SC runoff election results: Candidates will face winners of primary in general election

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — Results are in for South Carolina’s runoff election.

Click here for election results.

Wilson defeats Evette in the GOP Runoff for governor

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson celebrated the Republican nomination for governor at the Marriott in downtown Columbia after he defeated Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in Tuesday’s runoff.

Signs at the event read “celebration event” or “victory party,” and Wilson thanked his family, his lieutenant governor running mate and former competitors, including Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.

“She’s not my enemy. Her supporters are not our enemy. They are our kinsman. They are our fellow citizens. And Pamela Evette for eight years faithfully served Gov. McMaster and the state of South Carolina, and she did a good job as lieutenant governor,” Wilson said.

Evette concedes to Wilson

After finishing first in the June 9 primary, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette came up short in the runoff. Attorney General Alan Wilson ended the night in the first position, defeating Evette 218,129 to 100,048 in the runoff election.

It’s a reversal of the standing from two weeks ago when Evette beat Wilson in a crowded GOP field 29% to 26%.

In her concession speech, Evette thanked her Myrtle Beach crowd that helped her get to the runoff. Evette won Horry County in one of the most lopsided results with 50% of the vote two weeks ago. In the runoff, that lead shrank to 44.6%.

“It’s okay to be disappointed, Lord knows that I am, but in just a few months, there’s going to be a general election,” Evette said. And the choice in that general election is going to be between conservative principles and the Democratic Party that wants the exact opposite for South Carolina and that’s not even a close call. So tonight the primary is over. Tonight, we come together because the stakes are too high and South Carolina is worth too much to do anything else.

Wilson’s victory falls in line with polls leading up to the runoff, which had Wilson leading by 17-35 points. While Evette was able to take advantage of the crowded field in the first election and benefited by having the endorsement of President Donald Trump, the fallen candidates aligned behind Wilson.

During her concession speech, Rep. Nancy Mace, who came in fifth on primary night, told her supporters she and Wilson had buried the hatchet. Rep. Ralph Norman gave his endorsement of Wilson several days later, which translated to a massive groundswell of support for the attorney general in the five critical Upstate counties Norman won two weeks ago.

Most notably, in York County, Wilson collected 13% of the vote two weeks ago, fishing behind Norman (40%) and Evette (23%). Fast forward to today, Wilson took 67.1% of the vote.

Another critical shift in the runoff came when Trump announced a co-endorsement of Wilson, shifting his full backing from Evette and moving it to both.

“I can’t hurt one of them by only endorsing the other, so, therefore, I am going to endorse, for governor of South Carolina, both Pam Evette and Alan Wilson!” Trump wrote on social media. “It’s a wealth of riches—with either one you can’t go wrong.”

Previously, Evette’s messaging embraced the Trump endorsement, referring to herself as “the Trump-endorsed candidate.”

In a bid to reassert some control of the election, Evette released a short list of potential running mates on Friday. Evette had been facing pressure to announce a running mate after Trump attached the name of Governor Henry McMaster’s son to his original endorsement of the lieutenant governor. The move was met with criticism in the wider political community as accusations of backroom deals and political dynasty building flew from all sides.

Evette’s short list backfired for not being all that short—naming some 9 potential options—and for including the names of individuals who had no idea they were being included on the list. Two of those names included State House Rep. Jordan Pace and former Rep. Adam Morgan. Neither said they would endorse Evette. Morgan was most recently Norman’s running mate.

Wilson will now advance to the general election and face Democrat State House Rep. Jermaine Johnson as his chief opponent. That election will be Nov. 3.

Stumbo defeats Goldfinch in GOP Runoff for Attorney General

Upstate solicitor David Stumbo has won the Republican runoff for South Carolina attorney general, defeating state Sen. Stephen Goldfinch in a closely watched contest that came down to turnout and late momentum.

Stumbo’s victory Tuesday comes just two weeks after he trailed Goldfinch in the initial primary. The race, widely seen as the tightest statewide runoff, was the final statewide contest to be called.

Stumbo built an early lead on election night that Goldfinch was unable to overcome, despite narrowing the gap in some areas as results came in. The win secures Stumbo the GOP nomination heading into the November general election.

In his victory speech, Stumbo struck a celebratory tone while emphasizing the work ahead.

“I think what I bring to this office is an in-the-trenches approach,” he said. “I’ve been in the trenches with law enforcement in the courtrooms getting convictions and making sure that bad guys go to prison and that our people are safe, fighting for crime victims and that we’re fighting for law enforcement.”

Stumbo’s path to victory included flipping several Midlands and Lowcountry counties that Goldfinch had carried during the primary, helping shift the map in his favor.

Goldfinch, who represents Georgetown and Horry counties in the state Senate, conceded and pointed to regional turnout differences as a deciding factor.

“This is all about turnout,” Goldfinch said. “If you look at the map, it’s all about upstate versus coastal. Horry and the Pee Dee came out really heavy for us, and I’m proud of the support we had there.”

Goldfinch added that he learned from the campaign experience and thanked his supporters. He will continue serving in the Senate and is not up for reelection until 2028.

Stumbo will now face Democratic nominee Richard Hricik, a Lowcountry attorney who ran unopposed in his party’s primary, in the November election.

Honeycutt will face Democratic nominee Nancy Lacore in general election

Charleston Councilwoman Jenny Costa Honeycutt won the GOP race for the District 1 seat in the House of Representatives on Tuesday night.

Honeycutt defeated State Rep. Mark Smith by more than 3,000 votes after what was a tight race early on.

Honeycutt was surrounded by family and friends Tuesday night at the Charleston Crab House on Johns Island, where she smiled and socialized as votes came in.

The James Island native has represented voters before as a Charleston County Council member. In that role, Honeycutt focused on infrastructure and advocating for issues important to people in the Lowcountry.

A little after 10:30 p.m., Honeycutt took to the podium and answered questions from the media, including how her future in the position may compare to Nancy Mace.

“I’ve said this since the beginning: I am not going to be your TikTok congresswoman. I am there to provide serious, steady leadership ... from the Lowcountry to Washington,” Honeycutt said.

Honeycutt will face Democratic nominee Nancy Lacore in November. Both candidates are looking to take the seat in Washington from Congresswoman Nancy Mace.

Agriculture Commissioner

Cody Simpson defeated Danny Ford in the Republican runoff for agriculture commissioner. Simpson recevied 62.6% of the vote while Ford received 37.4%. He will face Democrat DeShawn Blanding in November.

Beaufort County Council District 5 GOP

Joshua Hower defeated Mary Jeans Otto in the Republican GOP runoff for the Beaufort County Council District 5. Hower received 61.2% of the vote while Otto received 38.8% of the vote.

State House District 99 GOP

Jarrod Brooks defeated Kristy Gore in the Republican runoff for State House - District 99. Brooks received 64.6% of the vote while Gore received 35.4% of the vote.

The general election will be Nov. 3, 2026.