‘You’re a fraud, too.’ Gloves come off in SC GOP governor’s debate. 5 takeaways
The gloves finally came off in person between the Republican hopefuls for South Carolina governor as they sparred in their third televised debate as early voting is underway.
Here are five takeaways from Tuesday’s debate that featured U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, Isle of Palms businessman Rom Reddy and Attorney General Alan Wilson.
State Sen. Josh Kimbrell wasn’t invited for not meeting the polling threshold. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette declined to participate.
So long to cordialness
Because of the 45-second time limit to answer questions, candidates mostly avoided taking shots at each other during the first two debates.
But gloves came off between Norman and Wilson. And then between Reddy and Norman.
“You claim you’re not a career politician; that you were elected in 2004 and if elected governor, you will be in your 80s when you leave office. That’s by definition a career politician,” Wilson said.
Reddy hit Norman for supporting Haley over Trump in the 2024 Republican primary. Norman took aim at Wilson for the $32 million state payment to settle the Captain Sam’s Spit lawsuit. Toward the end of the debate Norman accused Reddy and Wilson of teaming up against him.
“Ralph, bless your heart,” Wilson responded.
Norman fired at Reddy for suing the state after the Isle of Palms businessman built a wall without property permits and accusing him of starting DOGE SC as the groundwork for a run for governor.
During the post debate media availability, Norman and Reddy continued their verbal jabs at one another, with Reddy interrupting Norman’s comments the press.
“I’m not going to sugar cut that, he’s a fraud,” Norman said with Reddy waiting to speak to the media.
“Say something useful,” Reddy responded. “DOGE SC was funded by me.”
“This isn’t your press conference,” Norman said. “It’s not your press conference. You are a fraud.”
“You are a fraud too,” Reddy responded.
While Norman had verbal barbs with Reddy and Wilson, Mace mostly stayed on the sideline of the bickering. She also poked fun at it during her closing statement.
“I’m sure you all thought I was going to be the crazy one tonight. Turns out I’m not,” Mace said.
Wilson later said he suggested the line to Mace.
Direct vehicle sales
Panelist Judi Gaston asked the candidates on their stances on whether automakers should be allowed to sell vehicles directly to motorists because South Carolina requires vehicles be sold through dealerships. Scout Motors has pushed for direct sales, but legislation to allow it did not move out of committee.
Wilson defended the state’s laws.
“Our new franchise laws are constitutional, and I would defend them as attorney general and this governor, I would not overturn them,” said Wilson, whose running mate, state Sen. Mike Reichenbach, owns three car dealerships.
Mace said she is a “free-market girl.”
“It was our state legislature that essentially banned Tesla from being sold to the state of South Carolina. If you would like to buy a Tesla electric vehicle from the dealer, you can’t do it in our state,” Mace said.
Reddy said he agreed with Mace on the issue.
Norman used the question to criticize the $1.3 billion incentive package for Scout Motors.
“(Dealers) have every reason to be upset for letting manufacturers one rob the people in South Carolina $1.3 billion when no one said a word about it, and then to let them sell directly,” Norman said.
Rom Reddy channeling inner Trump?
The saying is only President Donald Trump can be Trump. But Reddy said “hoax” several times and politicians can’t negotiate a good deal. Trump is known for saying he is master negotiator and co-wrote a book called “The Art of the Deal.”
“These politicians do not know how to make deals. I ran a company in all 50 states, and I look at these deals, and I say, these folks really don’t know how to make deals,” Reddy said.
After the debate, he said he was trying to portray himself as the Trump in the race.
“In a way I am, right? I’m the only outsider, I’m the only business guy,” Reddy said.
Do they support a data center moratorium
Panelists also followed up on a question from the last debate about whether data center construction in the state should be paused.
“I support no data centers. Period. But the whole data center thing is a hoax,” Reddy said. “You do not understand what actually happens in data centers, because it sucks up a lot of land, a lot of water, a lot of utilities.”
Norman said he would be against a moratorium and that municipalities and counties should be involved in the decision-making process. He added incentives should not be given to attract data centers.
“I don’t believe government ought to be putting moratoriums to stop the business. I believe in profit, private property rights,” Norman said.
Wilson said communities should have a choice whether to allow data centers in their areas. He added the state can come up with regulations to mitigate the harmful impacts of noise, light and environmental pollution and incentivize data centers to give back energy to local communities.
“I support President Trump’s position that data centers are a national security issue, they’re going somewhere, whether it’s China or other states, they are going somewhere, and like the road networks of 100 years ago, data centers are the infrastructure for the new innovative technologies of the future,” Wilson said.
Mace is the only candidate who supports a moratorium on data centers.
“I always choose people over power. If you’re watching very closely what local officials are doing in Georgia, North Georgia, in Kentucky,” Mace said. “If you don’t elect the right person as governor, these people use eminent domain to take your land, to take your property, and build these data centers.”
No Evette on stage
Evette skipped an SC GOP debate for the second time.
However, she was a target of Mace and Wilson for not showing up.
“All of us had the courage to step into the arena tonight,” Mace said. “The four of us leaving one outside that didn’t have the courage to be here this evening.”
In a question about the appointment of Brannon Traxler as interim director of the Department of Public Health, Wilson took aim at Evette for not pushing back on Traxler who has been criticized in conservative circles.
“Pamela Evette has taken credit for all the great decisions Gov. McMaster has ever made, but basically said she had no power when he made a decision that people didn’t like,” Wilson said. “I wish she were here to answer this question.”
On Tuesday, Evette opted to hold a get-out-the-vote rally in North Myrtle Beach. She has said she will participate in the SCETV debate scheduled for June 1. Kimbrell, Mace, Norman, Reddy and Wilson also are set to participate.
Evette repeated statements that she’s done one debate and been to forums for candidates for governors, and has visited all 46 counties.
“I think that this is where this is where the rubber meets the road, being with people, shaking their hands, letting them ask you direct questions that mean something to them, and so I’m really excited to be here, and that’s what actually pushed my decision,” Evette said.
Sun-News Reporter Maria Elena Scott contributed from North Myrtle Beach.
