President Donald Trump’s grip on the Republican Party was on full display in South Carolina’s gubernatorial runoff, where Alan Wilson,who had received Trump’s endorsement—defeated Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in a decisive victory. The Associated Press called the race just 26 minutes after polls closed at 7 p.m. ET. Wilson won by a more than two-to-one margin as votes continued to be counted.

Trump Endorsed Both Candidates, Unusual Move

In an unusual maneuver, Trump endorsed both Evette and Wilson ahead of the runoff, but Evette had initially received his backing in the June 9 primary, which she won by less than 3 percentage points over Wilson. Trump made his final endorsement public on Friday, stating he could not hurt one of them by backing only the other — he wrote on his social media platform, “There are two Highly Respected Candidates running to be your next Governor. Both have had amazing careers, and have been with me from the beginning. They are MAGA and America First all the way! I can’t hurt one of them by only Endorsing the other, so, therefore, I am going to Endorse, for Governor of South Carolina, both Pam Evette and Alan Wilson! It’s a Wealth of Riches, With either one you can’t go wrong.”

Wilson, who had already picked up the endorsements of three former primary opponents, including Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, also received support from Sen. Ted Cruz. In his victory speech, Wilson praised Trump, saying, “I believe he recognized what we’ve been doing. I think he saw the fight in our campaign and the energy in our campaign.”

Evette’s Campaign Struggles with Trump’s Dual Support

Evette had used Trump’s earlier endorsement as a key part of her campaign messaging, accusing Wilson of having distanced himself from the president. But Trump’s decision to back both candidates weakened that argument. In a post on X, Wilson thanked Trump and highlighted his support for Trump’s legal agenda. He wrote, “As South Carolina’s Attorney General, I have been proud to stand with him. And I never backed down. When President Trump needed fighters, I was in the fight.”

Wilson’s campaign ads featured a photo of him standing with Trump giving a thumbs up, reinforcing their alignment. The dual endorsement also removed Evette’s claim of being the only candidate with Trump’s “complete and total endorsement,” a narrative that had been central to her campaign.

Contest Seen as Test of Trump’s GOP Influence

Analysts viewed the race as a test of Trump’s influence over the Republican base. The primary had been a six-way race, with Wilson finishing second to Evette by a slim margin. Mace and Norman, who did not advance to the runoff, both endorsed Wilson afterward. Meanwhile, Sen. Tim Scott and Cruz also backed Wilson in the runoff, further strengthening his position.

With 68% of the votes counted, Wilson had secured the victory, while Evette received 32%. South Carolina, a Republican stronghold since 2003, is a key state for the party, and the GOP has held the governor’s office for decades. Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election in the state since 1998.

Trump’s ability to sway the outcome of the race,by endorsing both candidates,demonstrates the continued power of his endorsements in shaping GOP primary contests. Wilson’s victory in the runoff cements Trump’s influence in the party’s nomination process and signals his ongoing role in shaping the political scene ahead of the 2024 election.