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Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson advanced Tuesday to a Republican runoff in the race for governor, while Lindsey Graham secured the GOP nomination for another Senate term.
Evette earned a spot in the June 23 runoff shortly after receiving an endorsement from Donald Trump. Wilson, who has served as attorney general since 2011, also moved forward after a crowded Republican primary that included U.S. Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman.
President Donald Trump celebrated the Republican victories with a graphic on Truth Social recapping his 16-0 record in South Carolina, Nevada, North Dakota and Maine on Tuesday.
Speaking to supporters Tuesday night, Evette drew a sharp contrast with Wilson ahead of the runoff.
“We are going to stand up for conservative voices and conservative values. I have never, I will never back down to the woke mob. Over these next two weeks we’re going to highlight a very clear contrast between myself and a career politician, Alan Wilson,” she said.
Wilson praised the Republican field and urged voters to unite behind his campaign.
“Hire me to be your next governor. I will be a fighter for you,” he said.
The governor’s race became heavily centered around support from President Trump, with multiple Republican candidates highlighting ties to the president throughout the campaign. Evette also received backing from outgoing Gov. Henry McMaster.
In the Senate race, Graham avoided a runoff and captured the Republican nomination outright as he seeks a fifth term in Washington. President Trump endorsed Graham early in the campaign despite their sometimes-strained political relationship.
Addressing Trump during his victory speech, Graham acknowledged his gratitude to the president and vowed to help “change this country.”
Graham will face Charleston pediatrician Annie Andrews in the November general election.
Republicans have dominated statewide races in South Carolina for decades, with Democrats failing to win either the governorship or a U.S. Senate seat in recent years. On the Democratic side of the governor’s race, state Rep. Jermaine Johnson won his party’s nomination.