Trump's Pick Advances in South Carolina Governor Primary

South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson have advanced to a runoff in the competitive Republican primary for governor. Since no candidate earned a majority of the vote, the two will face off in a June 23 runoff.

Trump's Endorsement: Evette is President Donald Trump's pick in the race. Trump endorsed her less than two weeks before the primary, calling her "an America First Patriot who has been with me from the very beginning."

Nancy Mace Snubbed: Rep. Nancy Mace, typically a strong Trump supporter, was passed over for the endorsement. It is suggested that her role in pushing to release Epstein investigative files — siding with Democrats — led to the snub.

Mace's Response: After failing to advance, Mace quickly threw her support behind Wilson for the upcoming runoff.

About Evette: A former businesswoman, Evette would become the state's second woman governor after Nikki Haley if elected. She campaigned on eliminating the state income tax, election security, and judicial reform.

General Election Outlook: State Rep. Jermaine Johnson won the Democratic nomination. However, Democrats have not won a general election for governor in South Carolina since 1998, making the Republican nominee a heavy favorite.

In short, Trump's endorsement once again proved influential — but the race is not over yet, with the Evette vs. Wilson runoff still to come on June 23.