Lt. Governor Pamela Evette Announces Bid for South Carolina Governor Before Large Crowd of Supporters

Before a crowd of more than 600 enthusiastic supporters from across the state Monday evening, South Carolina Lt. Governor Pamela Evette officially launched her campaign to become South Carolina’s next Governor.

The announcement took place in Greenville, where Evette delivered a speech underscoring her long-standing commitment to conservative principles, her alignment with former President Donald Trump, and her desire to continue the legacy of current Governor Henry McMaster.

“This is Day One of my campaign for Governor of South Carolina — and Day One matters,” Evette told the energized crowd, drawing applause as she reaffirmed her record of standing with Trump “from the very beginning,” and her role as an active partner alongside Governor McMaster over the past six years.

Evette, a successful businesswoman before entering public office, highlighted her background as a job creator and her passion for protecting conservative values. “I’ve signed the front of paychecks. I’ve balanced budgets. I’ve created good-paying jobs,” she said. “And I did it all while raising three wonderful children and teaching them principled Christian, not to mention South Carolina, values.”

Her platform centers on eliminating the state income tax, creating a Department of Government Efficiency, reforming judicial appointments, cracking down on illegal immigration, and expanding school choice. Evette pledged to continue her fierce advocacy for parental rights, Second Amendment protections, and religious liberty.

Throughout her remarks, Evette emphasized her unwavering loyalty to Donald Trump and her belief that South Carolina needs a Governor with a direct, trusted relationship with the Trump administration. “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,” she said.

The evening’s crowd, estimated at over 600 people, included supporters from all corners of the state who gathered to hear Evette’s vision for the future of South Carolina and show their early backing for her campaign.

Evette joins a growing and competitive field for the Republican nomination. Attorney General Alan Wilson and State Senator Josh Kimbrell of Spartanburg County were the first to announce their campaigns last month. U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who represents the state’s coastal 1st Congressional District, has been openly hinting at a gubernatorial run for months and has recently ramped up her attacks on both Wilson and Evette through social media.

Additionally, U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman is widely expected to make his own announcement later this month, setting the stage for a high-profile and hard-fought Republican primary.

With her campaign now officially underway, Evette made clear she intends to distinguish herself as the candidate of experience, consistency, and loyalty to conservative principles from “Day One.”