2026 South Carolina gubernatorial election
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The 2026 South Carolina gubernatorial election is scheduled for November 3, 2026, to elect the next governor of South Carolina. Incumbent Republican governor Henry McMaster is term-limited and ineligible to seek re-election to a third consecutive term. Primary elections will take place June 9, and in races where no candidate receives over 50% of the vote, runoff elections will take place June 23.[1]
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November 3, 2026
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Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election in South Carolina since 1998.
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Pamela Evette, lieutenant governor of South Carolina (2019–present)[2]
- Nancy Mace, U.S. representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district (2021–present) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2014[3]
- Ralph Norman, U.S. representative for South Carolina's 5th congressional district (2017–present)[4]
- Running mate: Adam Morgan, former state representative from the 20th district (2018–2024) and candidate for South Carolina's 4th congressional district in 2024[5]
- Rom Reddy, businessman[6]
- Alan Wilson, attorney general of South Carolina (2011–present)[7]
- Running mate: Mike Reichenbach, state senator from the 31st district (2022–present)[8]
Withdrawn
- Josh Kimbrell, state senator from the 11th district (2020–present)[9] (endorsed Wilson)[10]
- Thomas Ravenel, former state treasurer of South Carolina (2007), candidate for U.S. Senate in 2004 and independent candidate in 2014[11]
Decertified
- Jacqueline Hicks DuBose, bus driver[12]
Declined
- Mark Sanford, former governor (2003–2011), U.S. representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district (1995–2001, 2013–2019), and candidate for president in 2020 (ran for congress)[13]
Endorsements
Pamela Evette
- Executive branch officials
- Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[14]
- Mick Zais, former U.S. deputy secretary of education (2018–2021)[15]
- Statewide officials
- Henry McMaster, governor of South Carolina (2017–present)[16]
- State legislators
- Davey Hiott, majority leader of the South Carolina House of Representatives (2022–present) from HD-04 (2005–present)[17]
- Bruce Bannister, HD-24 (2006–present)[18]
- Case Brittain, HD-107 (2020–present)[19]
- Val Guest, HD-106 (2022–present)[19]
- Kevin Hardee, HD-105 (2012–present)[19]
- Tim McGinnis, HD-56 (2018–present)[19]
- Carla Schuessler, HD-61 (2022–present)[19]
- Gil Gatch, HD-94 (2020–present)[20]
- Melissa Lackey Oremus, HD-84 (2019–present)[21]
- Cal Forrest, HD-39 (2016–present)[21]
- Bill Hixon, HD-83 (2010–present)[21]
- Jeff Zell, SD-36 (2025–present)[21]
- Party officials
- Karen Floyd, former chair of the South Carolina Republican Party (2009–2011)[22]
- Individuals
- James Livingston, retired U.S. Marine Corps major general[23]
- Organizations
Ralph Norman
- Executive branch officials
- Nikki Haley, former ambassador to the United Nations (2017–2018) and former governor of South Carolina (2011–2017)[25]
- Mark Meadows, former White House chief of staff (2020–2021)[25]
- U.S. senators
- Jim DeMint, former South Carolina (2005–2013)[25]
- State legislators
- Wes Climer, SD-15 (2016–present)[26]
- Nathan Ballentine, HD-71 (2005–present)[21]
- Organizations
Rom Reddy
- Individuals
- David Lucas, real estate developer and petitioner in Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council[28]
Alan Wilson
- Executive branch officials
- Hugh Hewitt, former deputy director of the Office of Personnel Management (1988–1989)[21]
- Statewide officials
- Todd Rokita, attorney general of Indiana (2021–present)[29]
- Kris Kobach, attorney general of Kansas (2023–present)[29]
- Liz Murrill, attorney general of Louisiana (2024–present)[29]
- Mike Hilgers, attorney general of Nebraska (2023–present)[29]
- Dave Sunday, attorney general of Pennsylvania (2025–present)[29]
- Derek Brown, attorney general of Utah (2025–present)[29]
- J.B. McCuskey, attorney general of West Virginia (2025–present)[29]
- State legislators
- JD Chaplin, SD-29 (2024–present)[21]
- Josh Kimbrell, SD-11 (2020–present)[10]
- Local officials
- 23 county sheriffs[30]
- Individuals
- Bob Jones III, former president of Bob Jones University (1971–2005)[31]
Josh Kimbrell (withdrawn)
- State legislators
- David Martin, HD-26 (2024–present)[21]
- Matt Leber, SD-41 (2024–present)[21]
Polling
Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation |
Dates administered |
Dates updated |
Pamela Evette |
Nancy Mace |
Ralph Norman |
Rom Reddy |
Alan Wilson |
Other/ Undecided[a] |
Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RealClearPolitics[32] | June 1–7, 2026 | June 9, 2026 | 20.2% | 12.2% | 14.2% | 14.6% | 18.2% | 20.6%[b] | Evette +2.0% |
| Race to the WH[33] | through June 6, 2026 | June 9, 2026 | 19.3% | 13.7% | 13.8% | 14.5% | 17.6% | 21.1%[c] | Evette +1.7% |
| Decision Desk HQ[34] | through June 7, 2026 | June 9, 2026 | 19.6% | 13.5% | 14.4% | 16.0% | 18.5% | 18.0% | Evette +1.1% |
| 270toWin[35] | June 2–8, 2026 | June 9, 2026 | 18.7% | 12.8% | 13.5% | 14.3% | 18.8% | 21.9%[d] | Wilson +0.1% |
| FiftyPlusOne[36] | through June 7, 2026 | June 9, 2026 | 20.1% | 13.1% | 13.8% | 14.5% | 17.4% | 21.1% | Evette +2.7% |
| Average | 19.6% | 13.1% | 13.9% | 14.8% | 18.1% | 20.5% | Evette +1.5% | ||
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[e] |
Margin of error |
Pamela Evette |
Josh Kimbrell |
Nancy Mace |
Ralph Norman |
Rom Reddy |
Alan Wilson |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trafalgar Group (R)[37] | June 5–7, 2026 | 1,200 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 22% | 1% | 14% | 16% | 18% | 21% | 1%[f] | 7% |
| InsiderAdvantage (R)[38] | June 5–6, 2026 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 19% | 4% | 13% | 12% | 13% | 16% | 1%[f] | 22% |
| Kimbrell withdraws from the race | |||||||||||
| Starboard Communications[39] | June 3–4, 2026 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 19% | – | 12% | 13% | 14% | 19% | – | 22% |
| The Public Sentiment Institute[40] | June 3–4, 2026 | 388 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 25% | – | 30% | 15% | 13% | 12% | – | 5% |
| co/efficient (R)[41] | June 2–4, 2026 | 879 (LV) | ± 3.3% | 23% | 2% | 11% | 15% | 17% | 16% | – | 17% |
| Trafalgar Group (R)[39] | June 2–4, 2026 | 982 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 24% | 1% | 13% | 15% | 18% | 19% | 1%[f] | 11% |
| Tyson Group[39] | June 1–3, 2026 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 18% | – | 11% | 15% | 11% | 19% | – | 25% |
| Opinion Diagnostics (R)[39] | June 1–2, 2026 | 675 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 17% | 2% | 12% | 12% | 16% | 22% | – | 20% |
| Trafalgar Group (R)[42] | May 29–31, 2026 | (LV) | – | 26% | 2% | 15% | 16% | 17% | 17% | 2%[g] | 4% |
| The Citadel[43] | May 21–31, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 17% | 1% | 16% | 13% | 14% | 16% | – | 23% |
| Trump endorses Evette | |||||||||||
| McLaughlin & Associates (R)[44] | May 26–28, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 13% | 2% | 14% | 17% | 20% | 21% | – | 13% |
| Trafalgar Group (R)[45] | May 21–24, 2026 | 1,125 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 20% | 2% | 15% | 16% | 19% | 19% | 3%[h] | 6% |
| Cygnal (R)[46][A] | May 20–21, 2026 | 600 (LV) | – | 12% | – | 14% | 13% | 16% | 19% | – | 24% |
| Conquest Communications Group/South Carolina Policy Council[47] | May 18–21, 2026 | 500 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 16% | 1% | 13% | 15% | 10% | 14% | – | 27% |
| Cygnal (R)[46][A] | May 7–8, 2026 | 600 (LV) | – | 19% | – | 14% | 12% | 9% | 15% | – | 29% |
| Trafalgar Group (R)[48] | May 2–5, 2026 | 1,089 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 25% | 4% | 15% | 20% | 10% | 23% | 3%[h] | – |
| co/efficient (R)[49] | April 29–30, 2026 | 813 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 21% | 2% | 12% | 13% | 11% | 18% | – | 22% |
| Cygnal (R)[46][A] | April 13–14, 2026 | 600 (LV) | – | 15% | – | 17% | 10% | 6% | 17% | – | 34% |
| Starboard Communications[50] | April 8–14, 2026 | 604 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 12% | 3% | 13% | 14% | – | 20% | – | 28% |
| co/efficient (R)[51] | March 26–27, 2026 | 805 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 19% | 1% | 18% | 13% | 5% | 15% | – | 30% |
| Reddy enters the race | |||||||||||
| co/efficient (R)[52] | March 12–13, 2026 | 810 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 21% | 1% | 22% | 8% | – | 19% | – | 29% |
| Stratus Intelligence (R)[53][B] | March 9–11, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 15% | – | 24% | 14% | – | 18% | – | 29% |
| Quantus Insights (R)[54] | March 10–11, 2026 | 806 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 16%[i] | 3% | 22% | 11% | – | 22% | – | 26% |
| 13% | 2% | 19% | 9% | – | 18% | – | 39% | ||||
| National Public Affairs (R)[55][C] | February 2–5, 2026 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 16% | 2% | 17% | 12% | – | 23% | – | 30% |
| Targoz Market Research/ South Carolina Policy Council[56] |
January 24 – February 1, 2026 | 540 (LV) | – | 12% | 4% | 18% | 11% | – | 12% | – | 43% |
| Trafalgar Group (R)[57] | January 15–16, 2026 | 1,076 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 22% | 2% | 17% | 10% | – | 20% | – | 29% |
| Stratus Intelligence (R)[58][B] | January 7–9, 2026 | 700 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 14% | – | 23% | 11% | – | 19% | – | 32% |
| Cygnal (R)[46][A] | January 5–6, 2026 | 402 (LV) | – | 12% | – | 15% | 8% | – | 19% | – | 45% |
| Wick[59][D] | December 16–19, 2025 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 17% | 2% | 13% | 13% | – | 23% | – | 33% |
| Wick[60] | November 24–26, 2025 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 16% | 2% | 11% | 12% | – | 22% | – | 38% |
| Winthrop University[61] | October 2–19, 2025 | 1,331 (RV) | ± 3.9% | 16% | 3% | 17% | 8% | – | 8% | 1%[j] | 47% |
| Quantus Insights (R)[62][E] | October 1–4, 2025 | 600 (RV) | ± 4.2% | 17% | 5% | 16% | 11% | – | 16% | – | 35% |
| 22%[i] | 6% | 20% | 13% | – | 23% | – | 16% | ||||
| Trafalgar Group (R)[63] | September 30 – October 2, 2025 | 1,094 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 20% | 1% | 16% | 9% | – | 12% | – | 41% |
| co/efficient (R)[64] | September 18–19, 2025 | 1,094 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 18% | 2% | 19% | 10% | – | 16% | – | 35% |
| Meeting Street Insights (R)[65][F] | August 11–12, 2025 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 6% | 3% | 25% | 10% | – | 17% | – | 38% |
| 7%[i] | 4% | 30% | 12% | – | 21% | – | 26% | ||||
| Targoz Market Research/ South Carolina Policy Council[66] |
July 21–25, 2025 | 1,200 (RV) | ± 2.8% | 8% | 3% | 16% | 6% | – | 15% | – | 52% |
| yes. every kid. (D)[67] | July 18–21, 2025 | 406 (LV) | ± 4.86% | 9% | 3% | 19% | 8% | – | 20% | 2% | 37% |
| First Tuesday Strategies (R)[68] | March 19–21, 2025 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 7% | 2% | 16% | 6% | – | 21% | 1%[k] | 47% |
| Trafalgar Group (R)[69] | March 8–10, 2025 | 1,127 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 31% | – | 29% | 11% | – | 27% | – | 2% |
Debates
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn |
||||||||||
| Pamela Evette | Josh Kimbrell | Nancy Mace | Ralph Norman | Rom Reddy | Alan Wilson | |||||
| 1 | Apr. 1, 2026 | Gray Media WHNS |
Justin Dougherty | YouTube | N | P | P | P | N | P |
| 2 | Apr. 21, 2026 | Gray Media WHNS |
Justin Dougherty | YouTube | P | P | P | P | P | P |
| 3 | May 26, 2026 | Gray Media WHNS |
Justin Dougherty | YouTube | I | N | P | P | P | P |
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Jermaine Johnson, state representative from the 80th district[l] (2020–present)[70]
- William Mullins McLeod Jr., trial attorney and candidate for governor in 2010[71]
- Billy Webster, former chief of staff for Richard Riley and businessman[72][73]
Declined
- Russell Ott, state senator from the 26th district (2024–present)[74]
Endorsements
Jermaine Johnson
- State legislators
- Carl Anderson, HD-103 (2005–present)[75]
- Heather Bauer, HD-75 (2022–present)[75]
- Bill Clyburn, HD-82 (1995–present)[75]
- Leon Howard, HD-76 (1995–present)[75]
- John Richard C. King, HD-49 (2009–present)[75]
- Kambrell Garvin, HD-77 (2018–present)[75]
- Jerry Govan Jr., HD-93 (2024–present, 1992–2022)[75]
- Hamilton R. Grant, HD-79 (2025–present)[75]
- Wendell K. Jones, HD-25 (2022–present)[75]
- Annie McDaniel, HD-41 (2018–present)[75]
- Rosalyn Henderson-Myers, HD-31 (2017–present)[75]
- Robert Reese, HD-70 (2024–present)[75]
- Michael F. Rivers Sr., HD-121 (2016–present)[75]
- Seth Rose, HD-72 (2018–present)[75]
- Courtney Waters, HD-113 (2025–present)[75]
- J. David Weeks, HD-51 (2000–present)[75]
- Robert Q. Williams, HD-62 (2007–present)[75]
- Labor unions
Mullins McLeod
- State legislators
- Wendell Gilliard, HD-111 (2009–present)[77]
Billy Webster
- Executive branch officials
- Stephen K. Benjamin, former director of the Office of Public Engagement (2023–2025) and mayor of Columbia (2010–2022)[78]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[e] |
Margin of error |
Jermaine Johnson |
Mullins McLeod |
Billy Webster |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Citadel[43] | May 21–31, 2026 | 427 (LV) | ± 4.7% | 33% | 6% | 18% | 43% |
| Conquest Communications Group/ South Carolina Policy Council[47] |
May 18–21, 2026 | 500 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 27% | 6% | 14% | 49% |
| Targoz Market Research/ South Carolina Policy Council[56] |
January 24 – February 1, 2026 | 348 (LV) | – | 25% | 8% | – | 67% |
Third-parties and independents
Candidates
Declared
- Gary Votour (South Carolina Workers Party), Democratic candidate for governor in 2022[79][80][81]
- Walid Hakim (South Carolina Green Party), veteran[81]
- Michael Addison (United Citizens Party), Democratic candidate for SC-6 in 2022[82][83]
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[86] | Solid R | September 11, 2025 |
| Inside Elections[87] | Solid R | August 28, 2025 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[88] | Safe R | September 4, 2025 |
| Race to the WH[89] | Likely R | January 28, 2026 |
See also
Notes
- Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
- Josh Kimbrell with 2.3%
- Josh Kimbrell with 2.0%; Sean Bennett with 1.2%; Jacqueline DuBose with 1.1%
- Josh Kimbrell with 1.0%
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - Jacqueline Dubose with 1%
- Jacqueline Dubose with 2%
- Jacqueline Dubose with 3%
- With voters who lean towards a given candidate
- "Prefer not to say" with 1%
- Sean Bennett with 1%
- Multiple districts; 52nd district since 2024
Partisan clients
- Poll sponsored by Reddy's campaign
- Poll sponsored by Mace's campaign and conducted by a former Mace campaign advisor
- Poll sponsored by Wilson's campaign
- Poll sponsored by the Palmetto Promise Institute
- Poll sponsored by Trending Politics, a conservative news website
- Poll sponsored by Mace's campaign