South Carolina’s primary elections have come and gone, setting the stage for the state’s general election on November 3, 2026. The results of these partisan races have initiated a fundamental recalibration of the balance of power in Palmetto politics.

Winners

Attorney General Alan Wilson emerged as a top winner, despite facing significant challenges. Less than a month before the June 9 primary election, South Carolina’s supreme court reversed the two high-profile murder convictions secured by Wilson’s office against notorious accused killer Alex Murdaugh. Additionally, President Donald Trump endorsed Wilson’s opponent, Pamela Evette, less than two weeks before the election.

Wilson not only survived these potentially fatal blows but also managed to grow his base of support and defeat a better-funded rival by a record-breaking margin. His massive margin of victory in the Republican runoff was a validation of his entire underlying modus operandi, an approach the last three Republican governors of South Carolina have failed to comprehend.

Prediction Markets

The rise of prediction markets was one of the most fascinating trends to watch during the Crossroads 2026 election cycle. More than $4 million was ultimately invested across the various prediction market platforms during the partisan primary and runoff elections.

These markets are far from reliable indicators, but they are expected to become a much more important part of the pre-election narrative in upcoming cycles. The money invested into them is also expected to continue climbing, raising questions about potential regulation by South Carolina lawmakers.

Live Calls

Rick Quinn, son of the late strategist Richard Quinn, was one of the most accurate surveyors of the 2026 primary election cycle. Quinn consistently used live calls placed to landlines and cell phones for his surveys, which he believes are superior to text-to-web surveys.

Quinn’s polling was on the mark, and he was one of the more inventive messaging and strategy players during the recently concluded cycle. He is expected to be a key player in future statewide races, particularly in the 2028 election.

Original reporting: FITSNews — read the source article.