SC Governor Candidates Raise Over $1 Million in Q1

Wilson and Evette lead the pack in campaign fundraising ahead of June primary

Apr. 13, 2026 at 9:06am

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A dynamic, abstract painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and waves of vibrant colors, conceptually representing the competitive and fast-paced nature of the South Carolina governor's race.The heated race for South Carolina's next governor is heating up, with candidates racing to raise funds and build momentum ahead of the June primary.Spartanburg Today

Candidates for the 2026 South Carolina governor's race reported their first quarter campaign finance numbers to the state ethics commission, with Attorney General Alan Wilson and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette leading the Republican field in fundraising. Wilson raised around $1.04 million, while Evette brought in just over $1.02 million. On the Democratic side, State Rep. Jermaine Johnson and former Clinton staffer Billy Webster reported similar totals, with Johnson slightly edging out Webster.

Why it matters

Campaign fundraising is a key indicator of a candidate's viability and ability to get their message out to voters ahead of the primary election. The first quarter numbers provide an early snapshot of the financial strength of the various gubernatorial campaigns as they head into the final stretch before the June 9 primary.

The details

The first quarter campaign finance reports were the last batch to be released before the June 9 primary election. Six Republicans and three Democrats are running for governor of South Carolina. On the Republican side, Wilson led the fundraising with around $1.04 million, followed by Evette with just over $1.02 million. Mace raised the third highest amount at $564,000, while Norman brought in $314,000. The other two Republican candidates, Kimbrell and Reddy, either did not file their report by the deadline or reported no cash donations. For the Democrats, Johnson and Webster reported nearly identical totals, with Johnson slightly edging out Webster $160,000 to $158,000. McLeod raised just over $8,000.

  • The campaign finance reports covered the period from January 1 to March 30, 2026.
  • The reports were due to the South Carolina State Ethics Commission by April 10, 2026.
  • The next campaign finance report will be due on July 10, 2026, about a month after the June 9 primary election.

The players

Alan Wilson

The current Attorney General of South Carolina and a Republican candidate for governor.

Pamela Evette

The current Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina and a Republican candidate for governor.

Nancy Mace

A U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district and a Republican candidate for governor.

Jermaine Johnson

A State Representative in South Carolina and a Democratic candidate for governor.

Billy Webster

A former staffer in the Clinton administration and a Democratic candidate for governor.

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What’s next

The next campaign finance report will be due on July 10, 2026, about a month after the June 9 primary election that will determine which candidates will compete in the November 3 general election.

The takeaway

The first quarter fundraising numbers show a clear divide between the top-tier candidates and the rest of the field, with Wilson and Evette on the Republican side and Johnson and Webster on the Democratic side emerging as the frontrunners based on their financial resources. These early fundraising figures will be crucial in shaping the narrative and momentum heading into the primary election.