Claire Valdez watched South Carolina Republicans settle their governor’s race on Tuesday, and Alan Wilson won the runoff election to become the party’s nominee. He defeated Pamela Evette and will now face Jermaine Johnson in November.
Wilson, 52, has served as South Carolina’s top prosecutor since 2011. Evette, 58, has served alongside Henry McMaster for two terms, and Johnson secured the Democratic nomination outright two weeks ago.
Trump’s split backing
The Republican primary to succeed Henry McMaster centered on proximity to Donald Trump, and that left voters sorting through a late shift in guidance. Trump first endorsed Evette in the closing days of the campaign, then said on Friday that he supported both candidates.
Wilson moved quickly to claim that opening. Tim Scott said he was supporting Wilson after Trump’s double endorsement, and Ted Cruz came to South Carolina on Monday to stump for him. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman also backed Wilson after failing to make the runoff.
Wilson and Pamela Evette
The only runoff debate between Wilson and Pamela Evette was heated, with allegations of mudslinging and taxpayer-funded salary increases. That kept the contest focused on how aggressively each candidate would align with Trump rather than on a broad policy contrast.
Wilson also said he had “buried the hatchet” with Nancy Mace after the earlier feud, a sign that runoff politics had already pushed the field toward consolidation before Election Day.
Jermaine Johnson in November
The result sets up a November general contest between Wilson and Jermaine Johnson in November. For South Carolina Republicans, the runoff did more than settle a nominee; it ended the uncertainty created by Trump’s split support and gave the party a single candidate heading into the fall.
What remains to watch is the margin inside Wilson’s win. The runoff produced a nominee, but not the size of the victory that would show whether he carried the party by a narrow edge or a wide one.
