OAN Staff Lillian Mann and Katherine Mosack
8:00 AM – Wednesday, June 10, 2026
South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and state Attorney General Alan Wilson have advanced to a runoff election in the GOP gubernatorial primary to decide who will face the Democrat nominee in November.
The runoff will take place on Tuesday, June 23rd, after neither candidate won more than 50% of the vote on Tuesday. With 99% of votes tallied, Evette (R-S.C.) led the primary field with approximately 29% of the vote, while Wilson (R-S.C.) finished second with roughly 26% of the vote.
Evette, 58, has positioned herself as a candidate to succeed the current officeholder, Henry McMaster (R-S.C.). Nonetheless, she faces a strong challenge from Wilson, 52, who gained statewide attention through his office’s role in the murder trial of Alex Murdaugh.
First elected as lieutenant governor in 2018, Evette’s campaign platform focused on tax reductions, infrastructure development and election oversight. Meanwhile, Wilson, the long-serving attorney general, campaigned on public safety, law enforcement support and economic initiatives. Both candidates have vowed to eliminate the state income tax, work to secure the border, and support President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda; however, of the two, President Trump chose to endorse Evette.
In a lengthy Truth Social post in March, Trump wrote that Evette “is an America First Patriot who has been with me from the very beginning.”
“She never wavered, never let me down, and was the only South Carolina Gubernatorial Candidate to Endorse me as soon as I launched my 2024 Presidential Campaign,” Trump said.
He continued, “A successful Entrepreneur, Businesswoman, and Civic Leader, prior to becoming a distinguished Lieutenant Governor, and working with my friend, and GREAT Governor, Henry McMaster, Pam has proven she has the Courage and Wisdom to deliver strong results for the people of her wonderful State, and our Nation.”
The two frontrunners defeated a field of challengers that included U.S. Representatives Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), who received 17% of the vote, and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who only garnered 12%. Additionally, businessman Rom Reddy received about 14% of the GOP vote.
“To the great people of South Carolina: thank you,” Evette said on X. “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.”
The eventual winner will next face Democratic nominee state Representative Jermaine Johnson (D-S.C.) in the general election after Johnson won the Democrat primary with nearly 60% of the vote, defeating former Clinton White House staffer
Billy Webster’s approximately 30% and trial attorney Mullins McLeod’s over 10%.
Johnson, 40, was born on Independence Day and is also the founder and CEO of the New Economic Beginnings Foundation, which helps troubled youth get education and career opportunities. He assumed office in the state legislature in 2020. He promises to decrease the number of South Carolinians who pay income taxes and prevent restrictions on abortion, per his online campaign platform.
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