The Honorable Nikki Haley

Nikki Randhawa Haley was elected the 116th Governor of South Carolina on Tuesday, November 2, 2010.

Governor Haley’s number one priority since taking office has been growing South Carolina’s economy. By recruiting companies and improving the climate for existing businesses in South Carolina, her administration has announced over 27,000 new jobs since 2011.

Governor Haley has also led the way for remarkable reforms—including tax relief for small businesses, pension reform, Medicaid reform, and illegal immigration reform.

Before being elected governor, she served as a state representative from Lexington, South Carolina. Her legislative tenure was marked by fighting against wasteful spending, pushing for smaller, more efficient government, and leading the fight for accountability and transparency.

Born in Bamberg, South Carolina, the daughter of Indian immigrants, Governor Haley’s first job was keeping the books for her family’s clothing business—at the age of 13. She went on to graduate from Clemson University and then worked in corporate accounting for five years. Governor Haley later returned to the family business where she helped oversee its growth into a multimillion dollar operation.

Governor Haley is married to Michael, an employee of the Department of Army and officer in the Army National Guard, and they have two children, Rena and Nalin.