South Carolina Governor’s Race: New Poll Shows Alan Wilson Leading Six-Way Republican Primary Field
Why It Matters
South Carolina’s Republican gubernatorial primary is shaping up as the most consequential statewide race of the 2026 election cycle. With no Democrat having won a governor’s race in South Carolina since 1998, the GOP nomination is widely considered the deciding contest — making every polling data point a significant indicator of where the race stands heading into June.
The release of new independent survey data ends a more-than-month-long polling drought in the race to succeed term-limited incumbent Governor Henry McMaster, giving voters and political observers their clearest recent look at the six-candidate field.
What Happened
A survey conducted by Walter Whetsell, president of Lexington, South Carolina-based Starboard Communications, shows four-term Attorney General Alan Wilson leading the crowded Republican primary field. The poll was conducted April 8–14, 2026, and results were confirmed by Whetsell after screenshots were obtained by FITSNews through a confidential source.
Wilson led the field at 20%, followed by Fifth District Congressman Ralph Norman at 14%, First District Congresswoman Nancy Mace at 13%, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette at 12%, Lowcountry multimillionaire Rom Reddy at 10%, and state Senator Josh Kimbrell at 3%. A substantial 28% of respondents said they were undecided or declined to state a preference.
Whetsell’s firm is unaffiliated with any of the candidates in the race. The strategist declined to offer additional commentary on the survey beyond confirming its authenticity.
By the Numbers
604 — Likely South Carolina GOP primary voters surveyed between April 8–14, 2026, selected from registered voter lists using a combination of landline and cell phone contacts.
±4.4% — The poll’s stated margin of error.
28% — Share of respondents who were undecided or declined to name a preferred candidate.
20% — Alan Wilson’s share of support, the highest of any candidate in the field.
June 9, 2026 — The scheduled date for South Carolina’s partisan primary elections, with a potential runoff set for June 23 if no candidate secures a majority on the first ballot.
Zoom Out
The Starboard Communications poll is the first independent survey of the race since Quantus Insights released data on March 12, 2026, which showed Wilson and Mace tied at 22% each, with Evette at 16%, Norman at 11%, and Kimbrell at 3%. That earlier poll was conducted shortly after McMaster endorsed Evette, yet her numbers have since declined in subsequent surveys.
According to FITSNews, multiple internal campaign surveys provided in recent weeks were consistent with the Starboard results — all pointing to Norman consolidating a second- or third-place position behind Wilson. The consistency across both independent and internal polling data suggests a stabilizing dynamic at the top of the field, even as a large share of the electorate remains uncommitted.
The race reflects a broader national pattern in Republican-dominated states where open gubernatorial contests draw large primary fields, extending the competitive phase well past traditional early-cycle consolidation. South Carolina governor candidates have already begun addressing policy flashpoints, including the question of a statewide gaming referendum, as they compete to differentiate themselves with GOP primary voters.
Public safety has also emerged as a key issue in the contest. The recent detection of the deadly synthetic opioid cychlorphine in South Carolina, flagged by the state’s attorney general, has elevated law enforcement and drug policy as factors voters may weigh when evaluating candidates with executive and prosecutorial backgrounds.
What’s Next
Wilson’s campaign manager Kurt Pickhardt said in a public statement, “While others chase headlines or try to peak early, we’ve stayed focused on what matters, affordability, public safety, and results. The more voters hear Alan’s message, the stronger our position gets, and we’re not taking our foot off the gas.”
South Carolina’s primary is scheduled for June 9, 2026. Given the six-way nature of the contest and the large undecided bloc, no candidate reaching the 50% threshold on the first ballot is considered likely, which would trigger a head-to-head runoff between the top two vote-getters on June 23, 2026. With roughly six weeks remaining before primary day, late-breaking endorsements, debates, and further polling will continue to shape the trajectory of the race.