Trump-Endorsed Candidate Thrashes Other Trump-Endorsed Candidate In Closely-Watched Gubernatorial Race
Politics
Trump-Endorsed Wilson Thrashes Trump-Endorsed Evette In SC Gubernatorial Race
Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images
Ashley Brasfield Senior Politics Reporter June 23, 2026 7:43 PM ET June 23, 2026 7:43 PM ET Ashley Brasfield Senior Politics Reporter Font Size:South Carolina Republicans handed Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson a victory over Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in the Tuesday’s high-stakes gubernatorial runoff.
Wilson’s win positions him to become the frontrunner to replace term-limited GOP Gov. Henry McMaster in the ruby-red state. (RELATED: Nancy Mace Concedes South Carolina Gubernatorial Primary After Failing To Gain Trump’s Support)
NBC News called the election shortly after polls closed. With 8% of the vote counted, Wilson led Evette 65.5% to 34.5%.
Wilson’s win caps months of intense campaigning in a race that exposed divisions within South Carolina’s GOP establishment and became a proxy battle over the party’s future direction.
PAM EVETTE: “I’m very much different than Governor McMaster…I have a little bit different style…I’m a bit more bullish…” @PamelaEvette #scpol #scgov pic.twitter.com/cv9AuVwkqM
— Jackson Gosnell (@jacksongosnell) June 23, 2026
President Donald Trump initially threw his support behind South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, giving her his “Complete and Total Endorsement” in a Truth Social post on May 29 ahead of the state’s crowded Republican gubernatorial primary.
Trump praised Evette as a loyal ally and early supporter of his political movement, and the endorsement was widely viewed as a major boost to her campaign. Evette went on to finish first in the June 9 primary, winning 28.9% of the vote to Wilson’s 26.1% and soundly defeating headline-grabbing Rep. Nancy Mace, who finished fifth. (RELATED: Trump Endorses Against GOP Congresswoman Who Defied Him On Epstein Files)
But just weeks later, Trump shifted course. On Friday, ahead of the June 23 runoff, he announced that he would endorse both Evette and Wilson, calling the two Republicans “MAGA and America First all the way.”
Alan Wilson: “If you’re gonna be a leader, you gotta own it all.” @AGAlanWilson pic.twitter.com/MW7OROOH2j
— Jackson Gosnell (@jacksongosnell) June 23, 2026
In the Truth Social post, Trump said he could not bring himself to hurt one candidate by endorsing the other, writing that South Carolina Republicans could not go wrong with either choice.The unusual move effectively muddied what had previously been a clear endorsement.
While Evette continued to tout Trump’s backing as a key asset, Wilson immediately claimed Trump’s support as well, leaving Republican voters with the rare scenario of choosing between two candidates both carrying the president’s endorsement into the runoff. (RELATED: South Carolina HOA Suddenly Decides To Ban Residents From Carrying Guns In ‘Shared Spaces’)
It’s Election Day in South Carolina. 🇺🇸
Get out and VOTE for @AGAlanWilson.
Alan is a proven conservative fighter who spent years defending the Constitution as South Carolina’s Attorney General.
He knows what it takes to fight for South Carolina’s families, values, and… pic.twitter.com/yr2ykzxqp8
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 23, 2026
Wilson will face Democratic South Carolina State Representative Jermaine Johnson in November’s general election and is heavily favored to win.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
