Trump backs both candidates in SC governor runoff

Former President Donald Trump issued a rare dual endorsement on Friday, backing both candidates in the upcoming Republican gubernatorial runoff in South Carolina. In a post on Truth Social, Trump endorsed Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson, who will face each other in the June 23 runoff election to succeed term-limited Republican Governor Henry McMaster.

Trump wrote that both candidates have had amazing careers and have been with him from the beginning, describing them as "MAGA and America First all the way." He explained his unusual move by stating, "I can't hurt one of them by only Endorsing the other." He concluded that with either candidate, voters "can't go wrong."

This marks a shift from Trump's previous exclusive endorsement of Evette, which he issued on May 29. In that earlier post, he called Evette an "America First Patriot" and gave her his "Complete and Total Endorsement." Evette finished first in the June 9 Republican primary with approximately 28.9% of the vote, while Wilson placed second with about 26.1%. Since neither secured a majority, they advanced to the runoff.

Following Trump's dual endorsement, both candidates expressed...