COLUMBIA, South Carolina — Republican voters in South Carolina headed to the polls on Tuesday for primary runoff elections that helped determine nominees in several high-profile races, including the contest to succeed term-limited Governor Henry McMaster and key congressional races ahead of the November general election.
The runoff elections were required under South Carolina law after no candidate secured a majority of votes in the June 9 primary. Polls opened across the state at 7 a.m. local time and closed at 7 p.m., with election officials reporting that the contests would finalize nominations in several Republican and Democratic races.
The most closely watched Republican contest was the gubernatorial runoff between Attorney General Alan Wilson and Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette. Neither candidate reached the 50% threshold in the primary, sending the race to a second round of voting. The winner is expected to enter the general election as the favorite in a state where Republicans have dominated statewide offices for decades.
President Donald Trump played a role in the race after initially endorsing Evette before later issuing a dual endorsement of both runoff candidates. “It’s a wealth of riches — with either one you can’t go wrong,” Trump wrote on social media ahead of the vote, according to reports.
In addition to the governor’s race, voters participated in runoff elections for Republican nominations for attorney general, commissioner of agriculture, and the open congressional seat in South Carolina’s 1st District. Democratic voters also cast ballots in runoff contests in selected congressional districts. Election officials reminded voters that those who participated in a party’s primary were required to vote in the same party’s runoff.
The elections occurred as parties across the country continued to shape their candidate slates for the 2026 midterm cycle. South Carolina’s gubernatorial race has drawn particular attention because McMaster is barred from seeking another term, creating the state’s first open governor’s race in more than a decade.
Election administrators said turnout was expected to be lower than during the initial primary, a common pattern in runoff elections. Poll workers and local officials encouraged eligible voters to participate before polls closed Tuesday evening.
By late Tuesday, vote counting was underway, with unofficial results expected shortly after polls closed. Final certification of the results will occur according to state election procedures, officials said.
