The South Carolina Democratic Party is urging Mullins McLeod to exit the 2026 gubernatorial race following the release of a dash cam video. The footage shows McLeod behaving erratically and issuing ambiguous threats towards law enforcement and political figures after an incident in downtown Charleston in May that resulted in his arrest.
On May 15, William “Mullins” McLeod, aged 53, was arrested when he was discovered loudly yelling while walking near the Battery. According to Charleston Police Department’s report, he was found wearing only underwear and shoes.
The video, obtained on August 12 via a Freedom of Information Act request, depicts McLeod refusing to provide identification to authorities after being placed in a patrol car, at times referring to himself as “Superman” and “God.”
“It doesn’t matter, my friend, trust me. I’m one of the most just humans to ever walk this soil,” McLeod responds after being asked for his name.
“Superman sounds good,” he immediately adds.
Eventually, McLeod does identify himself with his full name, mentioning his planned gubernatorial run, though he continues to shout in a sometimes incoherent manner.
As the footage, nearly an hour long, continues, McLeod grows visibly more agitated, launching into a profane rant full of vague and direct threats towards both current and former South Carolina politicians.
Among those mentioned was Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson, who announced his bid for governor earlier this summer.
“I’m gonna kick your [expletive] teeth in,” McLeod says, seemingly referencing Wilson.
In a statement on August 13, Wilson commented that he wanted to “give [McLeod] the benefit of the doubt” yet also shifted attention back to his own campaign.
“I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he means in a general election, not a street fight,” Wilson said. “My plan for bold, conservative leadership is spreading, and my record of defending President Trump, parental rights, and the rule of law has put a target on my back. But we’re not slowing down, and I’m not done fighting for South Carolina families.”
McLeod is also heard using a racial slur at one point.
A preliminary incident report obtained by News 2 stated that McLeod’s eyes were “extremely bloodshot and highly dilated,” symptoms the officer wrote were “typical of an individual under the influence of a stimulant narcotic.” It was not immediately clear whether McLeod was tested for any substances.
The video shows McLeod refusing to exit the patrol vehicle when it arrives at the Al Cannon Detention Center, telling an officer he would sleep in the back seat.
No, I’m not doing it, no,” McLeod shouts. “I’m not getting out of this car. It’s time to go to bed.”
He is forcibly removed and booked into the jail shortly before 1 a.m., according to the report.
The Charleston Police Department declined further comment on the video’s release, saying only that the department was fulfilling a FOIA request.
McLeod is currently facing misdemeanor charges for disorderly conduct. Those charges were still pending as of Aug. 11, according to a City of Charleston spokesperson.
Messages left with McLeod’s law office, campaign team, and on his cellphone seeking comment were not returned.
The Charleston attorney characterized his arrest as “unlawful” in an Aug. 11 interview with the Post and Courier, telling the outlet that voters would “know exactly what happened” before next year’s election.
McLeod, who ran unsuccessfully for governor as a Democrat in 2010 and served two terms as Charleston County Democratic Party chairman, is trying again for the office. He launched his campaign on Aug. 11, casting himself as a “servant leader” who wants to root out the “cancer” of corruption that he says has infiltrated state government over the past two decades.
He is the first Democrat to officially enter the race to replace Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, who cannot run again due to term limits. Richland State Rep. Jermaine Johnson, who launched an exploratory committee in early June, is also considering jumping in.
Christale Spain, chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, suggested in an Aug. 13 statement that McLeod re-evaluate his candidacy.
“After reviewing the transcript of the dash cam footage from his recent arrest, it is clear that Mr. McLeod is navigating profound challenges and should focus on his mental and emotional well-being instead of a campaign for governor,” the statement read, in part. “We offer him compassion and pray he finds the support he needs.”
