Evette, Wilson Advance to South Carolina GOP Governor Runoff

Pamela Evette, South Carolina’s lieutenant governor, and Alan Wilson, the state’s attorney general, advanced Tuesday to a Republican primary runoff for governor. The result sets up a head-to-head contest to decide the party’s nominee in a state where Republicans are favored in November. Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace failed to make the runoff, marking a setback for her bid.

Evette was backed by former President Donald Trump and led the field in fundraising with about $3.5 million, including $1 million of her own money. She previously built Quality Business Solutions, an HR and accounting software company, into a business described as generating billion-dollar annual revenue before entering politics.

Wilson has served as South Carolina attorney general since 2011. Officials said he is a reserve colonel in the National Guard’s Judge Advocate General Corps.

General election matchup and timing

The winner of the Republican runoff will face Democratic state Rep. Jermaine Johnson in the general election. Party officials broadly endorsed Johnson ahead of the Democratic primary, according to the source material.

The runoff is expected in the coming weeks. The general election is scheduled for November.

South Carolina’s governor-ticket rules

South Carolina’s election rules, changed in 2012, require the governor and lieutenant governor to run together on the same ticket in the general election. Outgoing Gov. Henry McMaster selected Evette as his running mate in 2018, according to the source.

The runoff will determine who leads the Republican ticket into the fall campaign, with both candidates expected to focus on consolidating support after a multi-candidate primary field.