Trump Hedges His Bet in a Tight Race

Following a recent run of disappointing results for candidates he had championed, President Donald Trump took an unusual step on Friday: he endorsed both Republican contenders in the South Carolina governor’s race. The Trump South Carolina endorsement now covers both candidates, a move that all but guarantees the president a “win” no matter who prevails.

Rather than picking a side in the upcoming runoff, Trump effectively covered all his bases — a strategy that speaks volumes about his recent struggles to influence GOP primaries.

A Sudden Shift From One Candidate to Two

The dual endorsement came on the heels of failed bets in the Iowa and Georgia gubernatorial races. On Friday, Trump threw his support behind both Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson, declaring, “With either one you can’t go wrong.”

This marked a notable reversal. Just three weeks earlier, ahead of the June 9 primary, Trump had backed Evette alone in a crowded field, giving her what he called his “Complete and Total Endorsement.”

Evette ultimately finished a few points ahead of Wilson in the primary, but she fell well short of the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff — a contest now set for Tuesday.

Momentum Appears to Favor Wilson

Despite Trump’s original backing of Evette, the political winds seem to be shifting toward the state’s longtime attorney general. Wilson has been steadily gathering support from across the Republican field.

Several key figures have lined up behind him, including:

• U.S. Reps. Ralph Norman and Nancy Mace, both of whom failed to make the runoff
• The majority of other candidates who were eliminated in the primary
• U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, who endorsed Wilson on Friday

Wilson wasted no time embracing the president’s expanded endorsement. Mirroring what Evette had done in May, he quickly updated his social media profile to highlight Trump’s support.

In a statement, Wilson emphasized his loyalty, saying he had “proudly stood with President Trump from the very beginning, defended him when others would not, and fought alongside him against the radical left.” He added that he was honored by the support because Trump understands his focus on making South Carolina more affordable for families and profitable for businesses.

A Blow to Evette’s Campaign

For Evette, whose campaign had leaned heavily on being Trump’s chosen candidate, the president’s change of heart represents a significant setback.

When approached for comment, her campaign pointed to a social media post Evette made shortly after Trump broadened his endorsement. In it, she struck an optimistic tone, expressing pride in finishing first as Trump’s endorsed candidate on June 9 and vowing to do it again on June 23. She urged supporters to turn out on Tuesday and “Keep South Carolina Winning.”

Evette still holds one important card: the backing of term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster, a close friend of Trump.

A Pattern of Endorsement Setbacks

Trump’s pivot in South Carolina follows two recent primary losses that clearly stung. After businessman Zach Lahn defeated Trump’s pick, Rep. Randy Feenstra, in the Iowa governor’s primary, Trump publicly complained that his advisers had misinformed him.

Then, just this past Tuesday, healthcare executive Rick Jackson beat Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the Georgia governor’s primary. In an apparent effort to save face, Trump tried to claim credit anyway, praising Jackson on Truth Social for running “a great TRUMP Campaign” and calling him “Very smart!”

Against this backdrop, the South Carolina double endorsement looks like a calculated move to avoid another embarrassing loss.

A Familiar Playbook

This isn’t the first time Trump has hedged with a dual endorsement. The Washington Post had earlier reported the possibility, noting the race had grown tight.

Trump famously used a similar tactic in the 2022 Missouri Senate race, when he backed “ERIC” without specifying which candidate, since two contenders shared the same first name. In that case, now-Sen. Eric Schmitt ultimately defeated former Gov. Eric Greitens.

By endorsing both Evette and Wilson, Trump effectively guarantees himself a victory in a reliably red state where his influence has recently wavered.

Recent Friction in the Palmetto State

The runoff also arrives just a month after South Carolina Republicans handed Trump a different kind of defeat. The GOP-controlled legislature rejected an effort to redraw the state’s congressional map in a way that would have eliminated its lone Democratic district.

During a special session called by the governor, the measure failed to pass, with several Republican lawmakers reluctant to pursue redistricting after voting had already begun.

For now, all eyes turn to Tuesday’s runoff — a race where, thanks to his two-pronged endorsement, Trump is positioned to claim a win regardless of the outcome.