South Carolina Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General Head to Runoff in Governor Race

South Carolina’s Lieutenant Governor, Pamela Evette, and Attorney General, Alan Wilson, are advancing to a Republican primary runoff for the gubernatorial race as projected by NBC News. No candidate secured more than 50% of the vote, prompting the runoff scheduled for June 23. The winner is expected to be a strong contender to succeed the outgoing Governor Henry McMaster in the Republican-leaning state this fall.

From the beginning, the primary race was heavily influenced by candidates seeking an endorsement from President Donald Trump. Evette received this key support late in the campaign and has emphasized it in her communications. Her team released a statement titled “President Trump Doubles Down on his ‘Complete and Total Endorsement” of Evette, highlighting Trump’s backing in his social media post. Trump also held a tele-rally for Evette and Senator Lindsey Graham, who is up for re-election.

In her response to advancing to the runoff, Evette thanked Trump multiple times in her statement on the platform X, attributing her first-place finish to his endorsement and Governor McMaster’s support.

“To the great people of South Carolina: thank you,” she said. “I am honored and humbled by our first-place finish. This victory would not have been possible without @realDonaldTrump‘s complete and total endorsement and the strong support of Gov. @henrymcmaster. No doubt President Trump’s strong support was the rocket fuel that propelled us to first place. Thank you, Mr. President, for your trust and support. Now, back to work — let’s go win this thing, again!”

Alan Wilson, with a 15-year tenure as Attorney General and known endorsements from local law enforcement, is also in the runoff. He emphasized his commitment to South Carolina families and reducing costs, keeping communities safe, and prioritizing taxpayers.

“Tonight, South Carolina families sent a clear message: they want a Governor who will fight for their families, lower costs, keep communities safe, and put taxpayers first,” Wilson declared.

The primary ballot featured other notable candidates such as Rep. Nancy Mace, Rep. Ralph Norman, and businessman Rom Reddy. Mace, initially perceived as a potential Trump endorsee due to past campaign association, had distanced herself from Trump after the Capitol attack in January 2021. She, however, attempted to regain favor in support of Trump ahead of his 2024 campaign against ex-Governor Nikki Haley.

The relationship between Mace and Trump soured as she advocated for releasing government files on Jeffrey Epstein and supported transparent governance. Consequently, she did not fare well in the primary, finishing fifth.

Despite this setback, Mace offered support to Wilson, having reconciled with him, recognizing his leadership and stating that serving South Carolina remains her proudest achievement. She chose principle over popularity, challenging corruption and cover-ups, and seeks solace in these decisions even if it meant losing the election.

“Because when a candidate is OK with corruption and cover-ups — something is broken. … This isn’t the end of the fight. It’s just the end of this chapter,” Mace reflected.

Ralph Norman, who was less likely to receive Trump’s endorsement due to backing Haley’s presidential bid, and Rom Reddy, who self-funded his campaign without donations, were also part of the primary. Reddy expressed clear opposition to building AI-based data facilities.