Trump's Endorsement Power Tested Again as South Carolina GOP Gubernatorial Race Advances to Runoff
Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson advanced to a June 23 Republican runoff in South Carolina's gubernatorial primary, with Trump having endorsed Evette. This test comes one week after Trump's endorsement of Iowa gubernatorial candidate Randy Feenstra failed to secure victory, raising questions about the limits of his influence in GOP primaries. The outcome matters because Trump's endorsement power has been a defining feature of Republican politics, and South Carolina is a solidly red state where the GOP nominee is heavily favored in the general election.
In South Carolina's Republican gubernatorial primary, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson qualified for a June 23 runoff after no candidate secured 50% of the vote. Trump endorsed Evette, calling her an "America First Patriot" and a "WINNER," but both she and her rival Wilson advanced to the runoff. This represents another test of Trump's endorsement power following his recent loss in Iowa, where his backed candidate Randy Feenstra was narrowly defeated by Zach Lahn, who was supported by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAHA movement and Turning Point USA. Trump's endorsements have been successful in recent high-profile GOP primaries in Indiana, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Texas, but the Iowa and South Carolina results suggest limits to his influence. The South Carolina race has also drawn controversy over Trump's suggestion that Evette choose Governor Henry McMaster's son as her running mate, which sparked speculation about political favoritism, though McMaster denied any deal and his son withdrew from consideration.
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Trump’s endorsement power faces another GOP test in South Carolina after Alan Wilson advances
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