GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Republican Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette has officially launched her campaign for the governorship in 2026. In her announcement, Evette emphasized her experience in promoting the agenda of outgoing Governor Henry McMaster and highlighted her existing relationship with former President Donald Trump.
Evette, who first took office as McMaster's running mate in 2018, addressed hundreds of supporters on Monday evening after releasing a campaign video confirming her candidacy. In her speech, she presented herself as “a mother, a conservative businesswoman, and a fighter” ready to uphold the conservative legacy as the next governor of South Carolina.
The campaign video featured clips of Evette receiving praise from Governor McMaster, who is term-limited and unable to seek reelection, as well as from Trump, for whom she has actively campaigned at rallies. Evette asserted her intention to leverage this established connection, stating, “With President Trump back in the White House, South Carolina needs a governor who has 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.”
Evette enters a competitive Republican primary landscape that already includes four-term Attorney General Alan Wilson and state Senator Josh Kimbrell, with the possibility of more candidates, including U.S. Representative Nancy Mace, expected to join the race.
Trump's endorsement could have a significant impact on the primary outcome, which is scheduled for next June. Notably, South Carolina has not had a Democratic governor in over two decades, with the general election set for November 2026.
Having begun her political journey as a business professional with no prior political background, Evette is a trained accountant who co-founded a payroll, human resources, and benefits firm with her husband. Reflecting on her record as lieutenant governor, she pointed to key areas of focus that include supporting law enforcement, enhancing state immigration laws, and imposing restrictions on abortion. Additionally, she highlighted her stance on preventing transgender women from competing in women’s sports.
In her vision for governance, Evette stated her primary objectives would involve expanding school choice, eliminating state income taxes, and enforcing Trump's immigration agenda. She committed to a regulatory reform approach, pledging to remove ten regulations for every new one established, and vowed to confront what she termed “woke corporations” that are attempting to transform South Carolina.
Hailing from Travelers Rest, Evette is recognized as the state’s first female Republican lieutenant governor. She and McMaster represented the first jointly elected team ticket in South Carolina's history, following a change in legislation.
