Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson will clash in a June 23 runoff after the June 4 Republican primary left them as the top two vote‑getters. Evette secured President Trump’s endorsement but only 29.8% of the ballot, while Wilson trailed closely with 26.3%. Neither cleared the 50% threshold, forcing a second round overall in a tightly contested race.

South Carolina has voted Republican for governor in every election since 2002, and the incumbent, Henry McMaster, is term‑limited. Evette, a businesswoman who has served alongside McMaster since 2019, positions herself as the natural successor to manage the state’s rapid growth and crumbling infrastructure. Wilson, a National Guard veteran, emphasizes affordability and a “Trump‑tough” stance to appeal to the base.

Both candidates court the state’s business community, where road repairs and utility costs dominate boardroom agendas. A runoff could tilt the GOP’s fiscal agenda toward Evette’s pro‑development promises or Wilson’s cost‑containment plan, influencing construction firms and utility investors. With the Democratic nominee already set, the June 23 contest will determine which Republican policy blueprint guides South Carolina’s $250 billion economy.