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.
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.
The Post and Courier’sCaitlin Byrdfirst reported that “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.”
Patriots for South Carolina PAC has already raised $5 million.
A Trump endorsement will be one the most critical factors in this statewide race in which many Republican contenders occupy a similar policy lane.
Who we’re watching right now:
Evette, a self-made millionaire and former president and CEO of Quality Business Solutions in Travelers Rest, was recently spotted sitting in the front row in the East Room when the president signed an executive order banning transgender players on women’s sports teams.
1st District Congresswoman Nancy Mace, a former state lawmaker, who has put her focus over the last year on legislation that targets the transgender community. At that same White House event, Trump acknowledged Mace’s work. In a post on XWednesday, Mace posted the Post and Courier article about the PAC, referring to Evette as a “a nice lady.”
Attorney General Alan Wilson, who also became of a focus of Mace’s criticism from a fiery House floor speech — criticisms that Wilson denies — but has kept busy joining other attorneys general in federal-focused lawsuits. Over the past two years, Wilson has also joined Republican efforts to tweak the state’s judicial vetting and election process.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette will be the featured guest at the upcoming Charleston Business & Brews event in March.
Slated for Thursday, March 13, at New Realm Brewing on Daniel Island, the event, which runs from 5 to 7:30 p.m., is free and open to the public.
Evette, the 93rd lieutenant governor of South Carolina and the state’s first female Republican to hold the position is known for her entrepreneurial spirit. She founded Quality Business Solutions, a payroll, HR, and benefits services firm, which grew into one of the nation’s fastest-growing small businesses under her leadership.
Since taking office in January 2019, Evette has focused on leveraging her professional experience to benefit South Carolina’s businesses and communities. She has been an advocate for the state’s small business ecosystem and has worked to attract new businesses to the area.
The event is organized by Follywood Productions and sponsored by companies including HNTB, Kavalyn Custom Solutions, Apostioli, and Ridge Media. New Realm Brewing is located at 880 Island Park Dr., Charleston, SC 29492.
The governor’s office’s strong relationship with Trump helps South Carolina.
GREENVILLE, S.C. — The election night party in Palm Beach, Florida, became more electric when Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign announced she would not address her supporters gathered at Howard University until the following day.
Cheering Republicans at Donald Trump’s official watch party knew that meant their candidate would soon have the electoral votes needed to secure the White House.
South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and her husband David were among the invited guests.
She tells WYFF News 4 that the mood of the room was “high energy” all night: “It was a great day to be a Trump supporter, and it was a great night to be celebrating with everybody who has worked so hard across our nation to get him back in the White House.”
And as each state ticked red, the party intensified, Evette said.
“You could tell as they finally called Georgia and they called North Carolina, and Pennsylvania was looking good for us; the mood just kept getting bigger and bigger until it rose to the level of a President Trump win and President Trump taking the stage with his family,” she said.
Evette credits Trump with bringing new voices to the Republican tent and anticipates it will bring new growth to the party: “I think it’s a great testament to the legacy he’s going to leave, bringing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. into the mix and Tulsi Gabbard, bringing in Elon Musk and Joe Rogan, to get the best and brightest into the room, and make great quality changes to make America great again.”
Evette believes the Trump victory will translate into a strong working relationship between the White House and the South Carolina governor’s office, which she says is a win for South Carolina.Ec
South Carolina leaders highlight conservative values at Faith, Family and Freedom Dinner
South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and United States Rep. Nancy Mace headlined the 4th annual Dorchester County Republican Party Faith, Family and Freedom Dinner Saturday, Aug. 31, at the Dorchester Shrine Club in Summerville.
“The Faith, Family, and Freedom Dinner is a cornerstone event for the Dorchester County Republican Party, celebrating the core values that define our community and our nation,” said Steven Wright, DCRP chair. “Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Congresswoman Nancy Mace are two prominent leaders committed to advancing conservative principles and advocating for the interests of South Carolinians.”
Mace said she was honored to speak at the event and considers Dorchester County a special place.
“It’s good to be back,” Mace said in an interview with the Journal Scene. “Dorchester County helped bring us across the finish line. We won Dorchester County by over 30 points, and I’m grateful for that.
Mace said she did not have a prepared speech and planned to speak from her heart.
“I’ll probably talk a little bit about issues important to voters in Dorchester County,” she said. “I’ll talk about my faith a bit, and just be humble and thank everybody for their support and offer to help them in any way.”
In her speech, Mace discussed inflation, the border and women’s issues, which she called the “top issues in our district.” She also spoke about her role on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability and its hearing about the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump, which led to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.
Evette said she was happy to attend the event for several reasons, including Wright, who she lauded as a “dedicated and involved” leader at such a young age.
“It’s really important to support the young people who are getting involved, especially the Republican Party, because that’s what we have to do,” she said. “A few minutes of my speech tonight will be about opening our doors and getting more young people involved. How do we merge our young Republicans with our local GOPs so that we can be the big tent party we want to be.”
Evette said when she speaks to younger people, she feels they don’t think they’re welcome.
“They just feel like it’s an elite club for an older group,” she said. “I think you got to make it fun. Get business done quickly, and then it’s a social hour when everybody becomes friends; it’s much easier to get together and do fun things.”
In her speech, Evette said it is no secret that Trump will win South Carolina, so she urged those I attended to help in neighboring states.
“We have swing states to the south and north of us,” she said, referring to Georgia and North Carolina. “We got to come together. We got to help Georgia. We got to help North Carolina. It’s tight. We need to talk about our policies. We have great policies. We saw the DNC. Not one policy was talked about. They talked about feelings but not facts.”
Wright also handed out the DCRP’s annual awards at the event. June Fleming received the award for Executive Committee Person of the Year, Janette Chipas received the Most Outstanding Volunteer of the Year, Dorchester County Auditor J.J. Messervy was named Elected Official of the Year, and longtime Dorchester County Sheriff L.C. Knight was given the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Gov. Henry McMaster signed S.142 at a ceremony. The law creates the crime of child luring in South Carolina and also strengthens existing human trafficking laws.
“Protecting our children and victims of human trafficking is essential to building safe communities and allowing our state to continue to thrive,” McMaster said in the press release. “By enacting this legislation, we are not only defending our people but equipping our prosecutors and law enforcement with additional tools to ensure criminals are held accountable.”
Child luring refers to “adults who lure, entice, or attempt to lure a child with the intent to harm them,” the press release said. If someone is convicted of this felony, the criminal will face a fine of up to $10,000, serve a prison sentence of 10 years or both.
The law also expands the definition of sex trafficking to include sexual exploitation of a minor and the participation of the prostitution of a minor.
“The new law adds more protections for victims of human trafficking. Victims may now motion the court to expunge a non-violent offense stemming from trafficking if they were forced to commit the crime by their captor,” the press release said. “Further, the bill adds that a person under the age of eighteen who is a victim of human trafficking may not be prosecuted for prostitution or any other non-violent misdemeanor or class F felony.”
“We need to prevent victims from being prosecuted for crimes they committed because they were entangled in the human trafficking ring,” Attorney General Alan Wilson said in the press release. “I am so grateful we brought in safe harbor to protect victims of human trafficking.”
McMaster was joined at the ceremony by Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, S.C.-01 Congressional Representative Nancy Mace and several members of the state legislature.
Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette addressed the Greenwood County Republican Party during its August monthly meeting at Lander University.
On Monday, Evette urged the audience to come together, highlighting the importance of unity.
“South Carolina is a huge state when it comes to its impact on the world,” Evette said. “We are small but mighty and our impact is everywhere.”
Evette noted that South Carolina must increase its energy production to maintain growth and continue attracting new businesses.
State Rep. John McCravy thanked Evette for her efforts in floodwater prevention, her commitment to protecting South Carolina’s natural resources and for initiating the statewide “Grab a Bag” liter pickup challenge.
“Evette is one of the greatest advocates for our state,” McCravy said. “She was born in Ohio, but she has the South Carolina traditional values that we share.”
Evette reaffirmed her commitment to advocating for school choice and discussed key legislative actions from this year’s General Assembly.
Among the topics she highlighted were the “Help Not Harm” bill and legislation aimed at protecting children from online pornography.
“As parents, we need help,” Evette said. “There are so many things out there that we can’t monitor all on our own.”
Evette emphasized that her top priority is eliminating DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programs from schools. She said she is a strong supporter of school choice.
“It’s a parent’s right and responsibility to determine the best educational path for their children,” Evette said.
Evette shared that during her first year as lieutenant governor, she made it a priority to visit any place that would host her, aiming to listen and learn.
“It was quite a leap for me,” Evettte said. “I went from owning a business to being lieutenant governor.
She also mentioned that she has enjoyed traveling to different parts of South Carolina and engaging in conversations about the diverse developments taking place across the state.
Evette has been South Carolina’s 93rd lieutenant governor since 2019, making her the first woman to ever hold the office in the state.
While at the 2024 Republican National Convention, South Carolina Lt. Governor Pamela Evette talks with Pastor Gene Bailey, Host of Flashpoint on the Victory Network.
Evette shares the reasons she stepped away from her successful business to serve as SC’s first female Republican lieutenant governor. She also comments on how the terrible Biden policies are hurting American families and how she and Governor McMaster are working to help S.C. businesses and families across the Palmetto State.
Watch the full episode that aired August 1, 2024 “Don’t Stop Pressing for Truth!” here. You can also watch previous episodes on demand and learn more about Flashpoint and the Victory Channel here.
The younger generation has been looking for somebody that they can they can actually connect with and J .D. Vance is going to do that for them. – Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette #RNC2024#TrumpVance2024
