The 2026 South Carolina gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the next governor of South Carolina. Republican state attorney general Alan Wilson and Democratic state representative Jermaine Johnson are the nominees for their respective parties. Republican incumbent Henry McMaster is ineligible to seek a third consecutive term.
In the Republican primary on June 9, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette emerged as the top vote-getter with the help of an endorsement from President Donald Trump, but did not secure a majority needed to win the nomination, triggering a June 23 runoff between her and Wilson. After Trump announced his support for both Wilson and Evette, Wilson was nominated in the runoff with 68.6% of the vote. Johnson won the Democratic nomination in the June 9 primary with 59.7% of the vote against Billy Webster, the chief of staff for former governor Richard Riley.
Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election in South Carolina since 1998.
Republican primary
Candidates Nominee Alan Wilson, attorney general of South Carolina (2011–present) Running mate: Mike Reichenbach, state senator from the 31st district (2022–present) Eliminated in runoff Pamela Evette, lieutenant governor of South Carolina (2019–present)
Eliminated in primary Nancy Mace, U.S. representative for (2021–present) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2014 (endorsed Wilson) Ralph Norman, U.S. representative for (2017–present) (endorsed Wilson) Running mate: Adam Morgan, former state representative from the 20th district (2018–2024) and candidate for in 2024 Rom Reddy, businessman
Withdrawn Josh Kimbrell, state senator from the 11th district (2020–present) (endorsed Wilson, remained on ballot) Thomas Ravenel, former state treasurer of South Carolina (2007), candidate for U.S. Senate in 2004 and independent candidate in 2014
Decertified Jacqueline Hicks DuBose, bus driver (remained on ballot)
Declined Mark Sanford, former governor (2003–2011), U.S. representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district (1995–2001, 2013–2019), and candidate for president in 2020 (ran for congress)
First round Endorsements
Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated PamelaEvette NancyMace RalphNorman RomReddy AlanWilson Other/UndecidedMarginRealClearPoliticsJune 1–7, 2026June 9, 202620.2%12.2%14.2%14.6%18.2%20.6%Evette +2.0%Race to the WHthrough June 6, 2026June 9, 202619.3%13.7%13.8%14.5%17.6%21.1%Evette +1.7%Decision Desk HQthrough June 7, 2026June 9, 202619.6%13.5%14.4%16.0%18.5%18.0%Evette +1.1%270toWinJune 2–8, 2026June 9, 202618.7%12.8%13.5%14.3%18.8%21.9%Wilson +0.1%FiftyPlusOnethrough June 7, 2026June 9, 202620.1%13.1%13.8%14.5%17.4%21.1%Evette +2.7%Average19.6%13.1%13.9%14.8%18.1%20.5%Evette +1.5%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error PamelaEvette JoshKimbrell NancyMace RalphNorman RomReddy AlanWilson Other UndecidedTrafalgar Group (R)June 5–7, 20261,200 (LV)± 2.9%22%1%14%16%18%21%1%7%InsiderAdvantage (R)June 5–6, 2026800 (LV)± 3.5%19%4%13%12%13%16%1%22% June 4, 2026 Kimbrell withdraws from the raceStarboard CommunicationsJune 3–4, 2026500 (LV)± 4.4%19%–12%13%14%19%–22%The Public Sentiment InstituteJune 3–4, 2026388 (LV)± 5.0%25%–30%15%13%12%–5%co/efficient (R)June 2–4, 2026879 (LV)± 3.3%23%2%11%15%17%16%–17%Trafalgar Group (R)June 2–4, 2026982 (LV)± 2.9%24%1%13%15%18%19%1%11%Tyson GroupJune 1–3, 2026500 (LV)± 4.4%18%–11%15%11%19%–25%Opinion Diagnostics (R)June 1–2, 2026675 (LV)± 3.8%17%2%12%12%16%22%–20%Trafalgar Group (R)May 29–31, 2026(LV)–26%2%15%16%17%17%2%4%The CitadelMay 21–31, 2026600 (LV)± 4.5%17%1%16%13%14%16%–23% May 29, 2026 Trump endorses EvetteMcLaughlin & Associates (R)May 26–28, 2026600 (LV)± 4.0%13%2%14%17%20%21%–13%Trafalgar Group (R)May 21–24, 20261,125 (LV)± 2.9%20%2%15%16%19%19%3%6%Cygnal (R)May 20–21, 2026600 (LV)–12%–14%13%16%19%–24%Conquest Communications Group/South Carolina Policy CouncilMay 18–21, 2026500 (LV)± 3.2%16%1%13%15%10%14%–27%Cygnal (R)May 7–8, 2026600 (LV)–19%–14%12%9%15%–29%Trafalgar Group (R)May 2–5, 20261,089 (LV)± 2.9%25%4%15%20%10%23%3%–co/efficient (R)April 29–30, 2026813 (LV)± 3.4%21%2%12%13%11%18%–22%Cygnal (R)April 13–14, 2026600 (LV)–15%–17%10%6%17%–34%Starboard CommunicationsApril 8–14, 2026604 (LV)± 4.4%12%3%13%14%–20%–28%co/efficient (R)March 26–27, 2026805 (LV)± 3.5%19%1%18%13%5%15%–30% March 16, 2026 Reddy enters the raceco/efficient (R)March 12–13, 2026810 (LV)± 3.4%21%1%22%8%–19%–29%Stratus Intelligence (R)March 9–11, 2026600 (LV)± 4.0%15%–24%14%–18%–29%Quantus Insights (R)March 10–11, 2026806 (LV)± 3.5%16%3%22%11%–22%–26%13%2%19%9%–18%–39%National Public Affairs (R)February 2–5, 2026800 (LV)± 3.5%16%2%17%12%–23%–30%Targoz Market Research/South Carolina Policy CouncilJanuary 24 – February 1, 2026540 (LV)–12%4%18%11%–12%–43%Trafalgar Group (R)January 15–16, 20261,076 (LV)± 2.9%22%2%17%10%–20%–29%Stratus Intelligence (R)January 7–9, 2026700 (LV)± 3.7%14%–23%11%–19%–32%Cygnal (R)January 5–6, 2026402 (LV)–12%–15%8%–19%–45%WickDecember 16–19, 2025800 (LV)± 3.5%17%2%13%13%–23%–33%WickNovember 24–26, 2025600 (LV)± 4.0%16%2%11%12%–22%–38%Winthrop UniversityOctober 2–19, 20251,331 (RV)± 3.9%16%3%17%8%–8%1%47%Quantus Insights (R)October 1–4, 2025600 (RV)± 4.2%17%5%16%11%–16%–35%22%6%20%13%–23%–16%Trafalgar Group (R)September 30 – October 2, 20251,094 (LV)± 2.9%20%1%16%9%–12%–41%co/efficient (R)September 18–19, 20251,094 (LV)± 3.2%18%2%19%10%–16%–35%Meeting Street Insights (R)August 11–12, 2025600 (LV)± 4.0%6%3%25%10%–17%–38%7%4%30%12%–21%–26%Targoz Market Research/South Carolina Policy CouncilJuly 21–25, 20251,200 (RV)± 2.8%8%3%16%6%–15%–52%yes. every kid. (D)July 18–21, 2025406 (LV)± 4.86%9%3%19%8%–20%2%37%First Tuesday Strategies (R)March 19–21, 2025500 (LV)± 4.4%7%2%16%6%–21%1%47%Trafalgar Group (R)March 8–10, 20251,127 (LV)± 2.9%31%–29%11%–27%–2%
Debates + Republican primary debates Date Host Moderator Link Republican Republican Republican Republican Republican RepublicanKey: Participant Not invited Invited Pamela Evette Josh Kimbrell Nancy Mace Ralph Norman Rom Reddy Alan Wilson1 April 1, 2026 Newberry Opera HouseGray Media Justin Dougherty YouTube 2 April 21, 2026 College of CharlestonGray Media Justin Dougherty YouTube 3 May 26, 2026 Wofford CollegeGray Media Justin Dougherty YouTube
Results
Runoff Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error PamelaEvette AlanWilson UndecidedOpinion Diagnostics (R)June 21–22, 2026875 (LV)± 3.3%23%65%12%JMC Analytics (R)June 13–15, 2026500 (LV)± 4.4%28%63%9%National Public Affairs (R)June 10–11, 2026600 (LV)± 4.0%36%52%13%Opinion Diagnostics (R)June 10–11, 2026625 (LV)± 3.9%39%46%15%Opinion Diagnostics (R)June 1–2, 2026675 (LV)± 3.8%29%48%22%
Debate + Republican primary runoff debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican RepublicanKey: Participant Pamela Evette Alan Wilson1 June 16, 2026 Coastal Carolina UniversityGray Media Justin Dougherty YouTube
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jermaine Johnson, state representative from the 80th district (2020–present) Running mate: Sam Skardon, former chair of the Charleston County Democratic Party
Eliminated in primary Mullins McLeod, trial attorney and candidate for governor in 2010 Billy Webster, former chief of staff for Richard Riley and businessman
Declined Russell Ott, state senator from the 26th district (2024–present)
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JermaineJohnson MullinsMcLeod BillyWebster UndecidedThe CitadelMay 21–31, 2026427 (LV)± 4.7%33%6%18%43%Conquest Communications Group/South Carolina Policy CouncilMay 18–21, 2026500 (LV)± 3.2%27%6%14%49%Targoz Market Research/South Carolina Policy CouncilJanuary 24 – February 1, 2026348 (LV)–25%8%–67%
Debate + Democratic primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Democratic DemocraticKey: Participant Jermaine Johnson Mullins McLeod Billy Webster1 June 3, 2026 SCETV Gavin Jackson YouTube
Results
United Citizens Party convention Michael Addison, nominee (United Citizens Party), Democratic candidate for SC-6 in 2022 Running mate: Candace Brewer, activist Green Party convention Walid Hakim,nominee (South Carolina Green Party), veteran
South Carolina Workers Party convention Withdrawn Gary Votour, nominee (South Carolina Workers Party), Democratic candidate for governor in 2022 (endorsed Johnson)
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportJanuary 23, 2025Decision Desk HQOctober 5, 2026Fox NewsJuly 23, 2026Inside ElectionsAugust 28, 2025RealClearPoliticsJune 5, 2026Sabato's Crystal BallSeptember 4, 2025Silver Bulletin August 25, 2026
Post-primary endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error AlanWilson (R) JermaineJohnson (D) Other UndecidedResonance MediaSeptember 29 – October 3, 2026638 (RV)± 3.7%45%35%4%16%Hart Research (D)August 12–15, 2026600 (V)—50%42%—8%Public Policy Polling (D)July 16–17, 2026577 (V)—45%37%—17%
Results
See also 2026 United States gubernatorial elections 2026 South Carolina elections
Notes
Partisan clients
References
External links Official campaign websites