South Carolina's Republican gubernatorial primary is headed to a runoff between Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson, after neither secured a majority in Tuesday's primary. Evette, endorsed by President Donald Trump, led with 29.5% of the vote, while Wilson followed with 26.2%. The runoff will be held on June 23. On the Democratic side, state Rep. Jermaine Johnson, a former professional basketball player, won the primary with 55.6% of the vote, setting up a challenging race in a state where Democrats haven't won a gubernatorial election in nearly three decades.
Nancy Mace, a Republican congresswoman, finished fifth in the GOP primary with 11.6% of the vote. Despite her past conflicts with Wilson, she endorsed him in the runoff, calling him a "law-and-order governor." Mace had previously clashed with Trump over her push to release Jeffrey Epstein-related files, which she acknowledged may have hurt her campaign.
In the 1st Congressional District, two Democrats advanced to a runoff: retired Navy Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore with 36.5% and Coast Guard veteran Mac Deford with 28.9%. The district is open due to Mace's decision to run for governor instead of reelection.
Meanwhile, in Nevada, Democrats and Republicans selected their candidates for key races, though some results remain undecided. The primaries mark a significant step in the 2026 election cycle, with swing states like South Carolina and Nevada drawing national attention.