2026 South Carolina gubernatorial election

Last updated

2026 South Carolina gubernatorial election
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Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent Governor

Henry McMaster
Republican



The 2026 South Carolina gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the next governor of South Carolina. Incumbent Governor Henry McMaster is term-limited and cannot seek a third full consecutive term. He took office on January 24, 2017, upon the resignation of fellow Republican Nikki Haley to become U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under the first Trump administration and won full terms in 2018 and 2022.

Contents

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Withdrawn

Endorsements

Pamela Evette
Party officials
Individuals
Ralph Norman
Executive branch officials
U.S. senators
State legislators
Alan Wilson
County officials
  • 22 county sheriffs [11]

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Pamela
Evette		Josh
Kimbrell		Nancy
Mace		Ralph
Norman		Alan
Wilson		OtherUndecided
Meeting Street Insights (R) [12] [A] August 11–12, 2025600 (LV)± 4.0%6%3%25%10%17%–38%
7% [b] 4%30%12%21%–26%
Targoz Market Research/
South Carolina Policy Council [13] 		July 21–25, 20251,200 (RV)± 2.8%8%3%16%6%15%–52%
First Tuesday Strategies (R) [14] March 19–21, 2025500 (LV)± 4.4%7%2%16%6%21%1% [c] 47%
Trafalgar Group (R) [15] March 8–10, 20251,127 (LV)± 2.9%31%–29%11%27%–2%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

  • Mullins McLeod, trial attorney and candidate for governor in 2010 [16]

Formed exploratory committee

Declined

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [19] Solid RJanuary 23, 2025
Inside Elections [20] Solid RFebruary 6, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball [21] Safe RMay 1, 2025
Race to the WH [22] Likely RJune 30, 2025

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ↑ With voters who lean towards a given candidate
  3. ↑ Sean Bennett with 1%
  4. ↑ Multiple districts; 52nd district since 2024

Partisan clients

  1. ↑ Poll sponsored by Mace's campaign

References

  1. ↑ Bustos, Joseph (July 14, 2025). "Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette joins race for South Carolina governor. 5 things to know". The State . Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  2. ↑ Moore, Stephanie (June 23, 2025). "Sen. Josh Kimbrell announces run for SC governor". WYFF . Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  3. ↑ Goba, Kadia (August 4, 2025). "Rep. Nancy Mace, Trump critic-turned-ally, to run for South Carolina governor". The Washington Post . Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  4. ↑ Kinnard, Meg (July 25, 2025). "Rep. Ralph Norman, among House's most conservative, set to enter South Carolina governor's race". Associated Press . Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  5. ↑ Kinnard, Meg (June 23, 2025). "Alan Wilson, South Carolina's four-term Republican attorney general, enters 2026 governor's race". Associated Press . Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  6. ↑ Chornobroff, Shaun (February 11, 2025). "Former SC treasurer and reality TV star ends bid for governor, days after announcement". South Carolina Daily Gazette . Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  7. ↑ Bustos, Joseph (April 14, 2025). "Top GOP figures dominate buzz for SC governor's race. Can others gain traction?". The State . Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  8. ↑ Byrd, Caitlin (July 22, 2025). "SC Medal of Honor recipient James Livingston backs Pam Evette for governor in 2026 GOP primary". The State . Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 Atkinson, Macon (July 27, 2025). "Nikki Haley and Jim DeMint endorse Ralph Norman for SC governor as he launches campaign in Rock Hill". The Post and Courier . Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  10. ↑ O'Neill, Nora (August 1, 2025). "SC senator announces run for Ralph Norman's 5th District seat in Congress". Rock Hill Herald . Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  11. ↑ Dorsch, Eric (July 22, 2025). "Alan Wilson endorsed for Governor by 22 Republican sheriffs". WSAV-TV . Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Key Survey Data Among South Carolina Republican Primary Voters". Meeting Street Insights. August 13, 2025. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  13. ↑ Mueller, Julia (July 29, 2025). "Mace leading South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary polling". The Hill . Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  14. ↑ "SCGOP Primary - March 2025" (PDF). FITSNews . Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  15. ↑ Reagan, Nick (March 12, 2025). "Early poll gives SC lieutenant governor edge in 2026 race". WCSC-TV . Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  16. ↑ Reynolds, Nick (August 11, 2025). "With little publicity, Charleston attorney Mullins McLeod enters Democratic race for governor". The Post and Courier . Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  17. ↑ Bustos, Joseph (May 31, 2025). "This Democratic state representative is now formally exploring a run for governor". The State . Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  18. ↑ Bustos, Joseph (November 14, 2024). "Who might run for South Carolina governor and US senator in 2026? Here are names to watch". The State . Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  19. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections . Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  21. ↑ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
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