SC GOP Governor Debate to Miss Several Candidates

Upcoming debate in Newberry will feature only 4 of the declared Republican candidates

Apr. 1, 2026 at 5:10pm

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The anticipated 2026 South Carolina Republican gubernatorial debate is set to take place on April 1 at the Newberry Opera House, but several declared candidates will be missing from the stage. While four candidates have confirmed their participation, including a potential successor endorsed by the current governor, other contenders have opted out due to fundraising requirements or other reasons.

Why it matters

The GOP primary race to replace term-limited Governor Henry McMaster is shaping up to be a closely watched contest, with multiple high-profile Republicans vying for the nomination. The upcoming debate will provide voters a chance to hear directly from some of the leading candidates, though the absence of several contenders may limit the scope of the discussion.

The details

The debate is being held in partnership with Gray Media and will be broadcast and streamed statewide. Four candidates have confirmed their participation: Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, who has been endorsed by the current governor, as well as state legislators and former cabinet members. However, Lowcountry businessman Rom Reddy, who is self-funding his campaign, does not meet the state GOP's fundraising threshold to qualify for the debate. Additionally, late entrant Jacqueline Hicks DuBose, a bus driver, is also not participating.

  • The GOP gubernatorial debate will take place on April 1, 2026 from 7-8 p.m. at the Newberry Opera House.
  • The Republican primary election is scheduled for June 9, 2026, with a potential runoff on June 23.

The players

Henry McMaster

The current Governor of South Carolina, who is term-limited and cannot run for a third consecutive term.

Pamela Evette

The current Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, who has been endorsed by Governor McMaster as the best candidate to continue his administration's approach.

Rom Reddy

A Lowcountry businessman who is self-funding his campaign for governor and does not meet the state GOP's fundraising threshold to qualify for the debate.

Jacqueline Hicks DuBose

A bus driver who entered the race for governor late and is not participating in the upcoming debate.

Drew McKissick

The chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party, who stated that the debate will provide primary voters with a valuable opportunity to hear from the candidates.

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What they’re saying

“This debate will provide Republican primary voters with a valuable opportunity to hear directly from the candidates on the issues that matter most to South Carolina families.”

— Drew McKissick, South Carolina Republican Party Chairman

“I'm not going to be participating in some made-for-TV game with the ruling class. The clowns can have their circus.”

— Rom Reddy, Lowcountry businessman and gubernatorial candidate

What’s next

The winner of the Republican primary on June 9, 2026 (with a potential runoff on June 23) will face the Democratic nominee in the general election on November 3, 2026.

The takeaway

The absence of several declared Republican candidates from the upcoming gubernatorial debate highlights the competitive nature of the primary race and the importance of fundraising requirements set by the state party. Voters will have a limited opportunity to directly compare the visions of the participating candidates, which could impact the outcome of the primary election.