South Carolina’s 2026 GOP primary for governor has quickly emerged as one of the most competitive races in the country, with five prominent Republicans vying to succeed term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster.
The crowded field includes Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Attorney General Alan Wilson, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell. The nature of such a primary could make it difficult for any candidate to win a majority outright. If no one clears that threshold, the two candidates with the most votes will proceed to a runoff.
The field reflects South Carolina’s GOP factions, from traditional conservatives to Freedom Caucus firebrands, but no contender enters with a definitive advantage in resources, institutional backing, or President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
“This one is a completely clean slate,” said a GOP strategist familiar with South Carolina politics. “You don’t normally get that in this day and age, either someone comes in with a big leg up, massive resources, or a Trump endorsement. This one is wide open, with some distinct personalities in the mix.”
Wilson, the state’s longest-serving statewide Republican, has been attorney general since 2010. He built his reputation suing Democratic administrations and defending Trump after the 2020 election, a move that could boost his standing with Trump’s base. Currently serving her third term in Congress, Mace has become known for her on-and-off relationship with Trump, rebranding herself as “Trump in high heels” as her district has shifted right.
Norman has represented the 5th District since 2017 and carved out a role in the House Freedom Caucus. A longtime ally of former Gov. Nikki Haley, he became one of her top surrogates during her 2024 presidential run and has already secured her endorsement in the governor’s race. In a fundraising appeal, Haley called Norman “a conservative warrior and a businessman” and said she “can’t think of anyone better to be the next governor of South Carolina.”
Evette, the state’s first female lieutenant governor, has leaned on her alliance with McMaster and loyalty to Trump, hinting she may self-fund her campaign. Kimbrell, a Spartanburg state senator and former talk radio host, has polled in the low single digits while pitching himself as a grassroots outsider.
Early surveys suggest Mace and Wilson are setting the pace. A South Carolina Policy Council poll conducted in late July showed Mace at 16% and Wilson close behind at 15%. Evette registered 8%, Norman 6%, and Kimbrell 3%, while more than half of respondents, 52%, remained undecided.
A survey released by Mace’s team and conducted by Charleston-based Meeting Street Insights found her leading Wilson by 8 points, 25% to 17%. Norman came in at 10%, Evette at 6%, and Kimbrell at 3%. The poll also received added visibility when Trump shared it on his social media account, though strategists cautioned against reading too much into the gesture.
The rivalry between Mace and Wilson is already tense. Earlier this year, Mace used a House floor speech to accuse four men of sexual misconduct, and alleged Wilson had failed to prosecute them in his capacity as attorney general. That line of attack sharpened an already personal contest, with Wilson’s team dismissing her criticism as politically motivated.
Luke Byars, a senior adviser to Wilson’s campaign, portrayed the crowded GOP primary as splitting into two lanes, one fueled by rhetoric, the other by governing credentials.
“Right now, the South Carolina governor’s race is essentially divided into two lanes. One is Nancy Mace, positioning herself as a flame-thrower, focused on big gestures and rhetoric. The other is Ralph Norman, aligned with Nikki Haley and the Freedom Caucus. Conversely, you have Alan Wilson and Pamela Evette championing common-sense conservative solutions. This lane emphasizes proven leadership, smart policy, and tackling real problems, rather than tearing everything down.”
Byars added: “I believe Alan Wilson is best suited to win because of his conservative record, and I know he can unite the broadest base of Republican voters.”
Trump remains the most sought-after endorsement in GOP contests, and his influence looms especially large in South Carolina. He carried the state by 18 points in 2024, reinforcing his sway among the Republican base.
“The president’s support is the most coveted prize in any GOP primary,” said the GOP strategist familiar with South Carolina politics. “And in South Carolina, it carries even more weight, given the margins he’s won here.”
However, some Republicans believe he may sit out the primary rather than risk backing a candidate too early in a volatile field.
“The White House has sort of let everybody know he’s probably staying out,” said one GOP consultant in South Carolina, noting that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has suggested the same.
The consultant added that Trump will likely wait until a potential runoff before weighing in. “The signs that we’ve seen make us think he wants to sort of see how this thing shakes out. We’ll see who’s in a runoff, because it’s probably going to a runoff. And then he’ll make a decision.”
MACE ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR
Mace’s relationship with Trump has been complicated. She worked on his campaign in 2016, broke sharply with him after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and then shifted back toward embracing him. Now, she has fully aligned herself with the president.
During a recent town hall event, the kickoff of her “Mother of All Town Halls” tour, she went further, directly appealing for his backing. “I’ve done a lot for the president, and if you talk to him, I would really like his support for governor,” Mace told attendees.
What remains to be seen is the GOP electorate’s appetite for the competing personalities in the crowded field.
“Nancy Mace is kind of a 2025 experiment,” said the GOP strategist, reinforcing the firebrand versus pragmatist split screen. “Do voters like the social-media-driven spotlight, or do they prefer a governing conservative? This race will be a good test of that.”
For now, Trump’s decision to withhold an endorsement has only heightened the stakes. If the field splinters and the contest heads to a runoff, as many expect, his eventual choice could prove decisive.