Trump now says either Republican candidate would be a good pick in South Carolina’s governor runoff
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) — President Donald Trump He changed his mind Friday heading into next week’s runoff election in South Carolina, saying the Republican candidate for governor would be a good choice, not just Lt. Gov. Pamela Akşamte, whom he supported before the primary earlier this month.
Trump praised both Akşam and state Attorney General Alan Wilson on the Truth Social platform, writing: “They both had great careers and have been with me from the beginning. They are MAGA and America First!”
The move represents Trump hedging his bets from a primary season when some of his endorsed candidates fell short; The rare defeats have raised doubts about his influence as he approaches the back half of his second term.
Trump previously voted for Yes “Complete and Total Approval.” He also said a “BIG plus” for his campaign is that Henry McMaster Jr., the current governor’s son and a close ally, could be Vevette’s running mate. However, the 38-year-old lawyer later said that he would not be appointed to this position.
“I was proud to be the first to be President @realDonaldTrump’s endorsed candidate for Governor on June 9th. I look forward to doing it again on June 23rd,”Oyunte posted on social media Friday.
“I am honored to have the support of President Donald J. Trump,” Wilson said in a post on social media on Friday. Shortly thereafter, Wilson issued a news release that partially listed legal briefs Trump had filed in support of his policies on issues including restrictions. citizenship by birthIt’s an issue the US Supreme Court has yet to rule on.
Immediately after Trump’s double endorsement post, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina said on social media that he was endorsing Wilson, who he predicted would “lead with humility, courage, and an optimistic vision for our state.”
A person familiar with Scott’s thinking but not authorized to discuss it publicly told The Associated Press that the senator had made calls for Wilson, helped raise funds and encouraged Trump to support his candidacy.
Yeste called Trump’s endorsement a “golden ticket” for Republicans seeking office in South Carolina, but results in other gubernatorial races have been mixed. Republican president’s preferences Iowa And Georgia We lost this month.
Has Trump doubled primary support before?
Just before the 2022 U.S. Senate primaries in Missouri between former Governor Eric Greitens and Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Trump just approved “ERIC” presumably both refer to one of the candidates seeking the endorsement. Schmitt won the nomination and the office.
Arizona’s primary elections continue until next month, but Trump has been supporting Republican candidates for the past two years. In late 2024, Trump said he supported housing developer Karrin Taylor Robson. His choice has angered some of Robson’s biggest allies in the state, who are suspicious of the party’s long-standing ties to business. Later in April 2025, Trump said he supported Robson as well as U.S. Representative Andy Biggs.
How are the gubernatorial candidates supported by Trump doing this year?
Things have been a bit of a mixed bag so far when it comes to Trump’s 2026 primaries.
biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamyin Ohio and U.S. Sen. Tommy TubervilleIn Alabama, they received support from Trump early in their gubernatorial campaign and continued to dominate in the primaries. Like Duygute, former state Sen. Mike Mazzei won Trump’s support in a crowded field in his bid for governor of Oklahoma, where there was no clear front-runner, and advanced to an Aug. 25 runoff.
But Trump’s chosen gubernatorial candidates fared poorly in other contests. Billionaire healthcare mogul received more than $100 million in aid, mostly from his personal fortune Rick Jackson Trump’s pick, Lt. Governor Burt Jones, struggled for the Republican nomination in Georgia.
U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra was endorsed by Trump on the same day asEvette, Iowa fails in gubernatorial bidHe lost to businessman Zach Lahn.
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Meg Kinnard can be reached at: http://x.com/MegKinnardAP
