By PSA Newsroom Staff
GREENVILLE, S.C. — As the 2026 Republican primary for South Carolina governor takes shape, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette is pitching herself as a conservative executive who can turn her years of business leadership into policy outcomes for the state.
Evette, first elected lieutenant governor in 2018, formally launched her gubernatorial campaign in mid-July 2025. In speeches to supporters she has consistently highlighted her private-sector experience and alignment with conservative priorities, painting her candidacy as grounded in both practical experience and ideological consistency.
“People want somebody that they can count on,” Evette told a crowd in Charleston, emphasizing her résumé as a founder of a national payroll and human-resources firm. “They want somebody that’s a business owner… Who’s able to make tough decisions?”
In her announcement speech in Greenville, she underscored a theme that has become central to her campaign: continuity with conservative governance that she says has kept South Carolina strong. “I’ve been fighting for conservative values every single day — as a mother, as a businesswoman, and as your lieutenant governor,” Evette said. “With President Trump in the White House and a proven conservative in the Governor’s mansion, there’s no limit to what South Carolina can achieve!”
Business Background as a Campaign Anchor
Evette frequently returns to her business background, stressing that running a large company prepared her to manage complex state operations. In remarks at a campaign stop in Greenville, she said voters should not mistake her approachable style for a lack of toughness.
“Don’t confuse nice with weak,” she said. “I built a billion-dollar company… You have to have grit; you have to have determination.”
Her campaign also emphasizes economic and administrative priorities. Evette has vowed to push for the elimination of South Carolina’s state income tax and to establish a South Carolina Office of Government Efficiency aimed at reducing red tape and cutting government waste — proposals she frames as applying business principles to state management.
Policy Priorities and Conservative Identity
Evette’s platform reflects many of the hallmark issues of today’s Republican politics. She supports expanding school choice, strengthening law enforcement, and continuing tight immigration enforcement, often invoking her alignment with former President Donald Trump. “We will stand up to the woke corporations and radical left trying to transform our state,” she told supporters, adding with a nod to combative rhetoric that “there’s a new sheriff in town, and she’s ready to fight.”
At a recent 46-county campaign tour stop, she reiterated personal autonomy on health decisions, touching on statewide vaccine mandates. “I would support the fact that people should make their own decisions about their health outcomes,” she said.
Campaign Dynamics and Challenges
Evette’s bid has not been without controversy. Rival Republican candidates have criticized one of her campaign ads for implying endorsements from President Trump and outgoing Governor Henry McMaster, neither of whom has formally endorsed a candidate in the race. Attorney General Alan Wilson and U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace publicly called on Evette to take the ads down, saying the portrayal could mislead voters.
The dispute illustrates the competitive environment within the GOP primary. While Evette touts her record and conservative credentials, other contenders are seeking to carve out their own bases within the party, making endorsements and campaign messaging key battlegrounds.
A Personal Touch
Beyond policy positions, Evette’s campaign narrative often centers on personal commitment. After completing a statewide tour visiting all 46 counties, she stressed the importance of connecting directly with voters. “I want people to understand that I truly care,” she told the SC Daily Gazette following the final stop of the tour.
For Evette, the transition from lieutenant governor to gubernatorial candidate is built on a blend of personal biography — framed around entrepreneurship, family, and faith — and a promise to apply business-style discipline to government.
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