Trump Issues Rare Dual Endorsement in South Carolina GOP Runoff; Evette Highlights Primary Lead

President Donald Trump delivered an unusual double endorsement on Friday in the closing days of the South Carolina Republican gubernatorial runoff, backing both Attorney General Alan Wilson and Lieutenant Governor Pam Evette as they compete to replace outgoing Governor Henry McMaster.

Trump, who had earlier given Evette his sole endorsement before the June 9 primary, announced the dual backing on his Truth Social account. He praised both candidates and framed the move as a way to support the party regardless of the runoff outcome.

“These were the two that I was hoping would get into a Runoff, and they did. I can’t hurt one of them by only Endorsing the other, so, therefore, I am going to Endorse, for Governor of South Carolina, both Pam Evette and Alan Wilson! It’s a Wealth of Riches – With either one you can’t go wrong. Vote for Pam or Alan — They will not let you down! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

Less than 15 minutes after the post, Evette took to X to celebrate finishing first in the June 9 primary as Trump’s endorsed candidate and urged voters to return to the polls for the June 23 runoff.

Campaign Responses: Newsweek reached out to Wilson’s campaign by email for comment; Evette’s campaign forwarded reporters to her X post. Several former primary contenders who ran against the two in the first round — including U.S. Representatives Ralph Norman and Nancy Mace — have since announced support for Wilson, consolidating some of the anti-Evette faction behind the attorney general.

Democratic former state representative Mandy Powers Norrell commented on Facebook that Trump’s pivot to endorse Wilson was not surprising given Wilson’s momentum. “Trump does not want to be with the losing candidate,” she wrote, calling it a significant blow to Evette but urging voters to still cast ballots.

What This Means

The dual endorsement effectively positions Trump so that either runoff winner will carry his imprimatur into the general election — a strategic stance that keeps his influence visible no matter the outcome. The runoff is being watched as another test of Trump’s sway in Republican primaries after mixed results for his endorsements in other races this cycle.

Recent Endorsement Track Record: The president has seen varied outcomes for his backed candidates this season, with several notable losses and at least one high-profile concession in other contests.

Polling

A JMC Analytics and Polling survey of 500 likely voters conducted June 13–15 (margin of error ±4.38 percentage points) showed Wilson leading the head-to-head runoff 59% to Evette’s 25%, with 16% undecided. In a forced-ballot scenario from the same survey, Wilson led 63% to Evette’s 28%, with 9% undecided.

Earlier multi-candidate polls from the Trafalgar Group before the June 9 primary showed a more fragmented field: Evette led the crowded primary in one Trafalgar survey with about 22.4% to Wilson’s 20.7%, while other tracking polls showed fluctuating support among several contenders.

Timing: The runoff between Evette and Wilson is set for June 23. The result will provide another data point on Trump’s influence in GOP primaries and may shape the party’s lineup heading into the general election.

Context: Trump carried South Carolina decisively in the 2024 presidential contest, and his endorsements remain a significant factor in state GOP politics. With endorsements and polling shifting in the final days, the June 23 runoff is likely to draw close attention from voters and national observers alike.