Brian J. Gaines

Brian Jerome Gaines (born 1981/1982) He is South Carolina's first Black constitutional officer since the Reconstruction era. Election records show that Gaines is a member of the Democratic Party, making him the first Democrat to hold statewide office in South Carolina since Yancey McGill left the lieutenant governor's office in 2015. Gaines's appointment prevented a constitutional crisis; since the office was vacant, no person could authorize the distribution of funds.

Career and education From Barnwell, Gaines graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelors of arts in political science in 2004 and with a masters in public administration in 2006. Upon his graduation, Gaines worked for the state of South Carolina as a human-resources consultant and later as a budget-research coordinator. Gaines also served as the state's director of policy and public affairs, deputy state budget director, and budget director for the state's Department of Administration. He became a Certified Public Manager in 2014.

Comptroller general Richard Eckstrom, who held the office of comptroller general for 20 years, resigned on April 30, 2023, after a $3.5 billion accounting error. Governor Henry McMaster appointed Gaines to the vacant seat on May 12, 2023. Because the state legislature's session ended on May 11, Gaines's May 12 appointment was a recess appointment, not subject to approval from the legislature, but he can be replaced by the legislature. Gaines is expected to hold the position until the General Assembly elects a successor or the new term begins in 2027. He has stated that he does not wish to run for the office in 2026.