The last governor from Columbia was elected in 1878. Are we about to end the drought?

When Henry McMaster ran for governor eight years ago, I thought he would be a shoo-in. I warned him — in jest, really — that no one had been elected governor from Richland County since Hugh S. Thompson in 1882. When he lost, I felt badly about having told him that because I thought — and still think — he was the best candidate.

Water over the bridge, under the dam, whatever.

Actually, it may be more accurate to say that it would be the first time since 1878, because Hugh Thompson was actually a Charlestonian who moved to Columbia to become state superintendent of education. He was a compromise candidate for governor in 1882 and had not sought the office.

Wade Hampton was actually the last real Richland County son to be governor. He was born in Charleston, too, but he grew up here and represented Richland County in the Legislature.

This year, miracle of miracles, it would appear there is a virtual certainty that a son of Richland County will be elected governor. Gov. Henry McMaster and Rep. James Smith both were born and grew up here. Their families both have deep roots here, and there are many who know and like both candidates and both families.

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Apparently neither was able to get into Clemson, so both obtained undergraduate and law degrees from the University of South Carolina. They even patronize the same barber shop, King’s Row in Five Points, but I’m told the barbering staff will not take a side.

We will likely hear a lot about people who have been in politics too long, but any such charges are unlikely to stick, whichever side makes them: Henry has run for office six times, while James has run 11 times.

All of Smith’s campaigns have been successful, while McMaster ran for office when Republicans were rarely odds-on favorites in statewide races and lost his first two.

When James was first elected in 1996, the Republican he beat was his first cousin. Wouldn’t you love to have been a fly on the wall at that Thanksgiving dinner?

There are genuine differences involving issues that separate the two though, and anything can happen. But as the more conservative candidate, Henry should prevail, as South Carolina is still a pretty conservative state.

Neither has ever been associated with the more extreme elements of his party. Henry has never identified with hard-right Republicans, and James is certainly not the anti-American, Marxist goofball so many of his fellow Democrats have become.

I don’t know why South Carolinians have rejected Richland County candidates for statewide office — Heyward Belser, Alex Sanders, Kirk Finlay, Albert Watson, Tom Pearce, L.B. Owens, Frank Owens, Lester Bates and others — but they have. Perhaps it’s distrust of the seat of the government. We do live in a government town.

I am not a fan of Ben Tillman, but he is reputed to have once said, “Nothing good comes out of Columbia.”

Maybe this year we will prove him wrong.