest of her policy agenda. After winning the 2016 primary, Leatherman said that Haley wasn't just a lame duck but a "dead duck." Senate president pro tempore 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 until the next day when Leatherman was re-elected as President Pro Tempore on a 28–16 vote. The sixteen senators who voted nay were Republicans. Among the no votes were Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey who stated that re-electing Leatherman violated "the spirit and intent of the constitution." In December 2018, it was announced that the position of President Pro Tempore would be abolished due to a constitutional change that removed the Lieutenant Governor as President of the Senate, and replaced the position of President Pro Tempore with a President elected from the Senate membership. The change weakened Leatherman's power as he could no longer be both Senate Finance chairman and Senate president. Death On October 22, 2021, it was announced that Leatherman was receiving hospice care at his home in Florence for "advanced and aggressive" intestinal cancer, which was inoperable. He died on November 12, 2021, at age 90. References External links South Carolina Legislature – Hugh K. Leatherman Sr. – Official SC Senate Website Hugh K. Leatherman Sr. Official Constituent Service Website Hugh Leatherman profile at Vote Smart |- |- |- 1931 births 2021 deaths 20th-century American businesspeople 20th-century American politicians 21st-century American politicians American construction businesspeople Methodists from South Carolina Businesspeople from South Carolina Deaths from cancer in South Carolina Deaths from colorectal cancer North Carolina State University alumni People from Florence County, South