Alan Wilson wants the South Carolina governor race to center on affordability, saying he would eliminate the income tax and reduce property taxes for South Carolina families. Jermaine Johnson is answering with a different plan that starts with a livable minimum wage and broader cost-of-living changes.
The Republican nominee said in April, “My number one goal is going to be making our economy more affordable for South Carolina families,” and added, “And you’re going to do that by eliminating the income tax (and) reducing property taxes.” Johnson said at the June 3 Democratic gubernatorial debate, “In order to address that, it starts with establishing a livable minimum wage.”
Alan Wilson and Jermaine Johnson
Wilson, the state’s four-term attorney general, tied his pitch to lower taxes and smaller government costs. He said, “Obviously, there’s a lot of fraud, waste and abuse that causes the cost of government to go up and we’re going to address that as well.”
His campaign spokesman, Woods Wooten, said on July 6 that “every policy in A.G. Alan Wilson’s campaign starts with one question: Will this make life more affordable for South Carolina families?” Wooten said Wilson has proposed eliminating the state income tax, reforming property taxes by fixing Act 388, cutting government waste through the Families First Audit Initiative, lowering insurance costs through common-sense tort reform and expanding affordable, reliable energy production.
Jermaine Johnson in Richland County
Johnson has represented Richland County in the state House since 2020. In the debate, he said, “I want people in South Carolina to imagine going to your one well-paying job and coming home to your safe neighborhood after picking your children up from a well-performing public school.”
On July 7, Johnson said, “South Carolina families are feeling the affordability crisis every day, and the solution starts with putting more money back in people’s pockets.” He said his campaign is focused on lowering the cost of living by advancing the South Carolina Resource Independence and Resilience Act to boost in-state production of essential resources and strengthen supply chains, supporting a livable minimum wage, holding insurance companies accountable to bring premiums down, and providing meaningful tax relief for small businesses that create jobs in our communities.
The Winthrop Poll
The emphasis on affordability matches a wider concern in South Carolina. In May, Scott Huffmon said, “Like the rest of the country, we’re struggling here in South Carolina with increased costs just trying to make ends meet,” and added, “And both candidates are going to focus on that.” The Winthrop Poll found that 67% of South Carolina residents say they find groceries difficult to afford.
That leaves the race centered on a basic split: Wilson wants families to keep more by cutting taxes and government costs, while Johnson says affordability should also run through wages, insurance and supply chains. How much either plan would change household budgets is not explained in the campaign statements now on the table.
