South Carolina voters are heading to the polls on Tuesday to narrow the field in high-stakes gubernatorial and Senate races, as Republicans aim to extend a decades-long statewide winning streak.
The primaries are largely defined by candidates’ allegiance to Donald Trump, who remains popular in the state despite national fluctuations amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Republican hopefuls have prominently showcased their loyalty to Trump, whose endorsements have become a coveted asset. Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump on Capitol Hill, secured the president’s backing even before his campaign officially launched.
In the governor’s contest, Trump endorsed Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette over several rivals, including U.S. Representative Nancy Mace. The primary will determine if this endorsement is enough for Evette to win outright or if a runoff election will be necessary on June 23.
The competition for Trump’s support has been a dominant theme among Republican candidates. Evette, even prior to receiving the president’s endorsement, frequently featured images and videos of herself with Trump in her campaign materials.
She also benefited from the support of outgoing Governor Henry McMaster, a long-standing Trump ally whose backing signaled the president’s own preference.
Nancy Mace, despite having criticized Trump’s actions on January 6, 2021, when his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, also sought his endorsement and received his backing for her 2024 congressional re-election.
Conversely, Representative Ralph Norman, a conservative House member and Freedom Caucus figure who strongly supported Trump during his first term, chose to stump for former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley in the 2024 campaign.
Rom Reddy, a coastal businessman who has self-funded his campaign and eschewed donations, has highlighted his lack of political experience, drawing comparisons between himself and Trump.
The state’s other major contest is the Senate race, where Lindsey Graham is seeking the Republican nomination for a fifth term.
A political confidant and regular golfing partner of Trump, Graham has consistently fended off primary challengers over the years. Some contenders, including Project 2025 chief architect Paul Dans and former Lieutenant Governor André Bauer, withdrew months ago.
Graham has maintained a close relationship with Trump, who fulfilled the senator’s long-held desire for direct confrontation between Washington and Tehran. Graham applauded Trump’s decision to strike nuclear sites last year and recently stated he frequently discusses the ongoing conflict with the president.
Among Graham’s primary opponents is Greenville businessman Mark Lynch, who argues Graham is not conservative enough for the state. Lynch, an “America First” candidate, has campaigned as a Trump supporter, though Trump has publicly called him a “lunatic” and a “disaster for the Republican Party” on social media.
For Democrats, securing a statewide victory in South Carolina remains a formidable challenge. The party has not won the governor’s office or a Senate seat in decades. In 2022, McMaster defeated his opponent by nearly 18 percentage points, and Graham won by 10 points in 2020 against Jaime Harrison in the state’s most expensive race.
Some Democrats hope to capitalize on dissatisfaction with Trump this year. In the gubernatorial race, State Representative Jermaine Johnson, considered a rising star, faces several opponents, including political newcomer Billy Webster, a payday loan company founder who loaned his campaign $2 million.
Attorney Mullins McLeod is also in the running, having resisted calls from party leaders to end his campaign after dashcam video of his 2025 disorderly conduct arrest was released.
In the Senate race, Charleston physician Annie Andrews, who unsuccessfully challenged Mace in 2022, is vying for the Democratic nomination against Brandon Brown, a funeral home owner and former House candidate.
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