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by WILL FOLKS
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South Carolinians headed back to the polls today (and during two days of early voting last week) to determine who will represent the Republican party in numerous statewide elections come November.
Voters also cast ballots to decide who will advance to the general election in several contested congressional races – elections involving candidates of both parties.
Two weeks ago, the first round of partisan primary elections were held in the Palmetto State – providing some clarification as to what the campaign this fall will look like. On the top-of-the-ticket races, U.S. senator Lindsey Graham advanced to a general election against progressive pediatrician Annie Andrews, while state representative Jermaine Johnson decisively captured the Democrat gubernatorial nod.
All of those candidates received a majority of votes in their races, meaning they won their party’s nominations on the first ballot. When no candidate wins a majority, though, the top two vote-getters face off in a runoff election two weeks later – which is what happened in the GOP primary elections for governor, attorney general and commissioner of agriculture.
The battle to succeed term-limited, status quo governor Henry McMaster is the main attraction of the evening – with four-term attorney general Alan Wilson widely expected to prevail over lieutenant governor Pamela Evette.
Polls close at 7:00 p.m. EDT, at which point results will begin to appear on our feed below…
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REFRESH FOR LATEST RESULTS, NEWEST CONTENT
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THE LIVE FEED…
7:39 p.m. EDT – Our initial (and updating) report on Alan Wilson‘s big win…
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7:30 p.m. EDT – Four-term attorney general Alan Wilson is the 2026 Republican gubernatorial nominee…
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Alan Wilson wins Republican nomination for governor in South Carolina. #APRaceCall pic.twitter.com/Q9MSr9XiCm
— Meg Kinnard (@MegKinnardAP) June 23, 2026
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7:27 p.m. EDT – The New York Times just called the race for Alan Wilson… awaiting the Associated Press call.
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7:21 p.m. EDT – The question everyone is asking tonight…
Was Pamela Evette's 2026 gubernatorial campaign the worst-run race in South Carolina political history?
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7:18 p.m. EDT – Out of Lee County, S.C., the endorsement that made four-term attorney general Alan Wilson invincible in this election…
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Good people of Lee County. The Lizard Man is not walking, it’s running to vote tomorrow. Although I suspect it may be a provisional ballot. Paperwork issue. pic.twitter.com/9MHPvMBPyH
— PhilBaileySC (@PhilBaileySC) June 23, 2026
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7:15 p.m. EDT – First numbers are coming in! For the official results, keep it tuned to the S.C. State Election Commission (SCVotes).
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7:05 p.m. EDT – We should be very close to getting some initial turnout numbers – and obviously the first results will soon begin trickling in. Keep refreshing for the latest numbers – and the latest updates!
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7:00 p.m. EDT – Polls are officially closed in South Carolina. If you are still in line, though… you still get to vote.
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????? As the sun sets over South Carolina, polls are officially closed in the Palmetto State… but if you're in line to vote, stay there. You still get to cast your ballot. #Crossroads2026 pic.twitter.com/z7nDtAQ4PJ
— FITSNews (@fitsnews) June 23, 2026
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6:57 p.m. EDT – The scene from S.C. eighth circuit solicitor David Stumbo‘s watch party at the City Club in gorgeous Greenville, S.C.
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????? The sunlit scene from @VoteStumbo's watch party in gorgeous Greenville, S.C. #Crossroads2026 pic.twitter.com/hTKZtskMOT
— FITSNews (@fitsnews) June 23, 2026
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6:50 p.m. EDT – While most of the attention tonight is focused on the South Carolina governor’s race, the office of attorney general – as four-term attorney general Alan Wilson can attest – is arguably more powerful. That race pits eighth circuit solicitor David Stumbo, who is favored to win, against third-term state senator Stephen Goldfinch.
The winner of that race will inherit the double homicide trial of accused killer Alex Murdaugh, as we have previously covered here.
Today, though, a great story dropped from reporter John Monk of The (Columbia, S.C.) State about that case’s proximity to the election…
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Hot race for SC AG — the winner in today’s vote will likely get to prosecute Alex Murdaugh in his second double murder trial. https://t.co/zs2eIJ6y1J
— John Monk (@jmonkatthestate) June 23, 2026
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6:40 p.m. EDT – Getting close to polls closing. Only twenty minutes away…
6:30 p.m. EDT – Campaigns making their final pushes to get voters to the polls…
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Two hours until the polls close in South Carolina! Go vote and bring a friend! pic.twitter.com/L8RCcwspfu
— Alan Wilson (@AGAlanWilson) June 23, 2026
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6:16 p.m. EDT – For those of you looking for “the call” tonight, look no further than Meg Kinnard of The Associated Press. Working with her national colleagues, Meg has been calling political races all across the country for two decades.
Follow her on X here…
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6:12 p.m. EDT – All eyes are on the X account of Alan Wilson campaign manager Kurt Pickhardt, who has been relentlessly trolling Pamela Evette with a meme of her wearing a cowboy hat. As Evette’s fortunes fade, the hat gets bigger.
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As Pam’s political career wanes, behold the inversely proportional ascension of THE HAT. #cosplayqueen #GBTO #anyonebutoamevette pic.twitter.com/7z8ZPiu0gD
— Adcock Taylor (@letsgoadcock) June 21, 2026
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What will Pickhardt have for us tonight? Stay tuned…
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5:59 p.m. EDT – Is there such a thing as certainty? The smart money certainly thinks so. With an hour to go before polls close, attorney general Alan Wilson currently has a 98.8% shot at winning, per prediction market Kalshi. Lieutenant governor Pamela Evette? Her odds have fallen to 1.6%.
Just three-and-a-half weeks ago, Evette’s odds stood at 90.6% while Wilson’s were just 6.3%.
Oh, and the prediction market’s volume on the race just eclipsed $3 million.
To read our prior coverage of the impact of these markets on this race, click here…
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5:54 p.m. EDT – Margin of victory will be very closely watched this evening. If pre-election polling proves accurate, Wilson is chasing former S.C. governors Nikki Haley and Mark Sanford for the widest margin of victory in a runoff election this millennium. Haley got 65.1% in 2010, while Sanford got 60.1% in 2002.
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5:46 p.m. EDT – In case you missed it, here’s our coverage of polling released yesterday evening of early voters in the Republican runoff… portending a landslide for attorney general Alan Wilson. Early voters surveyed favored Wilson by a staggering 72% margin.
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5:38 p.m. EDT – The FITSNews crew is in position at attorney general Alan Wilson‘s watch party in downtown Columbia, S.C. for what is expected to be a big night for the Palmetto State’s top prosecutor…
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SOUND OFF…
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