Continuing the ‘legacy’ of SC’s CEO important to lieutenant governor as she mulls own bid

By Shaun Chornobroff, Originally posted in SC Daily Gazette April 3, 2025;

Photo Credit: Travis Bell

Lt. Gov. Pam Evette would hope to put her “own stamp” on the state

COLUMBIA — As she mulls a 2026 gubernatorial bid, South Carolina’s lieutenant governor says her decision is guided by a desire to build on the state’s economic growth under Gov. Henry McMaster using her own business experience.

Pam Evette has served alongside McMaster since the 2018 election, the first in the state with candidates for governor and lieutenant governor running on the same ticket. McMaster, the state’s oldest and longest-serving elected governor in state history, can’t run again.

“That plays a factor in this, making sure that legacy continues on, so I’m seriously considering (running),” Evette told the SC Daily Gazette on Wednesday.

She did not give a timeline for a decision.

Evette, who joined McMaster’s team as his running mate in November 2017, said the accomplishments she’s proud of include using the governor’s bully pulpit to promote the career paths available to students through the state’s technical colleges.

Her roles have included leading South Carolina’s 2020 Complete Count Committee, which had the unexpected task of getting an official tally of residents amid a pandemic.

The 57-year-old accountant will be aided by the political action committee Patriots for South Carolina. Made up of allies of President Donald Trump, the PAC has already secured $5 million in donor commitments for Evette, The Post and Courier first reported.

It’s a boost she’ll need to stand out among an expectedly crowded field for the Republican nomination. Despite her travels across the state as the governor’s ambassador and her frequent appearances beside McMaster at news conferences, Evette is an unknown to many voters, as shown by the latest Winthrop Poll.

Although no one is officially in the race, Republicans considering a bid include Attorney General Alan Wilson, U.S. Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, and state Sens. Sean Bennett and Josh Kimbrell.

Unlike any of them, Evette’s bid for governor would be her first solo run for elected office.

Mace, who constituents criticized for not attending a town hall in her district last Friday, was at the Statehouse on Wednesday and told reporters “things are looking very positive” for her decision on a gubernatorial announcement. She added that she was meeting with House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, about the “future of the state.”

The First District congresswoman has made repeated jabs at Evette on social media.

However, the lieutenant governor said the comments don’t bother her much.

“That’s what you see in Washington (D.C.) politics, and that’s why we are where we are in Washington with an unbalanced budget and things not getting done,” Evette said.

One question is who in the potential field might get Trump’s endorsement. In January, Mace told reporters that Trump’s opinion on her potential run would be a crucial factor in her decision.

Evette said she’s not relying on his endorsement, though she called Trump an inspiration. She described herself as a “Trump girl” when McMaster introduced her to voters in 2017. It was at a reception in Washington, D.C., for Trump’s inauguration where she first met McMaster.

Last week, Evette traveled to Washington at the invitation of the White House for an event celebrating Women’s History Month. Mace was also among attendees.

‘Time is money’

Originally from Ohio, Evette moved to South Carolina two decades ago and made the Palmetto State her adopted home, she said. It’s where she raised her three children and grew her business.

When McMaster picked Evette, the political novice was the president and CEO of Quality Business Solutions, an outsourcing payroll and human resources firm operating out of Travelers Rest for clients nationwide. (Her husband became president when she joined McMaster’s team.)

Her business credentials and desire to cut bureaucratic red tape remain the key component of her potential sales pitch to voters.

During her conversation with the SC Daily Gazette, Evette said she’d want to put her “own stamp” on the state with a company-like approach to the governor’s office.

Sounding a lot like former Gov. Nikki Haley, who also had an accounting background and crafted her reputation as the “jobs governor,” Evette said she’d focus on making South Carolina the most business-friendly state in the nation — if she were to run, of course.

As a former business owner, now equipped with more than six years in office, Evette says she has a unique understanding of how to help the state’s business community.

“When you believe that the government can run efficiently like a business in the private sector, who’s better to do that than a businessperson that’s had to live with it every day in the private sector,” she said.

She also wants to continue a push for technical college education, which she says would “create the workforce of tomorrow.”

She touted the success of the state’s Workforce Industry Needs Scholarship, better known as SC WINS, that covers expenses for students at South Carolina’s 16 technical colleges.

SC Daily Gazette Editor Seanna Adcox contributed to this report.

Aim Higher SC: Lieutenant Governor Evette’s March 2025 Email Update

Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette brings her supporters, friends, and the people of South Carolina her 1st Quarter 2025 e-mail update.

In this edition, we share a few highlights of how Evette is supporting President Trump’s agenda in SC, featured news stories, how Team SC is working to fight SC wildfires + SC business features (large & small), non-profits who are making a difference, and a few personal updates.

Below is March 2025’s opening message from Lt. Gov. Evette.

A Message from Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette

If you’re like me, you can’t believe that it’s already March. 2025 is flying by, and a BIG part of that is how President Trump is taking action in the Oval Office at lightning speed. His dedication to keeping the promises he made and his drive to Make America Great Again is awe inspiring.

What a time to be an American — in the Golden Age!

I am committed to being an ally for our President in South Carolina. I will never stop pushing to keep the Palmetto State winning, today and well into the future!

Lt. Governor Pamela S. Evette

‘Strongest MAGA woman in Congress;’ MTG visits Berkeley County Republican Women

by Perrin Moore; originally published Mon, March 31st 2025 by ABC News 4

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — One of the loudest voices in Congress visited the Lowcountry this weekend.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14) was the keynote speaker at the Berkeley County Republican Women’s Annual Spring Tea in Nexton Sunday.

Greene wasn’t the only lawmaker in town, with South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette also making an appearance in the Lowcountry.

“Honored to be with the strongest MAGA woman in Congress today,” Evette wrote in a post on X.

Addressing the Berkeley County crowd, Greene spoke about her Protect Children’s Innocence Act, which would prohibit gender affirming care for minors and classify charges for doctors found to have conducted gender affirming care as felonies.

The bill, H.R. 1399, was referred to the Subcommittee on Health by the Committee on Ways and Means in December, with Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC-03) and William Timmons (SC-04) listed as Palmetto State cosponsors.

The Congressional Equality Caucus said Greene’s bill would “throw parents and doctors in jail” as House Republicans work to “implement Project 2025’s assault on LGBTQI+ Americans’ rights.”

Lt. Gov. Evette Visits Table Rock Complex as Fire Becomes Highest Priority Fire in the Nation

Table Rock Complex fire officially crosses state lines

by Scarlett Lisjak, originally posted March 29, 2025 by WSPA

PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – Officials said the Table Rock Complex Fire has now crossed the state line into North Carolina.

The Table Rock Complex fire, made up of both the Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge Fires, has become the largest wildfire the upstate has ever seen.

“One thing I was briefed on this morning, is we’ve had the largest chemical water drops in state history for this fire,” said Pamela Evette, the Lt. Governor for the State of South Carolina.

On Saturday, state and local officials met to give an update on their ongoing containment efforts. Fire officials said they are continuing to strengthen containment lines to the east and west of the fire while conducting burn out operations.

“Our guys and ladies are working extremely hard out there. It’s very difficult working conditions. Anyone who has hiked around Table Rocks knows this is a very steep hilly country. It will wear you out on a normal day, much less when you’re fighting fires, but the morale of our folks is incredible,” said Scott Phillips with South Carolina Forestry Commission.

Officials said that this year’s fire season has been unprecedented because of another natural disaster.

“This is not an easy task, as we have a lot of fuel on the ground from Hurricane Helene which has posed extra challenges that they didn’t have to fight before,” Evette said.

Evette added the blaze is also a high priority for the federal government saying that “right now Table Rock is the number one fire in the country, that’s why you are seeing such an increase in federal resources, because we moved up to the number one fire.”

A statewide burn ban is still in effect in South Carolina.

SC Lt. Gov. visits Darlington Co. to highlight youth career pathways

by Haleigh West, originally posted March 24, 2025 by ABC 15 News (WPDE)

DARLINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — The South Carolina Lt. Gov., Pamela Evette, traveled across the Palmetto State to visit several companies that hire young people.

On Friday, she was in Darlington County visiting Sonoco, which hires teenagers straight from the area’s schools.

The goal is to introduce them to career pathways early and give them job experience.

Darlington County School District works to prepare students for the workforce with programs like internships, career exploration and career awareness programs.

ABC15 spoke with two students who are involved in the program, one student who had been through it and another who is taking advantage of the program right now.

“The transition coming in as a teenager at 17 years old, I hadn’t really known a whole lot. And over the course of years between school and Sonoco and Darlington County itself, it helped me learn what I know now.”

ABC15 spoke to the Lt. Gov. who said it is a great effort to give students work experience for those who may not want to jump into college debt.

Lt. Gov. Evette, Vision to Learn celebrate program’s impact on students’ vision care

By Brandon Roberts; Originally posted in the Summerville Journal Scene, Mar 17, 2025

Event at Fort Dorchester Elementary highlights efforts in South Carolina

South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Vision to Learn President Ann Hollister attended a special event Friday, March 14, at Fort Dorchester Elementary School, celebrating the nonprofit’s success in providing vision care to children across South Carolina.

During the event, Evette and Hollister helped 20 students at the school try on their new glasses for the first time. This moment marked a milestone for Vision to Learn’s South Carolina program, which has provided more than 30,000 vision screenings, 12,000 eye exams and 10,000 pairs of glasses to students in need, all at no cost to the child or their family.

“Education is the gateway to success, and for students with vision issues, glasses are the gateway to learning,” Evette said. “I’m proud to partner with Vision to Learn to help ensure our children have access to the eye care they need to reach their full potential.”

Since its launch in 2021, Vision to Learn has expanded its reach in South Carolina, assisting students in Charleston and Dorchester counties. The program serves as one of the state’s most comprehensive school-based initiatives for children’s eye care.

“Vision to Learn has been a game changer for students in Dorchester County,” said Dorchester School District Two Interim Superintendent Chad Dougherty. “By providing eye exams and glasses to students where they are every day – at their neighborhood school – this effort has delivered access to care that was sorely lacking for many of our students.”

Vision to Learn, a national nonprofit founded in 2012, seeks to address the disparity in access to eye care, especially in low-income communities. According to the organization, about 1-in-4 children need glasses, but many go without the proper care. In South Carolina alone, an estimated 100,000 students lack the necessary glasses.

“More than 3 million children across the country go to school every day without the glasses they need,” said Vision To Learn Founder Austin Beutner. “Every child in every school, everywhere in the country, should have the glasses they need to succeed in school and in life.”

For more information on Vision to Learn and its programs, visit www.visiontolearn.org

Early poll gives SC lieutenant governor edge in 2026 race

By Nick Reagan; Originally Published: Mar. 12, 2025 by WCSC

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – Extremely early polling shows South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette with a slight lead among likely Republican voters in the state’s 2026 governor’s race.

The Trafalgar Group, an Atlanta-based political research group, polled 1,127 likely Republican voters between March 8-10 and found 31 percent of voters said they would vote for Evette.

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who represents South Carolina’s First Congressional District, locked in 29 percent while Attorney General Alan Wilson maintains a close third with 27 percent of the vote.

About 11 percent said they’d vote for Rep. Ralph Norman, who represents the state’s Fifth Congressional District.

While prospective candidates are starting to position themselves for a run at the governor’s mansion, no one has officially announced their intentions yet.

The same poll questioned voters on how they feel about a variety of issues, including the performance of the president, tort reform and changes to state income tax.

On President Donald Trump’s work in office so far, the poll showed 73.7 percent of South Carolina Republicans approve of how he’s handling the job.

The poll shows there’s strong support, nearly 65 percent, for House Bill H. 3497, which would reform liquor liability for bars and restaurants but less support for the current tort reforms in Senate Bill S.244. Nearly 55 percent of those polled said they view the bill unfavorably.

When it comes to eliminating the state income tax through House Bill 3733, more than 80 percent of people polled supported the idea. However, the question set sets up respondents to believe cutting state income tax would generate more revenue by spending cuts and making the state more competitive.

The polls also found strong support for an SC DOGE with about 75 percent of people saying they view House Resolution 3926 and Senate Resolution 318 favorably or very favorably. 44 percent said it’s their top legislative priority.Those who responded to the poll were primarily white and over the age of 65 with a near even split between men and women.

The group reports a 2.9 percent margin of error.

Click here to read the full findings.

Lt. Governor Pamela Evette visits Carolina Forest on day eight of wildfires

Originally posted by Fox Carolina on March 8, 2025.

HORRY COUNTY, SC (WMBF) – South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette visited Carolina Forest neighborhoods to speak with residents and first responders still fighting a now over 2,000-acre wildfire.

Lt. Governor Evette told WMBF News she assessed damage from the wildfires but also came to thank Horry County first responders.

“The people of South Carolina are resilient, and their kind and we work together,” she said. “It’s a miracle that we’ve had no loss of life, no loss of property, and that’s not by chance.”

Her visit follows Senator Lindsey Graham and Congressman Russell Fry, who also praised first responders on Friday.

Horry County Fire Rescue says they’re making progress and are happy with the containment they’re seeing on the lines with the South Carolina Forestry Commission reporting a 55 percent containment as of Saturday morning.

The lieutenant governor also showed appreciation to the residents of Horry County for taking it upon themselves to step in and help.

“That’s what I’ve heard from first responders over and over, is thank you so much to this community for stepping up, for making sure that they had enough snacks, water, Gatorade, a place to lay their heads to rest when there were breaks,” she stated. “That they could come back and try to get a little rest. So, thank you to the community for all you do.”

On Saturday, Horry County officials and the South Carolina Forestry Commission said the fire remains at 55% containment, with crews attacking occasional flare-ups and hot spots. Still, overall things are moving in a positive direction.

Still county officials are strongly enforcing the county-wide burn ban and it is still in effect until further notice.

SC Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette sees Donald Trump allies launch super PAC as she weighs run for governor

By Caitlin Byrd ; Originally posted Feb 19, 2025

Photo Credit: Henry Taylor/Staff; 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.

Tag: Lt. Governor