5 Republicans race to governor’s office as Democratic candidates remain undecided, SC Chairs react

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — The citizens of South Carolina will elect their next governor in November of 2026. In the meantime, competition for the coveted spot is growing!

ABC Columbia’s Lee Williams spoke with the Chairs of both the SCGOP, Drew McKissick, and the SC Democratic Party, Christale Spain.

Five candidates have now entered the race to succeed Governor Henry McMaster at the end of next year. But for now, they’re all a part of the GOP.

“That’s because we’ve seen voters in SC support the Republican Party. We’ve seen the records that we’ve set in terms of turn out. The records that we’ve set in terms of straight ticket support. So it’s not surprising to see so many good candidates step forward,” says McKissick.

Attorney General Alan Wilson was the first to announce his candidacy in June — followed by Senator Josh Kimbrell of Spartanburg County and Governor McMaster’s right hand woman, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette.

U.S. Representative and real estate developer Ralph Norman entered the race at the end of July, and on Monday, U.S. Representative Nancy Mace says she’s now aiming for the state’s top spot as well.

“You know it is a clown show, like I said, these aren’t serious people. They all hold elected office. They haven’t done the work in those offices that they hold now and they’re all running to out-Trump each other. And South Carolina deserves better, you know it’s a clown show, a circus. And SC doesn’t need a circus, we need a governor. SC doesn’t need a ringmaster, we need a governor,” says SC Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain.

Spain says Democratic Representative Jermaine Johnson has launched his exploratory committee to consider his run for governor and is taking his decision very seriously — which is what she says the voters of SC deserve.

“And I don’t want to put the cart before the horse here, but I’ve had great conversations with him , and I think he’s doing what he needs to do to make the best decision for himself, for his family, and hopefully for South Carolinians,” says Spain.

However, McKissick sees it differently, saying, “In the meantime Democrats can’t find two candidates to rub together to represent the Democratic Party on the ballot, so I think that says something about people not wanting to have the democrat label inscribed to them in an election in this state.”

In the meantime, Spain says the SCDP has launched its “Democracy Builders” initiative — an organized effort to get neighbors talking to neighbors and spread information across communities in hopes of turning SC blue next November.

“People are afraid about public education. People want their jobs, they want better paying jobs. People want to feel safe in their community in their state and we do that by electing serious leaders who are going to make sure those things are done,” she says.

South Carolina primaries will be held on June 9th 2026, with Election Day happening on November 3rd, 2026.