Photo Credit: Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina Pamela Evette speaks to the crowd at a rally for Donald Trump on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Rock Hill.
A network of President Donald Trump’s advisers, staff and political consultants are lining up behind South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, launching a new super PAC to boost her prospects as a leading contender if she decides to run for governor next year.
The group, Patriots for South Carolina, has already secured $5 million in donor commitments, according to details shared first with The Post and Courier Feb. 19.
“The Lieutenant Governor has demonstrated throughout her career that she has what it takes to be a strong, conservative leader for South Carolina,” said Chris Grant, who is serving as a senior adviser for the newly formed, pro-Evette super PAC.
“The resources committed to backing her, should she decide to run, clearly shows her support runs deep in the state,” Grant said.
Evette told the newspaper in a written statement she has been overwhelmed by the encouragement she has received for a potential 2026 gubernatorial bid and the show of support from the newly created group.
“President Trump needs strong allies in state government who know what it takes to get the job done — to continue the good work of the McMaster administration and keep SC winning,” she said, adding that she is taking a serious look at the governor’s race and urged supporters to “stay tuned.”
A roster of seasoned Republican strategists from Trump’s political orbit, including Grant, have joined the group’s leadership — an early sign that Trump’s allies are working to shape the race as Gov. Henry McMaster, who was one of the president’s earliest backers, nears the end of his final term.
Grant most recently worked as a consultant for Make America Great Again Inc., or MAGA Inc., which was the top spender on Trump’s behalf in the 2024 election cycle.
Grant’s involvement in the pro-Evette effort comes on the heels of his announcement that his consulting firm, Big Dog Strategies, is relocating its headquarters to Charleston — underscoring his commitment to the state and its political future.
Andy Surabian, who worked as a senior adviser to Vice President JD Vance during the Republican’s 2022 U.S. Senate bid in Ohio as well as his 2024 vice presidential run, will serve as the group’s CEO.
Surabian is a close adviser to Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Surabian was a key member of Trump’s “war room” and later served as a key adviser to Steve Bannon during his brief tenure as Trump’s chief of staff.
Dan Adams, the CEO of Greenville-based investment banking firm The Capital Corp, will serve as chairman of the PAC. He was a major McMaster donor who was also one of 30 donors who met privately with Trump in 2017.
The group’s spokesman is Justin Evans, who most recently served on Trump’s South Carolina team as director of special projects.
In 2020, he worked with the Trump White House on its advance team and traveled the country to prepare for events with both Trump and then-Vice President Mike Pence.
“The Trump agenda is on the ballot in 2026, and there is no one better to carry the America First mantle than Pam Evette,” Evans said. “South Carolina needs a Trump businesswoman and conservative outsider to continue the success of the McMaster Administration, and Pam Evette is the perfect candidate for the job, should she choose to run.”
If Evette, 57, decides to enter the race, she is expected to face a competitive Republican primary. Other likely contenders include state Attorney General Alan Wilson and U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-Charleston, among others.
Evans said Evette offers something unique, even Trump-like.
“She, like the president, had tremendous success in the private sector before offering herself up for public service,” Evans said. “That differentiates her from the other rumored candidates.”
Evette had no prior experience in elected office when McMaster picked her as his running mate in 2017, the first time a S.C. governor ran on the same ticket as his pick for lieutenant governor. She came in as president and CEO of Quality Business Solutions, a payroll and human resources company based in the Upstate.
At the time, McMaster said he picked in part due to her “fresh eyes” when it came to governing, as well as her relationships with the business community.
While the PAC itself is pro-Evette, the outside group cannot legally coordinate their spending or messaging with the candidate or campaign.
On Feb. 17, Presidents Day, Evette issued a video statement on social media where she expressed her thanks that Trump was back in the White House, calling him a “bold and courageous leader.”
Evette and her husband, David, were among Trump’s invited guests who traveled to the Palm Beach County Convention Center to celebrate his 2024 election night victory.
She also recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to applaud Trump signing an executive order banning transgender athletes from participating in female sports.
Trump did not call on Evette by name, or ask her to say a few words, as he did with Mace.
Filing for the gubernatorial race won’t officially open for more than a year, but when it does it is expected to draw significant interest and competition. It will also be the first time South Carolina has had an open governor’s race since 2010 when 38-year-old Nikki Haley emerged victorious and made history when she was elected the state’s first female governor.
