Politics & Government

Gov. Nikki Haley, Rep. Jenny Horne crack top 10 of Politco 50 list of influential political leaders

By ZACH MURDOCK - zmurdock@islandpacket.com
FILE: Rep. Jenny Horne, R-Dorchester, is congratulated by Reps. Karl Anderson, Wendell G. Gilliard and Pat Henegan after her impassioned plea to the House members to remember the nine people who were killed in Charleston on June 17, 2015, during debate in the SC House of Representatives on a bill that would remove the Confederate flag from the State House grounds. The bill passed in the early morning hours of July 9.
FILE: Rep. Jenny Horne, R-Dorchester, is congratulated by Reps. Karl Anderson, Wendell G. Gilliard and Pat Henegan after her impassioned plea to the House members to remember the nine people who were killed in Charleston on June 17, 2015, during debate in the SC House of Representatives on a bill that would remove the Confederate flag from the State House grounds. The bill passed in the early morning hours of July 9. <a href="mailto:tdominick@thestate.com">tdominick@thestate.com</a>

Gov. Nikki Haley and state Rep. Jenny Horne, R-Charleston, are featured in Politico Magazine's "Politico 50" list of the most influential leaders in American politics this year.

The pair take the 9th spot on the list for their leadership in removing the Confederate battle flag from State House grounds after a gunman shot and killed nine churchgoers in Charleston, including the late state Sen. Clementa Pinckney.Politico praises Haley's decisive call to remove the flag, which helped spur other states to do the same, and Horne's impassioned speech on the floor of the SC House to help convince legislators to support the move.

"For many Republicans and Democrats alike, it was a bright spot in a year marked by racial tension -- a rare moment of national introspection when Americans seemed willing to redress past hatreds," Politico writes.

The Palmetto State pair finished just above politcal heavyweights Paul Ryan and Elizabeth Warren. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy took the top spot.

To see the full list, go to http://www.politico.com/magazine/politico50.

Follow reporter Zach Murdock on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Zach and on Facebook at facebook.com/IPBGZach.

This story was originally published September 10, 2015 at 9:15 AM with the headline "Gov. Nikki Haley, Rep. Jenny Horne crack top 10 of Politco 50 list of influential political leaders."

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