Walid Hakim, a Marine veteran and Green Party candidate, is seeking the South Carolina governor's office in the Nov. 3 general election.

Hakim faces Republican Alan Wilson, Democrat Jermaine Johnson and United Citizens Party candidate Michael Addison, according to BallotReady election data. Hakim is certified for the ballot.

Candidate information

  • Party: Green
  • Office sought: South Carolina governor
  • Education: Newberry College, according to his campaign biography
  • Military service: Hakim said he served as a military policeman in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1990 to 1995
  • Family: Three children, according to his campaign website
  • Residence history: Born in Kuwait to an American mother and a Palestinian Greek father, Hakim said he moved to South Carolina in 1985 and attended Lexington High School

Experience and public service

Hakim said he previously served as executive director of the South Carolina Libertarian Party before joining the Green Party. He said he has run for Columbia City Council as an independent and made an attempt for the South Carolina Statehouse as a Democrat.

BallotReady profile data lists Hakim as chief of corps operations at the Civil Defense Corps from 2016 to 2021 and director of Middle East affairs at the Carolina Peace Resource Center from 2023 to 2024.

Hakim said on his campaign website that he took part in the 2011 Occupy Columbia protests and was arrested along with 18 others. He said charges were dropped and he served as lead plaintiff in a lawsuit that resulted in a nearly $200,000 award. He also said he successfully sued the city of Columbia in 2015 over a 30-day weapons ban near the state capital.

On the issues

Hakim's campaign platform outlines positions across several policy areas. All positions below are the candidate's own stated proposals.

Healthcare: Hakim said he supports accepting all available federal Medicaid expansion funds. He said South Carolina has lost over $15.8 billion by not expanding Medicaid. He also proposed creating a state-owned insurance company, the Carolina Insurance Company, and a statewide database of average prices for medical procedures, auto repairs and other services.

Education: Hakim proposed installing ballistic-resistant windows, doors and entryways in all schools, a concept he calls "School Castles." He said he would offer tuition-free college for critical professions including nurses, doctors, engineers, teachers, social workers and therapists, with graduates repaying through living and working in South Carolina for 10 to 20 years. He also proposed year-round schooling and integrating childcare into the state school system.

Criminal justice: Hakim said he would legalize cannabis, release and expunge records for personal-use drug possession, and refocus law enforcement on violent crime. His "Keep Them Home Bill" would provide inmates with trade certifications, temporary housing and job placement before release, aiming to cut spending on prisons by reducing recidivism.

Housing: Hakim proposed creating a state-owned nonprofit bank called the Carolina Bank to provide affordable mortgages. He said he would limit property ownership to 12 residential properties per corporation or individual, excluding apartment complexes.

Infrastructure: Hakim said he would build solar-powered, free-to-ride buses and contract development of high-speed rail connecting Charleston, Columbia, Atlanta and other cities. He proposed a "100-Year Plan" for environmental and economic sustainability, including protecting forests managed jointly with South Carolina tribal nations.