Alan Wilson Wins South Carolina GOP Nomination for Governor

On June 23, 2026, South Carolina Republicans selected Alan Wilson as their GOP nominee for governor, receiving approximately 65% of the vote against Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette. Decision Desk HQ called the race at 7:22 p.m. ET. Wilson and Evette advanced to the runoff after neither candidate achieved the required 50% threshold in the primary. President Trump initially endorsed Evette but later endorsed both candidates shortly before the runoff. Wilson's campaign emphasized his alignment with Trump's policies, while Evette's campaign had previously claimed she was the only candidate with Trump's backing. Seven Republicans competed in the race to replace Gov. Henry McMaster. If elected, Wilson will address issues such as outdated infrastructure, a strained healthcare system, and educational challenges in South Carolina. The state has experienced a population growth of 1.5% between July 2024 and July 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.