COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) 鈥� South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster is endorsing Lt. Gov. 鈥檚 bid to succeed him in office, an attempt to clear the field in the crowded Republican primary that could pave the way for a coveted endorsement from President Donald Trump.
Evette’s campaign shared with The Associated Press a video message from McMaster that will be released Thursday, when they’re scheduled to appear together in Columbia.
McMaster said Evette has been his partner in making South Carolina 鈥渢he best place to live, work and raise a family.鈥�
鈥淲ith Pamela Evette as our next governor, we鈥檒l keep winning,鈥� he added.
Evette is competing for the nomination against Rep. Nancy Mace, Rep. Ralph Norman and state Attorney General Alan Wilson. In the deep red state, the competition for the president鈥檚 support has been the most intense part of the race, but McMaster’s endorsement suggests Evette may have the inside track.
McMaster has been close to Trump for years, and they’re nearly always aligned in backing the same candidates. As South Carolina’s lieutenant governor in 2016, McMaster became the first statewide elected official in the country to endorse Trump at a time when the party’s establishment was still hesitant to embrace the New York businessman and reality television star.
The wager paid off when Trump chose Nikki Haley, then South Carolina’s governor, to be his ambassador to the United Nations, allowing McMaster to ascend to the state’s top position.
The relationship helped cement Trump’s political influence in South Carolina, where he helped who crossed him in 2022 and then trounced Haley in the state’s .
Evette said Wednesday in an extensive interview with the AP that McMaster鈥檚 endorsement was 鈥渁 clear sign鈥� that she could continue his success. She also said she鈥檇 鈥渂een loyal to the president since day one.鈥�
鈥淗e remembers who was loyal, and who was with him when it wasn鈥檛 easy to be with him,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of communication. We have a lot of tentacles that tie us together.鈥�
Evette, who visited the White House last year and plans to return next month, called Trump鈥檚 endorsement 鈥渆xtremely important鈥� to the governor鈥檚 race, which she said 鈥渂ecomes a mountain that鈥檚 a lot harder to climb鈥� without it.
Trump hasn鈥檛 endorsed a candidate in the race, and it鈥檚 unclear if or when he will.
Using the motto 鈥淜eep South Carolina Great,鈥� akin to Trump鈥檚 鈥淢ake America Great Again鈥� mantra, Evette has made the president a focal point. A businesswoman new to politics when she ran alongside McMaster in 2018, Evette has touted her 鈥渦nwavering support鈥� for Trump, and a banner image atop her campaign releases features a photo of her posing with Trump and McMaster.
Evette has also hired a campaign team that includes one of Trump鈥檚 top lieutenants, his longtime pollster Tony Fabrizio. A last year featured a video snippet of Trump praising Evette as she stumped for him in 2024.
Other candidates are trying similar approaches.
Mace described herself as and has pointed out the president’s favorable social media posts about her.
Wilson has for Trump from both his campaign and government office.
, a member of the House Freedom Caucus and one of the chamber鈥檚 most conservative members, backed Trump during his first term but endorsed Haley in 2024. He was at the White House for Trump鈥檚 event last summer.
South Carolina鈥檚 primary elections are June 9, with a runoff two weeks later if needed. In 2018, Trump made a last-minute trip to stump with McMaster, helping him secure en route to his first full term.
The filing deadline for gubernatorial candidates is still more than a month away, so it鈥檚 still possible that the field isn鈥檛 completely set. Two Democrats have announced their campaigns, but Republicans hold all statewide-elected positions in South Carolina and have won the governor鈥檚 office for the past two decades.
___
Meg Kinnard can be reached at
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
