UMVA has learned that a dramatic shift in the South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary has unfolded, with Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette emerging as a top contender after securing the endorsement of President Donald Trump.
Evette, who was endorsed by Trump just a week and a half before Tuesday's primary, will advance to a runoff election in two weeks, setting the stage for a fierce battle for the Republican nomination. The question on everyone's mind is which major contender will join Evette in the runoff.
The Republican field had been crowded, with several high-profile candidates vying for the top spot, including South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Rep. Nancy Mace, Rep. Ralph Norman, and multimillionaire businessman Rom Reddy. With no candidate expected to win a majority of the primary vote, the top two finishers will advance to the June 23 Republican runoff.
The winner of the runoff is likely to be considered the clear favorite in the general election in the solidly red southeastern state. Trump's endorsement has been a game-changer in GOP primaries across the country, with his backed candidates ousting incumbents in showdowns in several states.
However, Trump's endorsement of Rep. Randy Feenstra in Iowa didn't yield the desired result, as Feenstra was narrowly edged by Zach Lahn, a businessman and former political strategist. In South Carolina, Trump's endorsement of Evette has sparked controversy, with Rep. Mace suggesting that her vocal push for transparency on the Jeffrey Epstein files may have cost her the president's backing.
Trump's endorsement of Evette was accompanied by a social media post in which he praised her as an "America First Patriot" and a "WINNER". The president also sparked speculation about Evette's potential running mate, suggesting that she would choose Henry McMaster Jr., the governor's son.
The comment led to blowback in South Carolina political circles, with McMaster denying any deal or pressure. Evette has said she wouldn't name a running mate until after the primary, and on Friday, McMaster Jr. took his name out of contention, citing that "now is simply not the right time".
The Republican gubernatorial nomination will be decided in the runoff, with the winner likely to be considered the frontrunner in November's general election. On the Democratic side, State Rep. Jermaine Johnson, trial attorney William Mullins McLeod Jr., and businessman Billy Webster are running for their party's nomination.
