As the two-day early voting window closed ahead of next week’s decisive South Carolina Republican gubernatorial runoff election, the state’s lieutenant governor – Pamela Evette – seems to have running mates on her mind. Evette, one of two GOP finalists in the battle to replace term-limited, status quo incumbent Henry McMaster, released a short video on the subject late Thursday evening (June 18, 2026) – fulfilling a promise she made during her debate with front-running attorney general Alan Wilson earlier in the week.

Potential Running Mates

Evette’s list includes Joe Semsar, a successful business leader and Trump appointee, founding S.C. Freedom Caucus leader Adam Morgan, current Freedom Caucus leader Jordan Pace, and state representative Patrick Haddon – each of whom Evette described as “true conservatives” and “warriors who will fight to limit government.” Also on Evette’s list was S.C. speaker pro tempore Tommy Pope, whom she described as a “respected political leader and prosecutor.” Horry County councilman Tyler Servant and Florence, S.C. trial lawyer Hood Temple, “two people who work at the intersection of business and local politics,” were also on the list – as were state lawmakers Case Brittain and James Teeple, described by Evette as “two important voices from the Grand Strand and the Lowcountry.”

Notably absent from Evette’s list was Lowcountry lawmaker Gil Gatch, who has been one of Evette’s most vocal defenders during the runoff. Evette emphasized that she will make a final decision on who her lieutenant governor will be after she wins the nomination.

Reaction to Evette’s List

Some political observers have questioned the motivation behind Evette’s list, with one longtime Palmetto political observer suggesting that Evette is “pandering to Ralph Norman’s voters, pure and simple.” Former gubernatorial chief of staff Scott English compared Evette’s list to the TV show “The Bachelorette,” saying it was the “worst season ever.”

Evette’s opponent, Alan Wilson, has already selected state senator Mike Reichenbach of Florence as his running mate, a choice that has drawn rave reviews.

Original reporting: FITSNews — read the source article.