Pamela Evette & Alan Wilson Advance in South Carolina Governor Race, Lindsey Graham Secures GOP Nomination/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ South Carolina Republicans selected finalists for governor while Sen. Lindsey Graham easily secured renomination for a fifth Senate term. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson will compete in a June 23 runoff after neither captured a majority of votes. The results highlighted President Donald Trump’s continued influence within South Carolina Republican politics.
South Carolina Republican Primary Quick Looks
- Pamela Evette and Alan Wilson advance to a June 23 runoff for governor.
- Sen. Lindsey Graham won the Republican Senate nomination outright.
- President Donald Trump endorsed both Graham and Evette.
- Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman failed to reach the gubernatorial runoff.
- Democrat Annie Andrews will challenge Graham in November.
- State Rep. Jermaine Johnson won the Democratic nomination for governor.
- Republicans continue a decades-long dominance of statewide elections.
- Trump’s influence remained a central factor throughout the campaign.
- South Carolina Democrats face an uphill battle in the general election.
- Several prominent political families remain influential in state politics.
Deep Look
Trump’s Influence Shapes South Carolina Primaries
South Carolina Republicans delivered a strong showing for candidates aligned with President Donald Trump, reinforcing the president’s enduring influence within the state’s GOP.
Tuesday’s primary elections produced victories for several Trump-backed candidates, including Sen. Lindsey Graham and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, while setting up a closely watched gubernatorial runoff later this month.
Despite concerns among some Republicans about national polling trends and economic frustrations, the South Carolina results demonstrated that Trump remains a dominant political force within the party.
His endorsements played a major role throughout the campaign season, with multiple candidates seeking to showcase their loyalty to the president.
Evette and Wilson Advance to Governor Runoff
The race for South Carolina governor now moves to a June 23 runoff after no Republican candidate secured a majority of the vote.
Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, who received Trump’s endorsement only days before the primary, advanced alongside state Attorney General Alan Wilson.
The outcome eliminated several high-profile contenders, including U.S. Representatives Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman.
Addressing supporters after advancing, Evette immediately sought to define the contrast between herself and Wilson.
“We are going to stand up for conservative voices and conservative values. I have never, I will never back down to the woke mob. Over these next two weeks we’re going to highlight a very clear contrast between myself and a career politician, Alan Wilson,” she said.
Wilson, who has served as South Carolina’s attorney general since 2011, emphasized unity and appealed to supporters of defeated candidates.
“Hire me to be your next governor. I will be a fighter for you,” he said.
The runoff is expected to become one of the state’s most closely watched political contests this summer.
How Trump’s Endorsement Battle Shaped the Race
Competition for Trump’s backing became one of the defining features of the Republican gubernatorial primary.
Evette frequently highlighted her relationship with the president and benefited from support from outgoing Gov. Henry McMaster, a longtime Trump ally whose endorsement was widely viewed as a signal of the president’s eventual support.
Other candidates also attempted to align themselves with Trump.
Nancy Mace highlighted previous support from the president despite earlier criticism of his conduct following the January 6 Capitol riot.
Ralph Norman pointed to his conservative credentials and record in Congress, though his support for Nikki Haley during the 2024 presidential campaign may have complicated his relationship with Trump supporters.
Businessman Rom Reddy attempted to position himself as a political outsider, drawing comparisons between his campaign and Trump’s own rise to political prominence.
Ultimately, however, Evette’s direct endorsement from Trump appeared to provide a significant boost in the final days before voting.
Lindsey Graham Cruises to Senate Nomination
While the governor’s race heads to a runoff, Sen. Lindsey Graham avoided any such challenge.
The longtime senator easily secured the Republican nomination as he seeks a fifth term in the U.S. Senate.
Graham’s relationship with Trump has experienced periods of tension over the years, but the two have become close political allies, particularly during Trump’s second presidency.
The senator’s support for Trump’s foreign policy initiatives, including military action against Iran, has strengthened their partnership.
During his victory speech, Graham directly addressed the president.
“I’m going to help you change this world and change this country.”
Graham also benefited from endorsements from influential South Carolina Republicans, including Sen. Tim Scott and Gov. Henry McMaster.
Challengers Fail to Gain Ground
One of Graham’s most vocal primary opponents was Greenville businessman Mark Lynch.
Lynch campaigned as an “America First” conservative and argued that Graham no longer represented the state’s Republican base.
However, Trump’s criticism of Lynch likely limited his ability to gain traction.
The president publicly described Lynch as a “lunatic” and a “disaster for the Republican Party.”
Without Trump’s support, Graham maintained a commanding advantage throughout the campaign.
His victory continues a long pattern of successfully defeating Republican challengers while maintaining his position as one of South Carolina’s most influential elected officials.
Democrats Face Difficult Road Ahead
Despite optimism among some Democratic activists, history remains a significant obstacle for the party in South Carolina.
Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election in the state since 1998 and have not captured a U.S. Senate seat in decades.
Charleston pediatrician Annie Andrews secured the Democratic Senate nomination and will challenge Graham in November.
Andrews previously ran against Nancy Mace for Congress in 2022 and has sought to frame Graham as inconsistent throughout his lengthy political career.
At the gubernatorial level, state Rep. Jermaine Johnson emerged as the Democratic nominee.
Johnson has become one of the party’s rising figures and gained statewide attention after delivering the Democratic response to Gov. McMaster’s State of the State address earlier this year.
Both Andrews and Johnson hope voter frustration with Trump and national Republican policies can create opportunities for Democrats in November.
Republican Dominance Continues
The broader election results underscored the Republican Party’s deep roots in South Carolina politics.
Republicans currently control every statewide elected office and have maintained dominance across most major contests for more than a decade.
In addition to Graham’s victory, longtime Congressman Joe Wilson secured the Republican nomination in the 2nd Congressional District as he seeks a 14th term.
Democratic Congressman James Clyburn also won renomination in the 6th Congressional District, positioning the veteran lawmaker for a potential 18th term in Congress.
Together, the results highlight both the continuity and changing dynamics within South Carolina politics.
What Comes Next
Attention now shifts to the June 23 Republican runoff between Evette and Wilson.
The winner will enter the general election as the favorite in a state where Republicans have consistently dominated statewide races.
For Democrats, the challenge remains finding a path to break decades of GOP control.
For Republicans, the primary results reinforced a familiar reality: Donald Trump continues to wield enormous influence over South Carolina politics, and candidates aligned with him remain in strong positions heading into the fall campaign season.
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