Republican South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson defeated Democratic state Rep. Jermaine Johnson in the November 3 gubernatorial election, winning the race to become the Palmetto State’s next governor. Wilson’s victory continues Republican control of South Carolina’s executive branch and ends the campaign to succeed term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster.

Wilson, who has served as South Carolina’s attorney general since 2011, entered the race with more than a decade of experience in statewide office. He also served in the South Carolina Army National Guard for nearly three decades and was deployed to Iraq, where he earned a Combat Action Badge. His campaign centered on lowering taxes, reducing government spending, improving infrastructure, strengthening law enforcement, and expanding economic opportunities.

Affordability was one of Wilson’s central campaign themes. He proposed eliminating South Carolina’s individual income tax, addressing property taxes and lowering energy costs. He also called for streamlining government permitting, improving rural health care access, and making state government more accountable to taxpayers. Wilson argued that reducing the cost of doing business would help create jobs and improve wages for South Carolina families.

Wilson’s law enforcement background was another major part of his campaign. As attorney general, he emphasized his work targeting violent crime, fentanyl trafficking, human trafficking and online crimes against children. He also called for stronger penalties for violent offenders and repeat criminals, expanded support for law enforcement and additional protections for children.

Johnson, a Democratic state representative, attempted to break the Republican hold on the governor’s office by campaigning on affordability, government accountability and expanded public services. He argued that political insiders and major corporations had too much influence over state decisions, pointing to utility costs, infrastructure contracts and tax incentives as examples of problems he wanted to address.

Johnson proposed targeted tax relief for working families, expanding access to health care and strengthening public education. He also supported expanding rural health care services and increasing police recruitment and retention. His campaign presented him as an alternative to the Republican leadership that has governed South Carolina for more than a decade.

The candidates also addressed several issues affecting local communities, including the proposed Silfab Solar facility, the expansion of data centers and the use of Flock automated license plate-reading cameras by law enforcement. Both candidates said companies should not leave South Carolina residents responsible for the costs of major development projects, although they differed on how state government should address those concerns.

On data centers, Wilson argued that communities should have a say in whether facilities are built and that companies should pay their own way while providing benefits to the areas hosting them. Johnson called for companies to bring their own energy resources and ensure their operations did not increase costs for residents. The candidates also offered different approaches to balancing law enforcement technology with privacy protections.

Wilson secured the Republican nomination after defeating Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette in the June runoff. The primary attracted national attention because of the candidates’ competing relationships with President Donald Trump. Trump initially endorsed Evette before later backing Wilson as the contest developed. Wilson also received support from Republican officials, law enforcement leaders and veterans' organizations.

Johnson won the Democratic nomination in June, defeating Billy Webster and Mullins McLeod. His campaign sought to make the governor’s race competitive by focusing on economic pressures facing families and arguing that South Carolina needed a different approach to state government.

Wilson’s victory means he will take office in January 2027, succeeding McMaster and assuming responsibility for the state’s executive branch. His administration will oversee the state budget, executive agencies, appointments, and the implementation of state laws. Major changes to the tax system and other policy priorities will also require cooperation with the South Carolina Legislature.

For Republicans, Wilson’s election preserves their control of the governor’s office and gives the party a new leader with a lengthy record in statewide law enforcement. For Democrats, Johnson’s defeat marks another unsuccessful effort to regain the governorship, an office the party has not won since Jim Hodges was elected in 1998.

The result sets up a transition from McMaster’s administration to Wilson’s, with taxes, public safety, infrastructure, and economic development expected to remain central issues as the new governor transitions into the seat.