President Donald Trump just saved his nearly blemish-free endorsement record from another high-profile blunder.
Attorney General Alan Wilson won the Republican nomination in the GOP runoff for South Carolina governor Tuesday, defeating Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette. Trump had initially endorsed Evette in the race but added a last-minute dual endorsement of Wilson after limited public polling showed her trailing in the race in spite of Trump’s support.
Trump’s decision helped him avoid a third stinging loss after his candidates fell in Georgia’s and Iowa’s recent gubernatorial primaries.
“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! It’s a Wealth of Riches – With either one you can’t go wrong,” Trump wrote on Truth Social last Friday.
Wilson’s campaign built momentum quickly in the brief, two-week runoff. He touted endorsements from all but one of his four former primary challengers, including conservative firebrand Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.).
The attorney general also racked up endorsements from notable out-of-state Republicans like Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey, who both embraced Wilson before the president did.
Wilson, 52, is a longtime fixture in Columbia politics, serving as South Carolina’s top law enforcement official for the last 15 years. An Iraq war veteran, he rose to brief national prominence as he oversaw the prosecution of disgraced local attorney Alex Murdaugh, who was convicted of killing his wife and son — a case that was reopened in the final days ahead of the primary.
He is also the son of Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.).
This year’s primary is the first time South Carolinians have cast their ballots in an open race for governor since 2010, when former Gov. Nikki Haley was elected. Current Gov. Henry McMaster — the longest-serving governor in Palmetto State history — ascended to the office when Trump appointed Haley to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during his first term. McMaster was elected again twice but is now term-limited.
Wilson will face state Rep. Jermaine Johnson, who won the Democratic primary, in November. Wilson is expected to cruise to a general election win in the deeply conservative red state: South Carolinians have not elected a Democrat for governor since 1998.
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