Trump Endorses 2 Candidates In Same Race
President Donald Trump stunned many political observers Friday by making a highly unusual move in one of the nation’s most closely watched Republican governor races.
Just days before South Carolina voters head back to the polls, Trump announced that he is endorsing both remaining GOP candidates in the race for governor, refusing to pick one over the other.
The surprise decision comes after Trump had previously thrown his support behind South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, describing her as a loyal ally who stood with him from the beginning and never backed down.
Evette finished in first place during the Republican primary earlier this month, earning 29 percent of the vote. However, because no candidate secured a majority, she now faces South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson in a runoff election that is drawing national attention.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump explained why he decided to support both Republicans.
The president said he had hoped Evette and Wilson would emerge as the final two candidates and concluded that choosing between them would be unfair.
“I can’t hurt one of them by only endorsing the other,” Trump wrote, adding that South Carolina Republicans are fortunate to have two strong conservative candidates competing for the state’s highest office.
Trump described the matchup as a “wealth of riches” and suggested voters could feel confident supporting either candidate.
The endorsement battle has been one of the most intense Republican contests in the country.
For more than a year, multiple candidates worked aggressively to secure Trump’s backing, knowing that his endorsement remains one of the most powerful assets in Republican politics.
The crowded field included conservative lawmakers Ralph Norman and Nancy Mace, both of whom spent months highlighting their support for Trump’s America First agenda.
Both Evette and Wilson have built their campaigns around strong conservative credentials and close ties to the president.
Wilson traveled to New York in 2024 to publicly support Trump during his legal battles, while Evette stood alongside Trump during major campaign appearances and celebrated with him following his South Carolina Republican presidential primary victory.
Following Friday’s announcement, both candidates quickly embraced Trump’s endorsement.
Evette said she was proud to have finished first in the primary and grateful for Trump’s confidence in her campaign.
Wilson also praised the president’s decision, saying he was deeply honored to receive Trump’s support.
The attorney general emphasized that he has stood with Trump from the very beginning, defended him when others stayed silent, and fought against what he called the Radical Left’s agenda.
Wilson added that he looks forward to continuing conservative reforms and delivering victories for South Carolina families if elected governor.
The political momentum did not stop there.
Shortly after Trump’s endorsement became public, Wilson also secured the backing of Senator Tim Scott, one of South Carolina’s most influential Republicans.
Scott praised Wilson’s character, faith, leadership, and commitment to conservative principles, calling him the right choice to lead the state into the future.
Trump’s unusual decision comes at a time when some of his preferred candidates have recently faced setbacks in statewide races.
Earlier this week, Georgia businessman and healthcare executive Rick Jackson defeated Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the Republican gubernatorial primary, marking one of the most notable losses for a Trump-endorsed candidate this election cycle.
With the South Carolina runoff just around the corner, Trump’s rare double endorsement has added a new twist to an already competitive race.
Now both candidates can claim support from the most influential figure in the Republican Party, setting up what could be one of the most closely watched governor’s races in the country.
The outcome will not only determine South Carolina’s next governor but could also offer fresh insight into Trump’s continued influence over Republican voters heading into the 2028 election cycle.
