U.S. Representative Nancy Mace has failed to advance in the Republican primary for governor of South Carolina, falling short in a crowded field of candidates. The outcome means Mace, who gave up her House seat to pursue the governorship, will not be on the general election ballot for governor.
Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson secured the top two spots in the primary and will proceed to a runoff election scheduled for June 23. Neither candidate achieved the more than 50 percent of the vote required to win the nomination outright. Evette, who received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, and Wilson will now compete to become the Republican nominee in the race to succeed term-limited Governor Henry McMaster.
The primary results also signal an end to the gubernatorial aspirations of other candidates, including businessman Rom Reddy and U.S. Representative Ralph Norman. Mace ultimately placed fifth in the primary. Following the announcement of the results, Mace conceded her race and declared her endorsement of Alan Wilson, with whom she had previously been critical during her campaign.
Mace had publicly stated her belief that her vote to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein, a decision that put her at odds with some in the Republican establishment, contributed to her lack of endorsement from former President Trump. Trump had endorsed Evette late in the race, a move that was seen as a significant boost for her campaign. The South Carolina governor’s race is widely expected to result in a Republican victory, given the state’s political leanings, which have favored the Republican presidential candidate by a significant margin in recent elections.
In the Democratic primary for governor, State Representative Jermaine Johnson emerged as the clear winner, securing his party’s nomination. Johnson’s victory was decisive, and he will face the winner of the Republican runoff in the general election scheduled for November 3, 2026. Democrats have not secured a gubernatorial victory in South Carolina since 1998.
The election for governor is one of many statewide contests taking place in South Carolina in 2026. The state’s Republican Party primary saw intense competition not only for the gubernatorial nomination but also for other key positions. In the U.S. Senate race, Senator Lindsey Graham secured the Republican nomination. The state also held primary contests for U.S. House seats and various other state-level offices, with results for many races indicating close contests and potential runoffs.
The Republican race for governor was particularly noteworthy due to the number of prominent figures involved, including incumbent officeholders who relinquished their current positions to vie for the state’s highest executive office. The outcome of the runoff election between Evette and Wilson will determine the Republican challenger to the Democratic nominee, Jermaine Johnson, in the general election.
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