Open Seat, Crowded Field: The Battle to Succeed McMaster Heats Up Ahead of June Primary

With Governor Henry McMaster officially term-limited and ineligible to seek a third consecutive term, South Carolina is staring down its most unpredictable and consequential gubernatorial race in nearly a decade.

The countdown is officially on for the June 9, 2026, primary elections, leaving candidates just under two weeks to make their final closing arguments to voters across the Upstate and the wider Palmetto State.

Because South Carolina law requires a candidate to secure more than 50% of the vote to win a primary outright, political analysts are heavily bracing for a frantic sprint to a June 23 runoff election in both major parties.

The friction within the Republican field was on full display during the recent televised debates. While the events offered frontrunners a prime-time platform to clash over tax reform and public safety, they also highlighted major divisions in camp strategies. Notably, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette opted not to attend the debates—continuing a strategy she held during the first debate of the cycle—while state Senator Josh Kimbrell was entirely absent from the recent stage after failing to qualify under the network’s strict polling invitation thresholds.

Here is where the individual fields stand as the campaigns hit their final, high-stakes stretch.

The Republican Primary: Contenders Battle for the Upstate

Given South Carolina’s deep-red political landscape, the Republican primary is widely viewed as the main event. Recent mid-May tracking polls show an incredibly tight, fluid race, with up to a third of likely voters still classified as undecided. The field features a distinct lineup of diverse campaigns:

• Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette: Looking to maintain the current administration’s trajectory, Evette is leveraging her executive experience and strong backing from traditional statehouse Republicans to position herself as the natural successor to McMaster. While she has chosen to bypass the debate stage to focus on direct grassroots campaigning, she remains a formidable presence in the field.

• Attorney General Alan Wilson: Serving as the state’s chief prosecutor since 2011, Wilson commands immense name recognition. Running alongside state Senator Mike Reichenbach as his official lieutenant governor nominee, Wilson’s platform heavily prioritizes judicial reform and public safety.

• U.S. Representative Nancy Mace: Representing the coastal 1st Congressional District, Mace has brought her signature high-visibility, maverick campaign style to the statewide stage, consistently leading or tying in early spring polling metrics.

• U.S. Representative Ralph Norman: Hailing from the 5th District and boasting a high-profile endorsement from former Governor Nikki Haley, Norman is running as an uncompromising fiscal conservative with deep ties to the state’s Freedom Caucus wing.

• Businessman Rom Reddy: Injecting an outsider perspective into the primary, the lowcountry entrepreneur is leaning heavily on his private-sector background to pitch substantial tax overhauls, aiming to disrupt the career politicians leading the pack.

• State Senator Josh Kimbrell: The Spartanburg legislator is banking on his strong local track record and legislative experience to carry the Upstate, though his campaign is working double-time to build statewide momentum after missing recent debate qualification requirements.

The Democratic Primary: The Quest for a November Breakthrough

Democrats have not successfully captured the South Carolina governor’s mansion since 1998, but party leaders believe an open-seat landscape offers their best pick-up opportunity in a generation. Three primary candidates are actively crisscrossing the state to secure the nomination:

• Jermaine Johnson: The charismatic state Representative from Richland County is building a platform centered on rural economic development, infrastructure expansion, and substantial investments in public education.

• Mullins McLeod: A prominent Charleston-based attorney, McLeod is centering his campaign on progressive judicial changes, consumer protection, and middle-class tax relief.

• Billy Webster: Bringing a business-oriented approach to the trail, Webster is pitching himself as a pragmatic administrator capable of working across the aisle to address the state’s healthcare and infrastructure needs.

What to Know Before You Head to the Polls

With early voting windows opening up across county lines this week, state election officials are urging residents to double-check their polling locations and registration statuses ahead of time.

If no single candidate in either primary clears the 50% threshold on June 9, the top two vote-getters will instantly pivot to a two-week head-to-head runoff ending on Tuesday, June 23. The ultimate winners will advance to the general election ballot on November 3, 2026, alongside Green Party nominee Walid Hakim.

Are you planning to make your voice heard in the upcoming June 9 primary? What key issues—whether it’s infrastructure, local school funding, or economic growth—are driving your vote this season? Share your thoughts on the wide-open race or your early voting experiences by connecting with us on Facebook or scrapping your local campaign photos with @goldenstripnews on Instagram!

To watch the full broadcast and see how the active candidates handled the pressure on stage, you can view the complete S.C. GOP Third Gubernatorial Debate. This video is highly relevant as it features the exact debate where Attorney General Alan Wilson, Congressman Ralph Norman, Congresswoman Nancy Mace, and businessman Rom Reddy went head-to-head ahead of the primary.