Trump eyes support for both Alan Wilson and Pamela Evette ahead of South Carolina runoff: Report

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA: President Donald Trump is reportedly considering whether to expand his support in South Carolina's closely watched Republican governor's race by adding Attorney General Alan Wilson alongside Lt Gov Pamela Evette ahead of next week's runoff election.

According to a report published by the Washington Post on Tuesday, June 16, Trump is weighing the possibility of endorsing both candidates before the June 23 Republican gubernatorial runoff.

Trump weighs second endorsement in governor runoff

According to The Washington Post, Trump is exploring ways to maintain unity within the Republican Party as the race enters its final stretch. The report stated that the president is considering whether to add Wilson to his list of endorsed candidates while keeping his existing support for Evette in place.

One person close to Trump told the WaPo that a dual endorsement remains a possibility.

According to the report, the thinking behind such a move would be to avoid creating friction with conservative activists who have rallied behind Wilson's campaign.

The report noted that Trump has not yet reached a final decision and could still choose a different course before the runoff election. For now, both campaigns remain focused on securing support from Republican voters across the state.

The runoff is scheduled for June 23 and is expected to be one of the most closely watched Republican contests in the country this year.

Pamela Evette enters runoff with Trump backing

Any discussion about additional endorsements comes against the backdrop of Trump's existing support for Pamela Evette.

Before the June 9 primary election, Trump issued a late endorsement that gave her campaign a significant boost heading into Election Day.

Evette's campaign previously described Trump's backing as "rocket fuel," highlighting the influence the president continues to wield among Republican voters. 

The endorsement helped solidify her standing in a crowded field and ultimately contributed to her advancement to the runoff. According to election results cited in the report, Evette finished first in the primary with approximately 28.9% of the vote.

Wilson followed closely behind with roughly 26.1%. The relatively narrow margin ensured that both candidates would advance to a runoff rather than producing an outright winner.

Because Trump already endorsed Evette before the primary, any decision regarding Wilson is being closely watched by political observers and Republican activists alike.

Alan Wilson gains support from Trump base

The outlet report also highlighted Alan Wilson's efforts to build support among voters aligned with Trump's political movement. Wilson has spent months positioning himself as a strong ally of the president and his agenda.

According to the report, he has aggressively courted Trump's supporters and sought to align himself with many of the issues that resonate most strongly with the Republican base.

The attorney general has also received support from several influential Republicans.

US Reps Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman have both endorsed Wilson following the first round of voting.

Members of the South Carolina Legislature have also lined up behind his campaign. The report noted that some conservative activists have criticized Evette, arguing that she represents the political establishment they hope to change.

That dynamic has helped Wilson maintain strong support among segments of the Republican grassroots movement.

The WaPo further reported that four people familiar with internal polling believe Wilson currently holds an advantage heading into the runoff. Another source told the newspaper that the race remains "very close" and that Trump's team is closely monitoring the numbers.