President Trump expanded his endorsement in the South Carolina governor’s race to include both GOP runoff finalists, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson. Evette led the June 9 primary but fell short of the 50% needed to avoid a runoff, now set for Tuesday. Several eliminated candidates and Sen. Tim Scott have backed Wilson, while Evette retains Gov. Henry McMaster’s support. The move follows recent losses for Trump-backed candidates in Iowa and Georgia and mirrors a past double-endorsement in Missouri.
Trump Doubles Down In South Carolina, Endorses Both GOP Runoff Candidates
Pamela Evette and Alan Wilson - Getty Images/AP
President Donald Trump expanded his involvement in the South Carolina governor's race Friday by endorsing both Republican runoff candidates — Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson — declaring, "With either one you can't go wrong." The move comes three weeks after he gave Evette his "Complete and Total Endorsement" ahead of the June 9 primary.
Background
Evette finished a few points ahead of Wilson in the June 9 primary but fell short of the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff, which is scheduled for Tuesday. Momentum appeared to shift toward longtime Attorney General Alan Wilson after several eliminated candidates — including U.S. Reps. Ralph Norman and Nancy Mace — and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott announced support for Wilson.
Wilson quickly updated his social media profile to reflect Trump's additional backing. In a news release after Trump's post on Truth Social, Wilson said:
"I’ve proudly stood with President Trump from the very beginning, defended him when others would not, and fought alongside him against the radical left. I am deeply honored to have his support because he understands I am focused on making South Carolina more affordable for families and profitable for businesses."
Evette's campaign responded by pointing to her social media post after Trump broadened his support: "I was proud to come in first as President @realDonaldTrump’s endorsed candidate for Governor on June 9th. Looking forward to doing it again on June 23rd. Get out and vote on Tuesday, and let’s Keep South Carolina Winning!" Evette also retains the backing of term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster, a close Trump ally.
Context And Significance
The dual endorsement follows recent setbacks for Trump-backed candidates in other gubernatorial contests: businessman Zach Lahn defeated Trump's pick, Rep. Randy Feenstra, in Iowa, and healthcare executive Rick Jackson beat Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in Georgia. Trump has used double endorsements before — notably in Missouri's 2022 Senate race when he backed two candidates named Eric — and the move in South Carolina ensures he will be aligned with the eventual GOP nominee in a reliably Republican state where his influence has recently shown signs of strain.
The runoff arrives about a month after state Republicans rejected an effort to redraw South Carolina's congressional map during a special session, a separate political setback for a Trump-aligned initiative. With both finalists now carrying Trump's endorsement, the campaign focus shifts to turnout and the endorsements from other local and national Republicans.
What To Watch
- Whether Trump’s dual endorsement changes voter behavior or simply hedges his political bets.
- How endorsements from eliminated candidates and Sen. Tim Scott affect turnout and support for Wilson.
- Evette’s ability to leverage her plurality finish and McMaster’s endorsement in the runoff.
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