Stephen Keith Benjamin (born December 1, 1969) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement under President Joe Biden from 2023 to 2025. Benjamin previously served as Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina from 2010 to 2022, becoming the city’s first African American mayor. He has also held leadership roles in several national organizations, including serving as President of both the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the African American Mayors Association.
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Early life, education, and early career
Benjamin's parents were from Orangeburg, South Carolina, but relocated to Queens, New York, during the Great Migration in the 1960s. Benjamin later moved to Columbia to attend the University of South Carolina, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1991 and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1994. While at the university, Benjamin served as President of Student Government, President of the student chapter of the NAACP, and later as President of the Student Bar Association.
Benjamin began his public service career as a member of South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges' Cabinet, where he served as chief executive of a $43 million state agency employing 950 people. Benjamin also completed executive coursework through the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, participated in additional leadership programs, and was named both an Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow and a Liberty Fellow.
Academic roles
In addition to his public service, Benjamin has remained active in academia. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of South Carolina Honors College and was the Spring 2022 Richard L. and Ronay A. Menschel Senior Leadership Fellow at the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He also helps an honorary Doctor of Humanities from Francis Marion University.
Political career
In 1999, Benjamin was appointed by Democratic Governor Jim Hodges to serve as Director of the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services, a position he held until 2003. In 2002, Benjamin ran as the Democratic nominee for Attorney General of South Carolina, but was defeated by Republican Henry McMaster, losing by a margin of 11 percent.
During the 2000 presidential election, Benjamin served as a South Carolina state co-chair of GoreNet, a grassroots organization that supported Al Gore's campaign. GoreNet focused on online organizing, grassroots mobilization, and hosting small-dollar donor events.
Mayor of Columbia (2010–2022)
In 2010, Benjamin won a special election to become mayor of Columbia, defeating Kirkman Finlay III in a runoff to succeed Bob Coble. In November 2017, Benjamin was the only candidate to file for the mayoral election and therefore did not appear on the ballot; he was automatically declared re-elected without any votes. On February 4, 2021, Benjamin announced that he would not seek re-election later that year.
His tenure focused on economic development, infrastructure investment, public safety, and inclusive governance. Under his leadership, Columbia experienced:
Nearly $2 billion in downtown capital investment
Over $750 million invested in water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure
Consistent budget surpluses in 9 of 12 years
Property tax cuts of more than 12 mills
Restoration of the city’s reserve fund post-2008 crisis
The first LEED Gold-certified municipal building in the city
The nation’s first stand-alone stormwater green bonds certified by the Climate Bond Initiative
His administration also led Columbia to become the first U.S. city to ban bump stocks and trigger cranks, implemented the Justice for All initiative focused on 21st-century policing, and prioritized the city’s arts and culture through major investments and the appointment of a city Poet Laur.
Columbia received multiple accolades during his administration, including recognition by National Geographic;, SmartAsset, and The Washington Post as a top destination for millennials and diverse populations.
National leadership
Benjamin served as:
President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors
President of the African American Mayors Association
Vice Chairman of the Global Parliament of Mayors
Executive Chairman of Municipal Bonds for America
Co-Chair of the Sierra Club's Mayors for 100% Clean Energy
Chair-Elect of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce
He also founded two major national initiatives:
The Mayors Leadership Institute on Smart Cities at the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, providing mayors with best practices and strategies to implement "smart city" solutions
The Mayors and Business Leaders Center for Inclusive and Compassionate Cities, promoting equity and compassion in city governance
Benjamin received numerous honors during and after his tenure, including the U.S. SBA Phoenix Award (2017) for his leadership during the 2015 floods and the 2018 USGLC Leading Globally Matters Locally Award. Benjamin currently serves as a Senior Advisor to Civint.
White House role (2023–2024)
In 2023, President Joe Biden appointed Benjamin as Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, where he coordinated communication and outreach between the executive branch and a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including business, labor, civil rights organizations, and the general public.
Other professional activities
Benjamin has served in various public-private roles and on multiple boards:
Chairman, FirstNet Authority Board (overseeing broadband communication for public safety agencies)
Chairman, FLEX (a coalition supporting app-based workers and technology-driven job platforms)
Co-Chair, BGR Group Advisory Board and U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
Board Member, The National Judicial College and Benedict College
Senior Fellow, Center for Financial Markets at the Milken Institute
He is also an experienced corporate director, having served on boards of both public and private companies in financial services, biopharma, risk management, and healthcare.
Endorsements
Benjamin endorsed Democrat Billy Webster in the 2026 South Carolina gubernatorial election.
Personal life
Benjamin is married to DeAndrea G. Benjamin, a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. They have two daughters.
He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi and Sigma Pi Phi fraternities.
Electoral history
Benjamin was the only candidate to file; he was automatically declared re-elected with no votes.
Recognition and awards
The Root's 100 Influential Black Americans (2011 & 2013)
The Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery by a Public Official (2017)