South Carolina Primaries Test Trump's Influence Over GOP
WHO:
PBS - Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, businessman Zach Lahn, U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, state Attorney General Alan Wilson, state Rep. Jermaine Johnson, attorney Mullins McLeod, businessman Billy Webster, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, Annie Andrews.
AP - Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson.
WHAT:
PBS - Trump's pick in a recent Republican gubernatorial primary in Iowa, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, narrowly lost to businessman Zach Lahn.
PBS - U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, a former Trump ally, continues to highlight her past Trump endorsement on her gubernatorial campaign website.
PBS - U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham has five Republican primary challengers in his bid for a fifth term.
PBS - As of the latest report, Graham had about $4.2 million remaining in his campaign bank, more than double the rest of the Republican field combined.
PBS - Seven Democrats and 11 Republicans will appear on the primary ballots, although one Republican, former Gov. Mark Sanford, has dropped out of the race.
AP - In the 2018 and 2022 Republican primaries for governor, each had about 368,000 votes cast.
AP - In the Democratic gubernatorial primaries, there were about 240,000 votes cast in 2018 and about 182,000 in 2022.
PBS - Trump endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette to succeed McMaster.
AP - South Carolina voters will choose nominees for governor and other offices in a state primary.
AP - Seven Republicans and three Democrats are running for the gubernatorial nomination.
AP - Trump’s endorsement is highly coveted among candidates.
AP - Graham had spent more than $29 million on his reelection bid as of May 20.
AP - Primary winners must receive a majority of the vote to avoid a June 23 runoff.
AP - About 279,000 ballots had already been cast in the election prior to primary day.
WHERE:
PBS - South Carolina.
AP - Greenville, Horry, Charleston, Richland, and Spartanburg counties are the most populous in South Carolina.
WHEN:
AP - Polls close at 7 p.m. ET.
AP - Primary runoff elections are scheduled for June 23.
AP - The general election is set for November 3.
WHY:
PBS - Trump's endorsement could be decisive in a state he carried in three presidential campaigns with at least 55% of the vote.
AP - The replacement for McMaster will play a key role in the early stages of the 2028 presidential race.
HOW:
AP - Nearly all of South Carolina's 46 counties release all or almost all of their early in-person and mail voting results in the first vote update of the night.
AP - Voters in South Carolina do not register by party, allowing any registered voter to participate in any party's primary.
AP - In South Carolina, recounts are automatic if the margin between the winning and losing candidates is 1% of the total vote or less.
(UPDATED June 10, 2026 01:46 UTC)
In a closely watched Republican gubernatorial primary in Iowa, Trump-backed U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra narrowly lost to businessman Zach Lahn. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham is facing five challengers as he seeks a fifth term, holding a significant financial advantage with about $4.2 million left in his campaign fund. In the upcoming primaries, seven Democrats and ten Republicans will be on the ballots, although former Gov. Mark Sanford has withdrawn from the race.
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(UPDATED June 9, 2026 23:24 UTC)
In a significant development for South Carolina politics, Trump has endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette to succeed Governor McMaster, as voters prepare to choose nominees for governor and other offices in an upcoming primary. With seven Republicans and three Democrats vying for the gubernatorial nomination, Trump's backing is seen as highly coveted, especially in a state where he has historically performed well. Polls will close at 7 p.m. ET, and primary winners must secure a majority to avoid a runoff election scheduled for June 23.