South Carolina gubernatorial candidate calls for end of ‘embarrassing’ Confederate Memorial Day

Abe Asher
·1 min read
Joe Cunningham on the campaign trail. (Getty Images)
Joe Cunningham on the campaign trail. (Getty Images)

One of the leading Democratic candidates for governor of South Carolina has renewed his calls for the state to end its celebration of Confederate Memorial Day and instead make Election Day a state holiday.

Joe Cunningham, a moderate who fomerly represented the Charelston area in the US House of Representatives, first proposed ending the celebration shortly after launching his gubernatorial bid last year.

“This is another example of how our state continues to live in the past,” Mr Cunningham said. “It’s embarrassing. When I’m governor, we’re going to end Confederate Memorial Day and make Election Day a state holiday instead.”