South Carolina voters are heading to the polls Tuesday in high-profile primary races for governor and U.S. Senate, with Republicans seeking to maintain a statewide winning streak that stretches back decades. Sen. Lindsey Graham, among President Donald Trump's top allies on Capitol Hill, is competing for the Republican nomination as he seeks a fifth term.
In the governor's race, Trump backed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette over several opponents, including U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace. The primary will determine whether the endorsement can help Evette win outright or if there will be a runoff on June 23. Republican contenders have trumpeted their loyalty to Trump, who has remained popular in the state despite some nationwide wavering as the war with Iran continues.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican candidates are competing intensely for Trump's support, which many view as essential to winning statewide. Evette has frequently featured photos and videos of herself with Trump in campaign materials and was backed by outgoing Gov. Henry McMaster, a longtime Trump ally whose endorsement telegraphed the president's own preference.
Rep. Ralph Norman, among the most conservative House members and a member of the Freedom Caucus, supported former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley instead of Trump during the 2024 presidential primary—a notable break from his earlier Trump support. Rom Reddy, a coastal businessman who has self-funded his campaign and rejected donations, has touted his lack of political experience as an asset, drawing direct comparisons between himself and Trump.
What the Left Is Saying
Democrats are searching for their first victory in a statewide race in South Carolina in 20 years. Some Democrats hope to capitalize on dissatisfaction with Trump this cycle. In the governor's race, State Rep. Jermaine Johnson, seen as a rising star in the party, is facing several opponents including political newcomer Billy Webster, a payday loan company founder who lent his campaign $2 million. Attorney Mullins McLeod withstood calls from party leadership to shutter his campaign after dashcam video of his 2025 disorderly conduct arrest was released.
In the Senate race, Charleston physician Annie Andrews, who unsuccessfully challenged Mace in 2022, is vying for the Democratic nomination against Brandon Brown, a funeral homeowner and former House candidate. State Democratic Party leaders have emphasized that Graham's alignment with Trump on foreign policy, particularly supporting strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, represents a escalation of tensions that could affect South Carolina military communities.
What the Numbers Show
Democrats haven't won the governor's office or a Senate seat in South Carolina for decades. McMaster defeated his opponent by nearly 18 percentage points in the 2022 gubernatorial race. Graham won by 10 points in 2020, defeating Jaime Harrison after the most expensive Senate race in state history.
Among Graham's primary challengers is Greenville businessman Mark Lynch, who has called Graham insufficiently conservative. While Lynch campaigns as a Trump supporter and describes himself as an 'America First' candidate, Trump has publicly called him a 'lunatic' and a 'disaster for the Republican Party.' Some of Graham's other competitors—including Project 2025 chief architect Paul Dans and former Lt. Gov. André Bauer—dropped out months ago.
The Bottom Line
The primaries will test whether Trump's endorsement remains the decisive factor in South Carolina Republican politics, particularly given his ongoing support in the state despite broader national political dynamics related to the Iran conflict. Graham's relationship with Trump has endured through years of undulation; the president fulfilled Graham's longstanding wish for direct confrontation between Washington and Tehran. The outcome will determine whether Evette can secure the nomination outright or faces a June 23 runoff, while also shaping the general election matchups where Democrats face steep historical challenges in statewide contests.