South Carolina’s gubernatorial race is set for November after Attorney General Alan Wilson and state Representative Jermaine Johnson secured their parties’ nominations, positioning the state for its first open governor’s race in nearly a decade.
Wilson, who has served as South Carolina’s Attorney General since 2011, won the Republican primary runoff on June 23, defeating Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette with 68 percent of the vote. Johnson, a Democratic state representative from Richland County’s District 52, won the Democratic primary on June 9 with more than 50 percent support in a three-candidate field.
The general election on November 3, 2026, marks a significant shift for the state. Republican Governor Henry McMaster is barred by term limits from seeking another term, making this the first open-seat governor’s race South Carolina has held in years. The race will determine who succeeds McMaster after his tenure that began in 2017.
Wilson’s path to the Republican nomination drew national attention and late-stage endorsements. President Donald Trump initially endorsed Lieutenant Governor Evette in February 2026, but then added his support for Wilson as well in June, just days before the runoff. Despite the competing endorsements, Wilson emerged with a decisive victory, according to reporting from Politico and PBS NewsHour.
Johnson’s Democratic primary victory came after he nearly withdrew from the race in March, according to reporting from WIS TV. The state representative, who has served in the South Carolina House of Representatives, went on to secure the nomination and will now represent the Democratic Party in the general election.
The race is rated as a solid Republican lean in forecasts from MultiState, reflecting South Carolina’s Republican lean in statewide elections. Both candidates will campaign across the state over the next four months before voters decide on November 3.
Sources
- Live 5 News — Confirmed Wilson and Johnson secured nominations for their respective parties and the race is set for November
- Politico — Reported Wilson’s runoff victory and Trump’s dual endorsements during the primary
- PBS NewsHour — Covered Wilson’s GOP nomination win and Trump’s endorsement strategy
- WIS News 10 — Reported Wilson’s victory and the first open governor’s race context
- Ballotpedia — Provided candidate background information on Alan Wilson and election structure
- MultiState — Provided race forecast rating as solid Republican
- WBTV — Reported runoff election results and candidate matchups
