Pamela Evette, the lieutenant governor of South Carolina, added her name on Monday to the growing list of Republicans seeking to succeed term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster (R-SC).
Evette launched her campaign during a speech to supporters at The Smokestack at Judson Mill in Greenville. The Travelers Rest native touted herself as a strong ally to President Donald Trump and McMaster’s natural heir during her opening address, as both Republican leaders, who have yet to offer endorsements, could hold critical sway in determining who will become the solidly red state’s next governor.
“For over six years, I haven’t been a typical lieutenant governor who sits on the sidelines. I’ve been Gov. McMaster’s partner, his right hand, in making South Carolina the conservative success story of America,” Evette said. “I stand before you as a mother, a conservative businesswoman, and a fighter who is ready from day one to continue that conservative legacy as your next governor.”
“With President Trump back in the White House, South Carolina needs a governor who has earned his trust. A governor who doesn’t need to build a relationship. A governor who can pick up the phone and get things done for South Carolina because that relationship already exists,” she continued. “I’ve traveled the country as a surrogate, I’ve endorsed him at every opportunity, and I have never wavered in my support for the America First movement. Not for one single day.”
Evette, who was elected lieutenant governor in 2018, is the third Republican to enter the race after South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell announced their bids. Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman are also among the South Carolina Republicans reportedly eyeing the gubernatorial opening ahead of the 2026 election.
On the other side of the ticket, Democratic state Rep. Jermaine Johnson recently formed an exploratory committee around a possible run for governor, although the Palmetto State hasn’t had a Democratic governor in over two decades.
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Evette’s campaign announcement on Monday signaled she would prioritize expanding school choice, eliminating income taxes, and creating an Elon Musk-style South Carolina Department of Government Efficiency should she become the state’s next governor.
Evette vowed to eliminate 10 regulations for every new one created and to fight “woke corporations” on the “radical left” that the gubernatorial hopeful said were trying to “transform our state,” as she promised to continue supporting abortion restrictions and keep biological males from participating in women’s sports.