Trump sway tested as Jermaine Johnson Sc primary opens Tuesday

South Carolina voters go to the polls Tuesday in jermaine johnson sc and other primaries that will choose nominees for governor and several other offices. Seven Republicans and three Democrats are running to succeed Henry McMaster, who is term-limited after 10 years in office.

The Republican contests give Donald Trump a direct test with state voters. He endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette for governor, while U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham is seeking a fifth term with Trump's endorsement and five Republican primary challengers on the ballot.

Governor race and open seat

U.S. Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, along with South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, are among the Republicans running for governor. The Democratic field includes state Rep. Jermaine Johnson, attorney Mullins McLeod and businessman Billy Webster.

Mace's campaign also leaves open her 1st Congressional District seat. Seven Democrats and 11 Republicans will appear on the primary ballots for that race, and former Gov. Mark Sanford has dropped out.

Runoff rules in South Carolina

Primary winners must receive a majority of the vote to avoid a June 23 runoff between the top two vote-getters. That gives Tuesday's results immediate weight in races where crowded fields could split the vote.

The primary comes as South Carolina is expected to again hold first-in-the-South presidential primaries, and Trump has carried the state in three presidential campaigns with at least 55% of the vote. The Republican-controlled state Senate rejected a Trump-backed mid-decade redistricting effort to eliminate the state's sole Democratic-held congressional seat, adding another sign of how much his influence can depend on the race in front of voters.

For voters, the practical outcome starts with Tuesday's ballot and could extend to a runoff if no candidate clears a majority. The clearest sign of Trump's standing in South Carolina Republicans will come from whether his endorsed candidates hold or whether challengers force their way into June.