Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette on Monday announced her bid for governor, now the third Republican to jump into the 2026 race.
Attorney General Alan Wilson and Spartanburg Sen. Josh Kimbrell launched their campaigns last month. More Republican candidates are expected to join the race.
The 57-year-old Ohio native is an Upstate businesswoman who became South Carolina's lieutenant governor when Gov. Henry McMaster picked her in 2017 to be his running mate.
It was the first time a governor ran with a running mate since a Constitution change.
As lieutenant governor, the Travelers Rest resident advocates around the state for the governor's office policies and initiatives, including on tax policy and education and conservation efforts.
McMaster has yet to signal whether he will endorse in the race.
That also extends to President Donald Trump, popular in red South Carolina and who could help tilt the scales in a crowded GOP primary.
Evette, a mom of three, said Monday she will build off of McMaster's legacy.
"For over six years, I haven't been a typical Lieutenant Governor who sits on the sidelines. I've been Governor McMaster's partner, his right hand, in making South Carolina THE conservative success story of America," Evette posted to X, formerly Twitter.
Like others, Evette will have to use the next several months to help boost her name ID.
In a February Winthrop University Poll, South Carolina Republican primary voters said they were very or somewhat familiar most with 1st District Congresswoman Nancy Mace, a possible candidate for governor. Mace was followed by Wilson, who holds statewide office.
