Top GOP figures dominate buzz for SC governor’s race. Can others gain traction?
Much of the attention in the campaign before the race for governor officially begins has gone to three top potential contenders, but others are making the rounds in South Carolina and floating their names for the state’s top executive position
State Sens. Sean Bennett and Josh Kimbrell are considering bids for the governor’s mansion and are seeing if they can break through. They’re part of the field of several potential contenders considering a run for governor to succeed Gov. Henry McMaster, who cannot run for reelection in 2026.
But Bennett and Kimbrell aren’t among the biggest names thinking of running in a field that might include Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace and Attorney General Alan Wilson, who have received the most attention as vying for the GOP nomination in a state where Republican voters dominate.
Both of the state senators acknowledged a decision on whether to jump into the race may have to come sooner rather than later.
“Anybody that’s gonna get into this race, has probably got to do it fairly soon, just because of the way things are playing out, but I haven’t built in at a timeline for myself,” Bennett, of Dorchester County, told reporters after speaking to the Richland County Republican Party in February.
Kimbrell, of Spartanburg County, said his decision will most likely come after this year’s legislative session, which is scheduled to end May 8. He said the race may be shaped by what happens in the State House before lawmakers adjourn for the year.
“I think it’s really wise to take time to do the existing job I’m elected to do right now, certainly with an eye on what I’m thinking of doing,” Kimbrell said.
U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-Rock Hill, also is considering a run for governor. But he doesn’t have a timeline on a decision.
“When the opportunity is there, you have to look at it,” Norman told the S.C. Daily Gazette.
Potential hopefuls are visiting county GOP events more than a year before the primary election and before anyone has officially jumped into the race.
Kimbrell told the Richland County GOP he’s launching an exploratory committee on whether to run for governor and conceded he probably will end up in the race.
“I’m not formally saying it tonight, but I’m very likely going to,” Kimbrell told the Richland County GOP in March. “Let’s just say, when you say you’re going to explore for something, means you’re probably going to look at doing it. So we are. We’re putting together a committee to look at this race.
Kimbrell, 40, pitches himself as a fiscal and social conservative, stances he wants to see in the party’s nominee. He points to his push to remove books that discuss gender identity written for young people from the children sections of libraries, and his previous push to eliminate the state income tax.
And he wants to campaign without nasty personal attacks on other candidates.
“I don’t do nasty politics. If somebody takes a swipe, I will respond defending my own position” Kimbrell said. “People want to hear what affects their life. Nobody wants to hear people drag each each other through the mud.”
Bennett can discuss the nuances of tax policy in the state in front of crowds. But whether that excites primary voters is another question.
“I think South Carolina needs a serious leader, because there are serious issues that are facing us, and whoever that person is that ultimately decides to run, I hope the candidate that the people will rally around is going to be the candidate that is ultimately going to be talking about the serious issues and not the just the headline grabbing issues,” Bennett told the Richland County GOP.
If either decides to get in, they will have work to do in order to gain traction around the state outside of their Senate districts.
A Winthrop University Poll found only 26% of GOP voters were familiar with Kimbrell.
“I don’t think that’s bad given that I haven’t run statewide ever before, and I think for a member of the Senate, this only the second term, who’s hasn’t spent any money statewide, I feel pretty comfortable with that number,” Kimbrell said.
The Winthrop poll did not ask poll respondents if they were familiar with Bennett.
What do early polls show?
The race is still early, and polling data shows there isn’t a clear favorite yet to win the GOP nomination.
A March poll conducted by First Tuesday Strategies, a firm that works with Republicans, but is not working for any potential candidate for governor, say Kimbrell had 1.8% support. Bennett had 1.2%
First Tuesday has polled the race monthly and Wilson’s support has been relatively stable. In January he was at 21.7%. In February he was at 20.9%. In March he was at 20.8%.
Mace seemed to have more support earlier on as she was first to make a big splash to publicly say she was considering a run for governor. Mace was at 27.4% in January and 32.8% in February. But support for her has fallen in the First Tuesday polling with her at 16.3% in the March poll following accusations she made against four men on the House floor, while also accusing Wilson of not prosecuting the case.
Evette’s numbers had been relatively steady, with 11.6% support in January and 12.5% in February before seeing the drop to 6.9% support in March.
Norman was at 6.9% support in March.
It’s a long time until June 2026 and most people are probably not thinking about who they may vote for in the governor’s race, as First Tuesday’s March poll had 46% of the GOP electorate remains undecided.
But we’re starting to see some public support declared among politically active folks.
A superPAC has already formed encouraging Evette to run and a group of local political leaders from around the state have signed onto a letter calling on the lieutenant governor to jump into the race. Evette has said she is seriously considering a run.
Among the more than 50 names to sign onto the letter are former SC Republican State Party Chairwoman Karen Floyd, Tracy Redfearn who is involved in Republican Party politics in Darlington County, and Michelle Visconti, who chairs the Horry County Conservative Alliance.
“We need leaders who are going to work hand-in-hand with President Trump to fight for conservative, common-sense government. Leaders who will put South Carolina first and continue to bring businesses and jobs to our growing state,” the letter read.
This story was originally published April 14, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
