SC Governor Primaries
Jermaine Johnson wins SC Democratic governor nomination; Evette, Wilson face GOP runoff
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Key Points
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The Republican runoff is for an “open” governor’s seat created by term limits: South Carolina’s GOP primary is taking place as Gov. Henry McMaster leaves office after serving as governor, marking the state’s first open gubernatorial contest since 2010.
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The GOP primary that produced Pamela Evette and Alan Wilson included other prominent contenders, including U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, underscoring how crowded and competitive the Republican field was.
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Evette publicly emphasized the impact of Trump’s endorsement, saying, “I’ll tell you, after he called me to give me his endorsement… I mean, I woke up that next day wondering if I dreamed it all.”
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Alan Wilson, after finishing second and advancing to the runoff, told supporters, “I did not get a slot and win a slot to the runoff – we did. It was you that got us there,” framing his advance as a collective effort.
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After winning the Democratic nomination, Jermaine Johnson said he’s “back to work” and indicated that choosing a running mate would likely be announced “in the next month or so,” according to his remarks at his watch party.
State Rep. Jermaine Johnson won South Carolina's Democratic gubernatorial nomination on June 9, securing 59.65% of the vote — enough to avoid a runoff entirely, according to Associated Press. The Associated Press called the race at 8:46 PM. Johnson will now face the winner of a Republican runoff scheduled for June 23.
If elected in November 2026, Johnson would become South Carolina's first Black governor and the first Democrat to hold the office since Jim Hodges left in 2003 — a drought of more than 20 years, Live 5 News reported. "We made history," Johnson told supporters at his watch party.
Johnson Beats Big Money With a Grassroots Campaign
Johnson's 221,751 votes dwarfed his two opponents. Billy Webster and Mullins McLeod each poured more than $2 million of their own money into their campaigns, according to The Post and Courier. Neither could stop Johnson's momentum. Webster finished second with 29.66% and McLeod trailed at 10.68%.
Johnson, a former professional basketball player from Hopkins, leaned on early voting and grassroots organizing. "Thank you for standing with me when they said I wasn't electable," he told the crowd, according to Live 5 News. "When they said you need to be a multimillionaire." He is only the second African American major-party gubernatorial nominee in South Carolina's history, following Thomas Ezekiel Miller in 1890.
Republican Field Narrows to Evette and Wilson in Tight Race
On the Republican side, no candidate cleared 50%, forcing a runoff. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette led with roughly 29% of the vote. Attorney General Alan Wilson came in second at about 26%, according to WSAV. U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman finished third at 17%. U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace came in fifth at 12%.
The race is South Carolina's first open governor's contest since 2010. Gov. Henry McMaster is leaving due to term limits. Evette won Beaufort County in the Lowcountry — but by fewer than 900 votes, a sign of how tight parts of the map remain, WSAV reported.
Trump Endorsed Evette, But She Still Fell Short of a Majority
Former President Donald Trump backed Evette on May 30, calling her an "America First patriot." Evette said the call felt surreal. "I woke up that next day wondering if I dreamed it all," she said at a campaign event. Despite the boost, she could not crack 50% in a crowded five-person field.
Winthrop University political scientist Scott Huffman said Trump's endorsement helped but did not "rocket her to the stratosphere," according to WACH. Wilson, meanwhile, framed his second-place finish as a team win. "I did not get a slot and win a slot to the runoff — we did," he told supporters. A debate between the two is scheduled for June 16 in Conway.
Johnson Eyes Running Mate as Democrats Build General Election Machine
Johnson is not running for re-election to his state House seat in District 52. That gives him a full-time focus on the governor's race while Republicans spend two more weeks in a runoff. He said a running mate announcement is likely coming "in the next month or so," according to WPDE.
Democrats see the open seat as their best shot in over two decades. Strong early voting numbers in the primary suggest organized turnout — a key ingredient for any Democrat trying to win statewide in South Carolina. The general election is set for Nov. 3, 2026.
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