Trump’s Dual Endorsement in South Carolina’s Gubernatorial Runoff

President Donald Trump made headlines with a dual endorsement that may impact the South Carolina Republican gubernatorial runoff. On a recent Friday, he expressed his support for both Attorney General Alan Wilson and Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette. Trump had initially backed Evette as his sole choice before the state’s June 9 primary.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised both candidates, stating they had impressive careers and supported his ‘MAGA’ and ‘America First’ agenda from the onset. He shared that he was hoping they would both reach the runoff and congratulated their success. Trump emphasized his decision by stating, “With either one, you can’t go wrong. Vote for Pam or Alan — They will not let you down!”

Following Trump’s post, Evette took to X, proudly highlighting her success as a Trump-endorsed candidate in the primary. She encouraged voters to participate in the upcoming runoff and to continue South Carolina’s winning streak.

Democratic former state Representative Mandy Powers Norrell noted on Facebook that Wilson’s endorsement was foreseeable, considering his growing momentum. She remarked on how the dual endorsement might impact Evette, while stressing the importance of voter turnout.

Trump’s influence has been under scrutiny amidst the midterm and primary election season. Outcomes have varied, with Trump-backed candidates like Senator Bill Cassidy and Representative Thomas Massie losing their races. In Iowa’s gubernatorial GOP primary, another endorse, Representative Randy Feenstra, was defeated, marking a setback in Trump’s election endorsements this cycle.

The runoff between Evette and Wilson is poised to further test Trump’s sway over Republican primaries. However, his decision to endorse both candidates appears to place him in a favorable position regardless of the runoff’s result. Trump previously won South Carolina in the 2024 presidential election with 58.2 percent of the vote.

What the Polls Show

Polling data presents a picture of the upcoming runoff’s dynamics. A survey by JMC Analytics and Polling indicates 59 percent of voters favor Wilson, while 25 percent prefer Evette. Another 16 percent remain undecided. Forced ballot results show Wilson with 63 percent and Evette with 28 percent, with 9 percent undecided. This survey included 500 respondents from June 13-15, with a margin of error of 4.38 percent.

Before the June 9 primary, a Trafalgar Group poll had Evette leading with 22.4 percent, followed closely by Wilson at 20.7 percent. Other candidates like businessman Rom Reddy, Representative Ralph Norman, and Representative Nancy Mace garnered 17.5 percent, 15.9 percent, and 13.9 percent, respectively. Candidate Jacqueline Dubose and Senator Josh Kimbrell’s results were negligible. This poll surveyed 1,200 likely Republican primary voters from June 5-7, with a margin of error of 2.9 percent.