Wilson Wins Runoff
Trump backed both sides in a GOP governor race, and his preferred candidate won.
Summary
Mostly RightSouth Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson won the Republican gubernatorial runoff, defeating Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette for the GOP nomination to replace term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster. Wilson advanced from a seven-candidate June primary into the runoff and quickly built a commanding lead as results came in, with outlets projecting his victory soon after polls closed. He now faces Democratic state Rep. Jermaine Johnson in the Nov. 3 general election, but Republicans are favored to retain the governor’s office in reliably red South Carolina. The race marks the state’s first open gubernatorial contest since 2010 and positions Wilson as the leading contender to govern one of the nation’s fastest-growing states.
The Coverage
Trump Endorsement Twist
President Donald Trump claimed a win after Wilson prevailed, even though he had also endorsed Evette in the same runoff. The unusual double endorsement drew mockery from commentators, including Chris Hayes, who laughed on air at Trump celebrating victory in a race where both candidates had his backing.
Runoff Setup
Before the result, South Carolina voters returned to the polls for a bruising Republican runoff between two Trump-backed contenders, Wilson and Evette. Live election trackers also followed the governor’s race alongside other contests in South Carolina, New York and Maryland.
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