PELZER, South Carolina — In the Republican gubernatorial runoff election in South Carolina, both candidates have received endorsements from former President Donald Trump. Trump announced his support for both candidates, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and state Attorney General Alan Wilson, just days before the runoff, which is seen as a test of his influence within the GOP.
Trump's dual endorsement comes after a recent loss for his endorsed candidate in a neighboring state's runoff. He stated on social media, "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! With either one you can’t go wrong."
This is not the first time Trump has endorsed multiple candidates in the same race; a notable instance occurred in Missouri's 2022 GOP Senate primary. In the South Carolina primary, Evette and Wilson emerged as the top two candidates, advancing to the runoff after no candidate secured a majority of the votes.
Evette has positioned herself as a Trump-endorsed outsider, while Wilson has highlighted his experience as a combat veteran and prosecutor. The runoff has seen both candidates engage in personal attacks during their final debate.
Evette expressed her loyalty to Trump, stating, "The president had a lot of confidence in me when it was a crowded field, and I won it for him on June 9. I'm going to win it for him again on June 23." Wilson, supported by Trump ally Sen. Ted Cruz, emphasized his long-standing defense of Trump's agenda.
Trump's endorsement power has been evident in recent GOP primaries, where his candidates have successfully ousted incumbents in several states. However, his endorsement streak faced a setback when a candidate he backed in Iowa lost in a recent primary.
In other races, Trump-endorsed candidates have achieved notable victories, including in Alabama and Georgia, with the latter being a significant contest in the upcoming midterms.