The field for governor is wide open as primary elections approach.
Dakota Gold
Staff Writer
News
As South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster reaches the end of his term limit, the race for his position is wide open.
The Republican candidates are Nancy Mace, Alan Wilson, Pamela Evette, and Ralph Norman.
Conflicting polls show different leaders in support, with The New York Times showing Wilson in the lead, while others say Mace has the advantage.
According to a new poll from The State of likely Republican primary voters, Mace, South Carolina congresswoman of District 1, leads the primary by 4 points. She currently stands at 23% support.
The same poll said Wilson, the attorney general of South Carolina, follows in second with 19% support.
Pamela Evette, Lt. Governor of South Carolina holds 14% support, while Ralph Norman holds 11% support.
Democratic candidates include Dr. Jermaine Johnson, South Carolina state Rep. of District 52, with 25% support and Mullins McLeod, Charleston lawyer, with 8% support.
The additional 67% of the likely Democratic voters are unsure.
According to the S.C. Daily Gazette, this “represents the ‘first truly open’ governor’s race in 16 years,” state GOP Chairman Drew McKissick said.
In the upcoming primaries on June 9, if no candidate wins at least 50% plus one vote, a runoff election will ensue.
From recent voter surveys, including one posted by The New York Times, a near majority of voters are undecided. This leaves the Republican candidate for governor a wide-open field.
Campaigns and platforms are falling into place as the candidates prepare for election season.
Mace’s plan is to cut state income tax to 0% in five years. She also wants to address South Carolina’s infrastructure crisis.
Additionally, Mace plans to work with President Donald Trump to “stem the tide of illegal immigration.”
Wilson says he wants to make South Carolina more affordable for families while also keeping communities safe. To do so, he plans to eliminate the state income tax, so families and small businesses can keep more in their pockets.
Like Wilson, Evette plans to eliminate the state income tax and launch S.C.O.G.E. or The South Carolina Office of Government Efficiency, referencing Elon Musk’s D.O.G.E. initiative federally.
Evette’s platform also includes reforming the judicial system and modernizing infrastructure in the state.
Johnson plans to make it so 70% of families are not paying income tax. He also plans to lower property taxes and fund a grant program that will build affordable housing.
McLeod’s platform includes implementing a state minimum wage of $18 or more an hour and giving a $7,500 annual scholarship to every Carolinian accepted into a 4-year college that maintains a B average.
McLeod also wants to increase teacher pay and return unspent government budget money to taxpayers.
Additional information about candidates’ platforms can be found on their websites.
Candidate debates will be held from now until the primaries this summer. The first debate will be held on March 17 at Coastal Carolina University in Conway.
The next two will follow in five-week intervals. One is at the College of Charleston on April 21 and the other will take place at Wofford College in Spartanburg on May 26.
The primary will follow two weeks later on June 9 with the fourth debate on June 16 at the Newberry Opera House in the event of a runoff.
Candidates will also hold rallies and events throughout the next couple of months that can be found through platform websites.
As the election approaches, more opportunities for civic participation and engagement present themselves.
Bob Inglis, former South Carolina state Rep. of the 4th district, recently visited Winthrop to speak at the “Conservatives for Climate Change” cultural event.
Inglis told attendees at the event that the future is in the hands of the voters.
“It’s your future, vote on it,” Inglis said. “In this constitutional republic, you get to set the course of the ship of state. You want to have a hand on the wheel, and you have a hand on the wheel by voting.”
Register to vote at SC.gov.
