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]
- Josh Kimbrell, state senator from the 11th district (2020–present)[3]
- Nancy Mace, U.S. representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district (2021–present) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2014[4]
- Ralph Norman, U.S. representative for South Carolina's 5th congressional district (2017–present)[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Withdrawn
- Thomas Ravenel, former state treasurer of South Carolina (2007), candidate for U.S. Senate in 2004 and independent candidate in 2014[9]
Decertified
- Jacqueline Hicks DuBose, bus driver[10]
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)[11]
Endorsements
Pamela Evette
- Executive branch officials
- Donald Trump, 45th and 47th President of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[12]
- Mick Zais, former U.S. deputy secretary of education (2018–2021)[13]
- Statewide officials
- Henry McMaster, governor of South Carolina (2017–present)[14]
- State legislators
- Davey Hiott, majority leader of the South Carolina House of Representatives (2022–present) from HD-04 (2005–present)[15]
- Bruce Bannister, HD-24 (2006–present)[16]
- Case Brittain, HD-107 (2020–present)[17]
- Val Guest, HD-106 (2022–present)[17]
- Kevin Hardee, HD-105 (2012–present)[17]
- Tim McGinnis, HD-56 (2018–present)[17]
- Carla Schuessler, HD-61 (2022–present)[17]
- Gil Gatch, HD-94 (2020–present)[18]
- Melissa Lackey Oremus, HD-84 (2019–present)[19]
- Cal Forrest, HD-39 (2016–present)[19]
- Bill Hixon, HD-83 (2010–present)[19]
- Jeff Zell, SD-36 (2025–present)[19]
- Party officials
- Karen Floyd, former chair of the South Carolina Republican Party (2009–2011)[20]
- Individuals
- James Livingston, retired U.S. Marine Corps major general[21]
- Organizations
Josh Kimbrell
- State legislators
- David Martin, HD-26 (2024–present)[19]
- Matt Leber, SD-41 (2024–present)[19]
Ralph Norman
- Executive branch officials
- Nikki Haley, former ambassador to the United Nations (2017–2018) and former governor of South Carolina (2011–2017)[23]
- Mark Meadows, former White House chief of staff (2020–2021)[23]
- U.S. senators
- Jim DeMint, former South Carolina (2005–2013)[23]
- State legislators
- Wes Climer, SD-15 (2016–present)[24]
- Nathan Ballentine, HD-71 (2005–present)[19]
- Organizations
Rom Reddy
- Individuals
- David Lucas, real estate developer and petitioner in Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council[26]
Alan Wilson
- Executive branch officials
- Hugh Hewitt, former deputy director of the Office of Personnel Management (1988–1989)[19]
- Statewide officials
- Todd Rokita, attorney general of Indiana (2021–present)[27]
- Kris Kobach, attorney general of Kansas (2023–present)[27]
- Liz Murrill, attorney general of Louisiana (2024–present)[27]
- Mike Hilgers, attorney general of Nebraska (2023–present)[27]
- Dave Sunday, attorney general of Pennsylvania (2025–present)[27]
- Derek Brown, attorney general of Utah (2025–present)[27]
- J.B. McCuskey, attorney general of West Virginia (2025–present)[27]
- State legislators
- JD Chaplin, SD-29 (2024–present)[19]
- Local officials
- 23 county sheriffs[28]
- Individuals
- Bob Jones III, former president of Bob Jones University (1971–2005)[29]
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[30] | March 10 – May 24, 2026 | May 27, 2026 | 17.8% | 17.0% | 13.8% | 11.3% | 17.5% | 22.6%[b] | Evette +0.3% |
| Race to the WH[31] | through May 24, 2026 | May 27, 2026 | 16.5% | 14.0% | 14.2% | 11.5% | 18.4% | 25.4%[c] | Wilson +1.9% |
| Decision Desk HQ[32] | through May 5, 2026 | May 27, 2026 | 21.9% | 13.2% | 16.7% | – | 20.7% | 27.5% | Evette +1.2% |
| 270toWin[33] | through May 26, 2026 | May 27, 2026 | 19.0% | 13.3% | 14.7% | 13.3% | 17.0% | 22.7%[d] | Evette +2.0% |
| FiftyPlusOne[34] | through May 24, 2026 | May 27, 2026 | 16.7% | 13.9% | 13.4% | 11.7% | 17.4% | 26.9% | Wilson +0.7% |
| Average | 18.4% | 14.3% | 14.6% | 12.0% | 18.2% | 25.0% | Evette +0.2% | ||
| 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)[35] | May 21–24, 2026 | 1,125 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 20% | 2% | 15% | 16% | 19% | 19% | 3%[f] | 6% |
| Cygnal (R)[36][A] | May 20–21, 2026 | 600 (LV) | – | 12% | – | 14% | 13% | 16% | 19% | – | 24% |
| Conquest Communications Group/South Carolina Policy Council[37] | May 18–21, 2026 | 500 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 16% | 1% | 13% | 15% | 10% | 14% | – | 27% |
| Cygnal (R)[36][A] | May 7–8, 2026 | 600 (LV) | – | 19% | – | 14% | 12% | 9% | 15% | – | 29% |
| Trafalgar Group (R)[38] | May 2–5, 2026 | 1,089 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 25% | 4% | 15% | 20% | 10% | 23% | 3%[f] | – |
| co/efficient (R)[39] | April 29–30, 2026 | 813 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 21% | 2% | 12% | 13% | 11% | 18% | – | 22% |
| Cygnal (R)[36][A] | April 13–14, 2026 | 600 (LV) | – | 15% | – | 17% | 10% | 6% | 17% | – | 34% |
| Starboard Communications[40] | April 8–14, 2026 | 604 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 12% | 3% | 13% | 14% | – | 20% | – | 28% |
| co/efficient (R)[41] | March 26–27, 2026 | 805 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 19% | 1% | 18% | 13% | 5% | 15% | – | 30% |
| Reddy enters the race | |||||||||||
| co/efficient (R)[42] | March 12–13, 2026 | 810 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 21% | 1% | 22% | 8% | – | 19% | – | 29% |
| Stratus Intelligence (R)[43][B] | March 9–11, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 15% | – | 24% | 14% | – | 18% | – | 29% |
| Quantus Insights (R)[44] | March 10–11, 2026 | 806 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 16%[g] | 3% | 22% | 11% | – | 22% | – | 26% |
| 13% | 2% | 19% | 9% | – | 18% | – | 39% | ||||
| National Public Affairs (R)[45][C] | February 2–5, 2026 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 16% | 2% | 17% | 12% | – | 23% | – | 30% |
| Targoz Market Research/ South Carolina Policy Council[46] |
January 24 – February 1, 2026 | 540 (LV) | – | 12% | 4% | 18% | 11% | – | 12% | – | 43% |
| Trafalgar Group (R)[47] | January 15–16, 2026 | 1,076 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 22% | 2% | 17% | 10% | – | 20% | – | 29% |
| Stratus Intelligence (R)[48][B] | January 7–9, 2026 | 700 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 14% | – | 23% | 11% | – | 19% | – | 32% |
| Cygnal (R)[36][A] | January 5–6, 2026 | 402 (LV) | – | 12% | – | 15% | 8% | – | 19% | – | 45% |
| Wick[49][D] | December 16–19, 2025 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 17% | 2% | 13% | 13% | – | 23% | – | 33% |
| Wick[50] | November 24–26, 2025 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 16% | 2% | 11% | 12% | – | 22% | – | 38% |
| Winthrop University[51] | October 2–19, 2025 | 1,331 (RV) | ± 3.9% | 16% | 3% | 17% | 8% | – | 8% | 1%[h] | 47% |
| Quantus Insights (R)[52][E] | October 1–4, 2025 | 600 (RV) | ± 4.2% | 17% | 5% | 16% | 11% | – | 16% | – | 35% |
| 22%[g] | 6% | 20% | 13% | – | 23% | – | 16% | ||||
| Trafalgar Group (R)[53] | September 30 – October 2, 2025 | 1,094 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 20% | 1% | 16% | 9% | – | 12% | – | 41% |
| co/efficient (R)[54] | September 18–19, 2025 | 1,094 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 18% | 2% | 19% | 10% | – | 16% | – | 35% |
| Meeting Street Insights (R)[55][F] | August 11–12, 2025 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 6% | 3% | 25% | 10% | – | 17% | – | 38% |
| 7%[g] | 4% | 30% | 12% | – | 21% | – | 26% | ||||
| Targoz Market Research/ South Carolina Policy Council[56] |
July 21–25, 2025 | 1,200 (RV) | ± 2.8% | 8% | 3% | 16% | 6% | – | 15% | – | 52% |
| yes. every kid. (D)[57] | July 18–21, 2025 | 406 (LV) | ± 4.86% | 9% | 3% | 19% | 8% | – | 20% | 2% | 37% |
| First Tuesday Strategies (R)[58] | March 19–21, 2025 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 7% | 2% | 16% | 6% | – | 21% | 1%[i] | 47% |
| Trafalgar Group (R)[59] | March 8–10, 2025 | 1,127 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 31% | – | 29% | 11% | – | 27% | – | 2% |
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Jermaine Johnson, state representative from the 80th district[j] (2020–present)[60]
- William Mullins McLeod Jr., trial attorney and candidate for governor in 2010[61]
- Billy Webster, former chief of staff for Richard Riley and businessman[62][63]
Declined
- Russell Ott, state senator from the 26th district (2024–present)[64]
Endorsements
Jermaine Johnson
- State legislators
- Carl Anderson, HD-103 (2005–present)[65]
- Heather Bauer, HD-75 (2022–present)[65]
- Bill Clyburn, HD-82 (1995–present)[65]
- Leon Howard, HD-76 (1995–present)[65]
- John Richard C. King, HD-49 (2009–present)[65]
- Kambrell Garvin, HD-77 (2018–present)[65]
- Jerry Govan Jr., HD-93 (2024–present, 1992–2022)[65]
- Hamilton R. Grant, HD-79 (2025–present)[65]
- Wendell K. Jones, HD-25 (2022–present)[65]
- Annie McDaniel, HD-41 (2018–present)[65]
- Rosalyn Henderson-Myers, HD-31 (2017–present)[65]
- Robert Reese, HD-70 (2024–present)[65]
- Michael F. Rivers Sr., HD-121 (2016–present)[65]
- Seth Rose, HD-72 (2018–present)[65]
- Courtney Waters, HD-113 (2025–present)[65]
- J. David Weeks, HD-51 (2000–present)[65]
- Robert Q. Williams, HD-62 (2007–present)[65]
- Labor unions
Mullins McLeod
- State legislators
- Wendell Gilliard, HD-111 (2009–present)[67]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[e] |
Margin of error |
Jermaine Johnson |
Mullins McLeod |
Billy Webster |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conquest Communications Group/ South Carolina Policy Council[37] |
May 18–21, 2026 | 500 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 27% | 6% | 14% | 49% |
| Targoz Market Research/ South Carolina Policy Council[46] |
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[68][69][70]
- Walid Hakim (South Carolina Green Party), veteran[70]
- Michael Addison (United Citizens Party), Democratic candidate for SC-6 in 2022[71][72]
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[75] | Solid R | September 11, 2025 |
| Inside Elections[76] | Solid R | August 28, 2025 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[77] | Safe R | September 4, 2025 |
| Race to the WH[78] | Likely R | January 28, 2026 |
See also
Notes
- Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
- Josh Kimbrell with 1.8%
- Jacqueline DuBose with 2.7%; Josh Kimbrell with 2.4%
- Josh Kimbrell with 1.7%
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - 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
- This poll was sponsored by the Palmetto Promise Institute
- Poll sponsored by Trending Politics, a conservative news website
- Poll sponsored by Mace's campaign