Columbia, South Carolina – South Carolina Republicans ended a bruising runoff night with a clear message: Alan Wilson will carry the party’s banner into the governor’s race, and David Stumbo will move forward as the GOP nominee for attorney general.
Wilson, the state’s longtime attorney general, defeated Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in the June 23 Republican runoff by a commanding margin. Unofficial results reported late Tuesday showed Wilson with 218,321 votes, or 68.6%, while Evette had 100,123 votes, or 31.4%, with an estimated 99% of votes in.
The outcome was a dramatic turn from the June 9 primary, when Evette narrowly led the crowded Republican field and Wilson finished close behind, forcing the one-on-one runoff. The race also carried national attention after President Donald Trump first backed Evette, then later said he supported both Republican finalists before Election Day.
Wilson’s win now sets up a November general election against Democratic state Rep. Jermaine Johnson, who secured his party’s nomination without a runoff. Republicans will enter that contest with history on their side: Democrats have not won a South Carolina governor’s race since 1998, and GOP candidates have continued to win statewide offices by wide margins in recent cycles.
Speaking to supporters in Columbia, Wilson framed the victory not as a personal prize but as a public charge. He said the governor’s office “belongs to the people of South Carolina,” then promised to run a government that is audited, cleaned up and made more accountable from the top down.
His campaign platform calls for rooting out fraud, waste and abuse, cutting taxes, improving roads and bridges, expanding school choice, focusing on early literacy and technical education, and pushing a broader affordability agenda for families.
Wilson also leaned into unity after a campaign that had featured sharp attacks, a noisy debate and a scramble for endorsements. He thanked supporters, praised his family and reached toward Evette voters, saying the party should now focus on what unites it. The Associated Press reported that Wilson told Evette supporters he would “fight as hard for you as you fought.”
Evette conceded quickly and publicly threw her support behind Wilson. In remarks to supporters, she said the campaign had been “a movement” built around keeping South Carolina “the best place to live, to work, and to raise family.”
“This wasn’t just a campaign for me, it was a movement. A movement built around keeping South Carolina the best place to live, to work, and to raise family… just a few minutes ago, I called Alan Wilson to congratulate him on his win tonight and to tell him that he has my support as the party’s nominee. I’m committed, and I hope you all join me in doing everything we can to ensure a win in November,” Evette said.
The same night, Republicans also settled their attorney general runoff. Eighth Circuit Solicitor David Stumbo defeated state Sen. Stephen Goldfinch Jr., giving the GOP a nominee for the office Wilson is leaving as he runs for governor. Late unofficial results showed Stumbo with 172,944 votes, or 55.7%, compared with Goldfinch’s 137,270 votes, or 44.3%, with an estimated 98.7% of votes in.
Stumbo, a career prosecutor from the Upstate, will face Democrat Richard Hricik in November. Hricik and Stumbo are the general election candidates for attorney general, with no incumbent in the race because Wilson is pursuing the governorship.
Stumbo’s campaign has centered on public safety, courtroom experience and conservative legal priorities. His campaign describes him as a prosecutor focused on defending the Constitution, supporting law enforcement, protecting crime victims and keeping government power in check.
The attorney general’s office has been in Republican hands since Charlie Condon took office in 1995, followed by Henry McMaster and then Wilson, who was first elected in 2010 and later won three more terms.
By the end of the night, both Republican nominees had a November path in front of them. Wilson emerged from the governor’s runoff with a landslide and a promise of sweeping reform. Stumbo emerged from the attorney general race with a prosecutor’s pitch and the party’s backing. The primary season is over. The general election fight has begun.
