James Hovis Hodges (born November 19 1956) is a United States Democratic Party politician from South Carolina. He was the governor of South Carolina from 1999 until 2003. He was elected to the state legislature in 1986. During his 12 years there, he opposed video gambling , but in 1998, when he became the candidate for governor, he came out in support of a state lottery. Like the Georgia politician Zell Miller, Hodges achieved popularity partly because of the lottery. He defeated the Republican incumbent, David Beasley 53%-45%. He was defeated in the 2002 election by Republican Mark Sanford 53%-47%.