Brian Jerome Gaines (born 1981/1982)[1] is an American civil servant and politician who currently serves as the Comptroller General of South Carolina. He was appointed by Republican Governor Henry McMaster on May 12, 2023, by recess appointment, following the resignation of Richard Eckstrom.[2][3] He is South Carolina's first black constitutional officer since the Reconstruction era.[4] 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.[5] Gaines's appointment prevented a constitutional crisis; since the office was vacant, no person could authorize the distribution of funds.[6][7]
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.[8][9] 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.[10][11][12] He became a Certified Public Manager in 2014.[13]
Richard Eckstrom, who held the office of comptroller general for 20 years, resigned on April 30, 2023, after a $3.5 billion accounting error.[14] Governor Henry McMaster appointed Gaines to the vacant seat on May 12, 2023.[1] 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.[a][15][16] He has stated that he does not wish to run for the office in 2026.[4]
His appointment received bipartisan support in the solidly Republican state, with state Senator Larry Grooms, a Berkeley County Republican, stating he met his call for “a highly qualified seasoned professional with great knowledge of government accounting.” Governor McMaster stated, “He's qualified. He's respected by everyone. He has enormous experience. He's not a political person, and everyone we discussed this with has great respect and confidence in Mr. Gaines.”[4] Former chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, Trav Robertson, released a statement on Twitter thanking McMaster and Grooms for the appointment of Gaines.[17]
^Gaines is not the "acting" comptroller general. Rather, he was appointed to serve in the position until the General Assembly elects a successor (as is constitutionally required).
