South Carolina GOP Primary Heads to Runoff
South Carolina’s Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson are set to face off in a runoff election for the GOP gubernatorial primary after neither secured more than 50% of the votes. The runoff is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23.
As results come in with 99% counted, Evette, representing the Republican Party, leads with about 29%, while Wilson follows closely with roughly 26%.
At 58 years old, Evette is seeking to follow current Governor Henry McMaster in the office. Wilson, who is 52, has garnered attention statewide from his involvement in the Alex Murdaugh murder trial, adding an interesting dimension to their rivalry.
Evette first entered office as lieutenant governor in 2018, advocating for tax cuts, infrastructure development, and overseeing elections. Wilson, on the other hand, has focused his campaign on public safety and support for law enforcement while promoting economic growth. Both candidates share similar goals, like abolishing the state income tax and reinforcing border security, but Trump’s endorsement notably went to Evette.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump referred to Evette as an “America First Patriot” who has consistently supported him. He emphasized her reliability and described her as a successful entrepreneur and leader with the capability to deliver results for South Carolina.
The frontrunners surpassed other candidates in the race, including U.S. Representatives Ralph Norman and Nancy Mace, securing 17% and 12% of the votes, respectively. Businessman Rom Reddy also garnered about 14% of the Republican votes.
Evette expressed gratitude on social media, acknowledging the crucial backing from Trump and thanking South Carolinians for their support.
The winner of the runoff will go on to challenge Democratic nominee Jermaine Johnson, a state representative who won his primary with nearly 60% of the vote. Johnson’s opponents, former Clinton staffer Billy Webster and attorney Mullins McLeod, received around 30% and over 10%, respectively.
At 40, Johnson, born on Independence Day, is the founder of the New Economic Beginnings Foundation, which aims to provide education and career opportunities to at-risk youth. Since taking office in 2020, he has pledged to lower the number of residents paying income tax and to uphold access to abortion services.
