UMVA has learned that President Donald Trump's immense clout over his party is facing a critical test in South Carolina's GOP gubernatorial nomination face-off, just one week after his endorsement-winning streak in high-profile Republican primaries was snapped.
The president's influence is being put to the test as Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette seeks to succeed a top Trump ally, term-limited Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, and faces off against a handful of top rivals, including longtime South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, and multimillionaire businessman Rom Reddy.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Evette received an 11th-hour endorsement from Trump, who praised her as an "America First Patriot" and a "WINNER" in his announcement, and also headlined a tele-rally for Evette on the eve of the primary.
However, Trump's endorsement came with a twist, as he also expressed support for Evette choosing Henry McMaster Jr., the governor's son, as her running mate for lieutenant governor, sparking blowback in South Carolina political circles and speculation that McMaster was trying to give his son a political boost.
The younger McMaster ultimately took his name out of contention, saying it was "incredibly humbling" to be mentioned as a possible lieutenant governor candidate, but that "now is simply not the right time," leaving Evette to choose her running mate without any apparent pressure from the president.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that some strategists believe the Trump endorsement may have actually hurt Evette's chances, with longtime South Carolina political strategist Dave Wilson suggesting that the president's push for the younger McMaster to join the Evette ticket may have backfired due to South Carolina's resistance to outside influence.
The primary's outcome will be decided in a June 23 Republican runoff, as no candidate was expected to top 50% of the primary vote and land a majority, with the top two finishers advancing to the runoff.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Trump's endorsement power has been on display in GOP primaries over the past month, with his candidates ousting incumbents he targeted in showdowns in several states, but his last-minute endorsement of Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra of Iowa wasn't enough to muscle the three-term congressman to victory.
In the end, Feenstra was narrowly edged out by Zach Lahn, a businessman, farmer and former political strategist who was backed by conservative organizations, highlighting the complexities and uncertainties of Trump's influence in the party.
