Members of the South Carolina Democratic Party are calling for gubernatorial candidate Mullins McLeod to drop out of the race after police camera footage showed him incoherently rambling and calling himself both “God” and “Superman” during an incident that culminated in his arrest.
For background, William “Mullins” McLeod, a prominent South Carolina Democrat, was arrested on May 15, 2025, after he was picked up by police for “yelling at the top of his lungs” and wearing only underwear and a pair of shoes. In August, press accounts confirmed that the incident had led to major backlash from McLeod’s own party, with calls growing for him to remove himself from the 2026 election.
The police camera footage, which was obtained by NBC Charleston, shows McLeod calling himself “Superman” and “God” after being asked by law enforcement to identify himself, adding, “It doesn’t matter, my friend, trust me. I’m one of the most just humans to ever walk this soil.” He then told the police, “Superman sounds good.”
Furthermore, McLeod was filmed ranting about other South Carolina politicians, including Republican Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Alan Wilson, of whom McLeod said, “I’m gonna kick your [expletive] teeth in.” AG Wilson responded to the scandal by saying, “I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he means in a general election, not a street fight.”
Continuing, AG Wilson responded to McLeod by standing his ground on his platform, saying, “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.” He added, “But we’re not slowing down, and I’m not done fighting for South Carolina families.”
Moreover, NBC Charleston reported that the police described McLeod’s eyes as “extremely bloodshot and highly dilated” when he was arrested, with an officer describing his symptoms as “typical of an individual under the influence of a stimulant narcotic.” However, the police did not confirm whether McLeod tested positive for any illicit substances.
Additionally, in an interview with The Post and Courier, McLeod characterized his arrest as “unlawful” and doubled down on his decision to run for governor. He told the outlet, “As far as my unlawful arrest goes, my hands are tied right now. And trust me, there’s nothing that I want more than to tell the voters exactly what happened on my unlawful arrest. But right now, my hands are tied.”
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On the other hand, Christale Spain, chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, publicly called for McLeod to drop out of the race, saying, “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.” She added, “We offer him compassion and pray he finds the support he needs.”
Watch the footage of McLeod’s arrest:
Featured image credit: Al Cannon Detention Center