Trump backs Evette as Mace risks South Carolina runoff loss

Donald Trump’s endorsement of Pamela Evette turned South Carolina’s governor’s race into a test of whether his support still clears the field, but the late-April numbers showed a crowded Republican primary with no obvious winner. Rep. Nancy Mace entered primary day at risk of missing the June 23 runoff altogether if no candidate topped 50%.

The contest was to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, and the GOP nominee will choose a lieutenant governor running mate for the Nov. 3 general election. South Carolina’s primary on Tuesday settled the first stage of that fight, with a runoff set for June 23 if needed. That structure gave Trump’s endorsement unusual weight, because the result would show whether a national stamp of approval could still overcome local alliances, donor networks and name recognition.

A South Carolina Republican Party straw poll in late April put Attorney General Alan Wilson in first place with 35.1% of 968 votes. Evette followed at 20.1%, Ralph Norman had 18.8%, Mace stood at 14.2%, businessman Rom Reddy had 9.3%, and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell was at 2.5%. The poll suggested that Trump’s favored candidate was competitive, but not dominant, while Mace lagged behind both Evette and Wilson.

The campaign’s final stretch underscored that divide. At a June 2 SCETV debate, Mace, Norman and Kimbrell took the stage, while Evette, Wilson and Reddy canceled ahead of time. Evette instead held a campaign event in Travelers Rest, and Wilson’s campaign criticized her for skipping voter questions. The split showed two competing theories of victory in a state that has become central to Trump’s brand of Republican politics: one built around his backing, the other around showing up in person and convincing voters directly.

For Trump, South Carolina offered a measurable test. Evette had the endorsement, but Wilson still led the only recent party straw poll cited in the race, and Mace, despite her national profile, trailed well behind. If Mace failed to make the runoff, the outcome would suggest that Trump’s influence can shape the field without fully controlling it. If Evette advanced, South Carolina would show that his backing still carried real force, even against better-known rivals with deeper in-state organization.