South Carolina Attorney General Wins GOP Runoff for Governor

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson won the Republican runoff for the state’s governor on June 23.

Wilson defeated Pamela Evette, the state’s lieutenant governor. Wilson will face Democratic state Rep. Jermaine Johnson in the general election on Nov. 3. Democrats have not won the South Carolina governorship since 1998.

The Associated Press called the race at 7:26 p.m ET. Wilson had 65.5 percent of the votes, while Evette had 34.5 percent, with 10 percent of ballots counted.

The winner in the general election will succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, who endorsed Evette.

Multiple polls showed Wilson leading Evette. A polling average from FiftyPlusOne showed Wilson with 55.7 percent support compared to Evette’s 31.7 percent.

President Donald Trump endorsed both Evette and Wilson, though he endorsed Evette first.

Trump called Evette “a good friend, fighter, and WINNER” and noted she was the only South Carolina gubernatorial candidate to endorse him as soon as he launched his 2024 presidential campaign.

“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,” he posted on Truth Social.

Trump added that as governor, Evette would grow the economy, cut taxes and regulations, champion farmers and ranchers, secure the border, stop migrant crime, safeguard elections, strengthen the military and veterans, and protect the Second Amendment.

In his endorsement of Wilson, Trump reiterated his co-endorsement of Evette.

“Both have had amazing careers, and have been with me from the beginning. They are MAGA and America First all the way!” he wrote on Truth Social.

Trump said he hoped Evette and Wilson would make it into a runoff and called the options “a wealth of riches” and that voters “can’t go wrong” with either candidate.

Wilson avoided attacking Evette, but pointed to his own credentials as a four-term attorney general working on conservative legal issues as a reason he should be the next governor.

Johnson is a former professional basketball player who played in the NBA’s development league and overseas. He is the founder and CEO of the New Economic Beginnings Foundation, which educates troubled youth and veterans and helps them find employment.