Alan Wilson wins South Carolina Republican gubernatorial runoff after Trump issues dual endorsement

Attorney General Alan Wilson defeated Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in the South Carolina Republican gubernatorial runoff on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, capturing the GOP nomination to succeed term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster. The Associated Press called the race 26 minutes after polls closed at 7 p.m. ET, with Wilson winning by more than a two-to-one margin as votes were counted, according to Fox News.

The outcome capped a brief two-week runoff in which Wilson built significant endorsement momentum. He received backing from three of the four other candidates who had competed in the primary, including Rep. Nancy Mace, as well as out-of-state Republicans Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey, according to Politico. Evette was supported by Gov. McMaster and had touted her role in his administration.

Trump's endorsement posture shifted visibly during the runoff. He had initially backed Evette — described by the Washington Examiner as receiving "one of the most coveted assets in Republican politics" — before adding Wilson to his endorsement on the Friday before the vote. Trump wrote on Truth Social: "I can't hurt one of them by only Endorsing the other, so, therefore, I am going to Endorse, for Governor of South Carolina, both Pam Evette and Alan Wilson!" In his victory speech, Wilson said of Trump, "I believe he recognized what we've been doing. I think he saw the fight in our campaign and the energy in our campaign."