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Temperatures in the already contentious 2026 South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary race rose several degrees on Thursday afternoon (October 9, 2025). A spokesman for lieutenant governor Pamela Evette’s campaign issued a take-no-prisoners statement aimed directly at top-tier rival, four-term attorney general Alan Wilson.
And his campaign replied in kind…
It’s a marked departure from the Evette camp’s previous public comments – and yet another indication that the campaign’s already caustic tone is growing increasingly incendiary.
Things started on a relatively routine note when a Wilson-aligned political action committee blasted Evette over what it called diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices within the company Evette formerly owned. These practices were exclusively reported by FITSNews back in July.
By law, PACs are not allowed to coordinate their messaging with the political campaigns for which they advocate.
According to the SC Action Conservative Action Fund, Evette’s “HR firm bragged online about how pushing diversity makes companies look more progressive, and she personally coached CEOs on how to game the system and grab government contracts through diversity quotas.”
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“That’s not standing up for the American worker or conservative values,” the PAC added.
When the issue was first raised upon Evette’s entry into the race last July, her campaign responded at the time with this statement attributed to campaign manager Megan Finnern:
“Pamela Evette founded and grew a merit-based business, and has been clear in her beliefs — both in her time as a business owner and now as lieutenant governor — that employees seeking a job or a promotion should be judged by the quality of their work alone. Pamela has had no financial interest in or operational control of QBS since 2019, long before anything referenced in this story and in any of the cited claims.”
That was then. Fast forward to this week, when the attack was recently resumed.
Asked for comment on the latest DEI broadside, the Evette campaign provided the following statement… attributable to Chris Grant, its general consultant.
“We aren’t surprised Alan Wilson, a historically corrupt, low T, kiddie porn protecting Attorney General, is lying about Pamela’s record. We just wish he put as much effort into complying with S.C.’s ethics laws and fixing his office’s record of letting illegals go free as he does making up lies about the Lt. Governor — a.k.a. the woman who is currently kicking his ass.”
That statement marked a notable change in tone for Evette’s campaign – mimicking the more aggressive rhetoric employed against Wilson by another front-running candidate for governor, Nancy Mace.
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RELATED | ATTORNEY GENERAL BOASTS $1.3 MILLION HAUL IN S.C. GOVERNOR’S RACE
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That shift wasn’t lost on Wilson’s campaign. Since the attorney general was mentioned by name, his campaign was offered an opportunity to respond – and provided this statement from Claire Brady, Wilson’s deputy campaign manager.
“Pam has spent $2 million lying about having the Governor and President’s endorsement, and 41% of the state still doesn’t know who she is. More troubling, even after the ad blitz of false endorsements, her image is only marginally above water. Folks aren’t buying what they’re selling. Some advice: if you start to follow Nancy Mace’s campaign strategy, make sure the tinfoil hat is screwed on tight.”
The race’s increasingly incendiary language is emblematic of exchanges which typically take place in the days and weeks preceding the partisan primary elections – which are still eight months away.
“Dayum!” one long-time South Carolina political observer not associated with any campaign told us. “If they’re talking like that now, just image what it will be like come May. Better have your Hazmat suit handy. This race is going to be radioactive.”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
J. Mark Powell is an award-winning former TV journalist, government communications veteran, and a political consultant. He is also an author and an avid Civil War enthusiast. Got a tip or a story idea for Mark? Email him at mark@fitsnews.com.
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6 comments
Looking forward to watching these people try to out awful each other for the next 8 months. Ah the modern “family values” Republicans!
Boomer version of “nuclear”
I just think she has held her tongue until she got called out. It demonstrates she can absolutely slam back, not really exclusive to Nancy’s style. I think there just having fun, I’m not sure this was in Nancy or Alan’s campaign plan having her be in the race at this caliber.
I will agree with Alan Wilson, not in copying her strategy but a general caution of Nancy’s strategy. Don’t follow her trolls, or trust her smiles. She wants this Governors seat.
I need a job, or go volunteer or something lol
Looks like one BIG BEAUTIFUL SHIT SHOW is developing on the horizon. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, just outside the dining room, state democrats sitting at the kiddy table are sculpting their mash potatoes and carrots into artistic renderings of mythical beasts and sharing stories of their fantasy dreams of seeing a Dem elected to any statewide seat at all. In hushed whispers under the noise of the gawdy, drunk RINOs squabbling in the next room, they say they think that this year the Ag Commissioner is going to be theirs. They smile and hug, eyes wet with hope…..