{"id":2617675,"date":"2026-06-23T09:10:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T13:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-backs-both-horses-in-south-carolina-as-governor-races-emerge-as-endorsement-weak-point\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T09:11:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T13:11:51","slug":"trump-backs-both-horses-in-south-carolina-as-governor-races-emerge-as-endorsement-weak-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-backs-both-horses-in-south-carolina-as-governor-races-emerge-as-endorsement-weak-point\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump backs both horses in South Carolina as governor races emerge as endorsement weak point"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-backs-both-horses-in-south-carolina-as-governor-races-emerge-as-endorsement-weak-point%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2617675&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>President Donald Trump is adopting a new strategy in South Carolina&#8217;s gubernatorial races after experiencing setbacks in other primaries. Rather of endorsing just one candidate,he issued a rare dual endorsement for Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and attorney General Alan Wilson, who are competing in a runoff. Trump\u2019s decision aims to secure a favorable outcome nonetheless of who wins, as both candidates are strong Trump allies with deep Republican ties. Earlier, Trump supported Burt Jones in Georgia and Randy Feenstra in Iowa, but both lost their primaries, raising concerns about his influence in gubernatorial races compared to Senate races, where his endorsed candidates have performed well. The South Carolina runoff is crucial sence the winner will face Democrat Jermaine Johnson in November; the state has historically favorited Republican candidates for governor.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After high-profile losses for candidates backed by President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> in gubernatorial <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican-primary\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1924\">Republican primaries<\/a>, the president is taking a new approach in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/south-carolina\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"524\">South Carolina<\/a>: Endorse both candidates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump issued a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4617387\/trump-double-endorses-south-carolina-governor-race\/\">rare dual endorsement<\/a> for Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson, who are facing off in the GOP primary runoff on Tuesday, a strategic move by the president as governor\u2019s races have emerged as a weak point for his political operation.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4619854\/trump-endorses-john-james-michigan-governor\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump endorses John James in Michigan governor\u2019s race<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4616504\/can-ed-hale-former-democrat-rebuild-larry-hogan-coalition-in-maryland\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Can Ed Hale, a former Democrat, rebuild the Larry Hogan coalition in Maryland?<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4617387\/trump-double-endorses-south-carolina-governor-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump double-endorses in South Carolina governor\u2019s race, dealing setback to Pamela Evette<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The president had backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/georgia\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"164\">Georgia\u2019s<\/a> gubernatorial race, but Jones ultimately lost in a runoff to healthcare tycoon Rick Jackson. In Iowa, the president\u2019s pick for the governor\u2019s office, Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA), <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4592573\/randy-feenstra-loss-delivers-blow-trump-endorsed-candidate-success-rate\/\">lost his primary<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4613491\/trump-endorsement-power-may-slip-governor-races-georgia\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">GUBERNATORIAL RACES BECOME RARE BLACK MARK ON TRUMP\u2019S ENDORSEMENT RECORD<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The election results in Georgia and Iowa sounded alarm bells as to whether Trump\u2019s influence carries the same weight in gubernatorial races as it does in Senate races. A Trump-backed candidate has yet to fall short in Republican Senate primaries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After Georgia and Iowa, Trump isn\u2019t taking another risk in South Carolina. By backing both Wilson and Evette, Trump can claim victory no matter who wins Tuesday\u2019s runoff.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Evette was the first candidate to be endorsed by Trump, giving her one of the most coveted assets in Republican politics. But later, he expanded his support to Wilson as the race tightened following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-republican-leader-slams-marjorie-taylor-greene-a-cancer-for-the-republican-party\/\" title=\"Top ... Leader Slams Marjorie Taylor Greene: A \u2018Cancer For The ... Party\u2019\">primary election<\/a> in which neither candidate secured a majority of the vote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Evette led the field in the primary with 28.9% of the vote, followed by Wilson with 26.1%. Since then, Wilson has emerged with a clear lead ahead of Evette.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The president said he couldn\u2019t pick between the two \u201chighly respected\u201d candidates in the Palmetto State, saying that a vote for either Republican in the runoff would be a win for the state.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Carolina\u2019s runoff represents a different kind of test. Both Evette and Wilson have deep GOP ties and have run as staunch Trump allies. Evette has leaned on her role in Gov. Henry McMaster\u2019s (R-SC) administration and his backing as she seeks to succeed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-new-republican-ad-hits-democrats-for-surging-crime\/\" title=\"EXCLUSIVE: New ... Ad Hits Democrats For Surging Crime\">term-limited governor<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4460164\/trump-endorsement-tracker-gop-2026-election-primaries\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4460164\/trump-endorsement-tracker-gop-2026-election-primaries\/\">TRUMP ENDORSEMENT TRACKER: HERE\u2019S WHO THE PRESIDENT HAS PICKED IN GOP MIDTERM ELECTION PRIMARIES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wilson, a four<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >-term attorney general<\/a> and adopted son of Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), has emphasized his record of fighting policies imposed by former President Joe Biden and spearheading legislation combating human trafficking.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The winner will face Democrat Jermaine Johnson in November. South Carolina has not elected a Democrat for governor since the 1990s, making the Republican nomination the central contest in the race.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump endorses both candidates in South Carolina runoff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2617676,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-collage-fl6gjv44o-1781053755744-e1781057903769.jpg?1781039420&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[47931,41960,3634],"class_list":["post-2617675","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-governor-races","tag-south-carolina","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image-collage-fl6gjv44o-1781053755744-e1781057903769.jpg?1781039420&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617675","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2617675"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617675\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2617679,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617675\/revisions\/2617679"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2617676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2617675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2617675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2617675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}