Trump endorsement faces test in South Carolina governor race
Trump endorsement tests South Carolina governor primary as Evette joins crowded race Can his backing push her into runoff, or spark backlash that reshapes the GOP field?
President Donald Trump’s influence over Republican primaries is facing another test in South Carolina, where his late endorsement of Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette is part of a crowded race for governor.
Evette is competing against Attorney General Alan Wilson, Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, and businessman Rom Reddy. Because no candidate is expected to win an outright majority, the top two finishers would move on to a June 23 runoff.
The article says Trump backed Evette after months of staying neutral and also held a telerally for her. It notes, however, that his recent endorsement record has not been flawless, pointing to an Iowa race where his preferred candidate lost narrowly. A South Carolina strategist quoted in the piece argued that the endorsement may have hurt Evette by creating local backlash over Washington’s influence.