2026 Midterms · Governor · South Carolina Safe R
South Carolina — Governor
The 2026 South Carolina gubernatorial election features Democratic State Representative Jermaine Johnson against Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson for an open seat. The matchup hinges on contrasting visions for the state's economy, public education, healthcare access, public safety, and government reform. Major rating outlets—including The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball—rate the election as Solid or Safe Republican.
Economy and Taxation
high salienceWilson proposes eliminating the state income tax and cutting spending through government audits, while Johnson advocates for a Universal Basic Income pilot, a state minimum wage, and targeted tax breaks for seniors.
Democratic Jermaine Johnson
Supports basic income and higher minimum wage
Johnson advocates bringing a Universal Basic Income pilot program modeled on Andrew Yang's proposal to South Carolina and scaling it statewide. He also supports enacting a state minimum wage and providing tax breaks for senior citizens.
- Proposes a Universal Basic Income pilot program scaled statewide
- Supports establishing a state minimum wage
- Calls for tax breaks for elderly residents
“I want to bring the Universal Basic Income Program championed by Andrew Yang to the state of South Carolina. We will begin with a pilot program and scale it across the state.”
Republican Alan Wilson
Supports eliminating state income tax
Wilson promises to cut taxes and eliminate the state income tax to improve affordability. He also supports exploring the elimination of vehicle personal property taxes for seniors and veterans while auditing state government to cut waste.
- Pledges to eliminate the South Carolina state income tax
- Supports exploring the elimination of car personal property taxes for seniors and veterans
- Plans comprehensive audits of state and local governments to root out fraud and waste
“He will fight to eliminate the state income tax to reduce the overall tax burden on South Carolina families.”
Education
high salienceWilson emphasizes expanding school choice vouchers, banning political indoctrination, and increasing school police officers, while Johnson focuses on creating technical academies and investing in youth programs.
Democratic Jermaine Johnson
Supports expanding local technical education
Johnson emphasizes investing in educational programs for youth to support local community development. In the state legislature, he created the Lower Richland Tech Academy to foster entrepreneurial opportunities in rural areas.
- Created the Lower Richland Tech Academy for rural entrepreneurial opportunities
- Advocates investing in youth educational and community programs
“We must take care of our most vulnerable population of youth and seniors and invest in additional programs as well as tax breaks for our elders.”
Republican Alan Wilson
Supports school choice and traditional curriculum
Wilson advocates fully funding public schools while expanding school choice options for parents. He pledges to eliminate political indoctrination in classrooms, expand School Resource Officer programs, and focus on early literacy and vocational training.
- Supports expanding school choice while fully funding public schools
- Pledges to eliminate woke politics and indoctrination from classrooms
- Calls for expanding School Resource Officers to ensure safe learning environments
“Education should be about ABCs and 123s—not political agendas.”
Public Safety and Criminal Justice
high salienceWilson focuses on strict criminal prosecution, tougher penalties for fentanyl, and supporting law enforcement, whereas Johnson emphasizes re-entry job opportunities for former felons and community development.
Democratic Jermaine Johnson
Supports employment access for former felons
Johnson focuses on community safety through development and criminal justice reform centered on second chances. He backed legislation aimed at transforming job opportunities for former felons seeking rehabilitation.
- Supported proposed legislation to improve job opportunities for former felons
- Views community development as essential to keeping populations safe
“Community Development is needed to keep our population safe and will help keep our talent in the community”
Republican Alan Wilson
Supports tough prosecution and law enforcement
Wilson highlights his prosecutor record fighting human trafficking, child predators, and drug cartels. As governor, he promises to strengthen penalties for violent offenses and fentanyl trafficking while working closely with local sheriffs.
- Secured over 1,271 child predator convictions and expanded the ICAC Task Force
- Created the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force
- Pledges tougher penalties for violent offenders and fentanyl traffickers
“As Governor, Alan Wilson will restore law and order as the foundation of South Carolina’s future.”
Healthcare
medium salienceJohnson supports full Medicaid expansion statewide, while Wilson advocates for targeted rural clinic support, telemedicine expansion, and provider incentives.
Democratic Jermaine Johnson
Supports Medicaid expansion
Johnson identifies Medicaid expansion as a primary public policy priority to broaden healthcare coverage across South Carolina.
- Supports expanding Medicaid in South Carolina
Republican Alan Wilson
Supports expanding rural healthcare access
Wilson focuses on addressing healthcare disparities in rural South Carolina. He proposes supporting rural clinics, expanding telemedicine services, and offering incentives to draw medical professionals to underserved areas.
- Supports funding rural clinics and expanding telemedicine access
- Proposes incentives for medical professionals to serve in underserved rural areas
“We can’t have healthy families and thriving communities, if people can’t see a doctor.”
Infrastructure
medium salienceWilson proposes modernizing the Department of Transportation via government audits, while Johnson emphasizes his legislative record delivering broadband expansion and local road repairs.
Democratic Jermaine Johnson
Supports expanding broadband and road repairs
Johnson highlights his legislative achievements in securing district infrastructure investments. His record includes expanding broadband access and funding repairs for local roads and bridges.
- Expanded broadband access in South Carolina House District 52
- Secured funding for repairing local roads and bridges
“Are we going to stand up and do what’s right and fund what needs to be funded?”
Republican Alan Wilson
Supports DOT modernization and road investments
Wilson prioritizes major investments in roads and bridges across both rural and urban areas. He promises to modernize the Department of Transportation, demand transparency, and streamline timelines through his Families First Audit Initiative.
- Prioritizes funding for repairing state roads and bridges
- Pledges to modernize the Department of Transportation through audit initiatives
- Commits to addressing both rural and urban infrastructure demands
“South Carolina’s roads and bridges are crumbling, and it’s past time to fix them.”
Abortion and Reproductive Rights
medium salienceWilson is anti-abortion and supports defending state laws restricting abortion, whereas Johnson explicitly supports women's reproductive rights.
Democratic Jermaine Johnson
Supports women's reproductive rights
Johnson lists women's reproductive rights as a primary policy passion. He supports protecting access to reproductive healthcare options for women.
- Supports women's reproductive rights and healthcare access
Republican Alan Wilson
Opposes abortion and defends unborn
Wilson maintains a pro-life stance and pledges to defend laws protecting unborn children. He also advocates reducing administrative red tape surrounding adoptions to foster a culture of life.
- Supports legislation defending unborn children
- Pledges to eliminate administrative red tape to promote adoption
“No child is a mistake, God does not make mistakes, and there is no unwanted child.”
Government Reform and Transparency
medium salienceWilson promises state spending audits and an end to legislative earmarks, while Johnson advocates term limits and executive-legislative compromise.
Democratic Jermaine Johnson
Supports term limits and legislative compromise
Johnson signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge as a candidate. He emphasizes constituent responsiveness and believes the governor and state legislature should focus on bipartisan compromise.
- Signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge in 2024
- Advocates executive-legislative compromise and constituent responsiveness
“One where compromising is the main objective. There should not be an all-Republican gubernatorial ticket or vice versa.”
Republican Alan Wilson
Supports state audits and eliminating earmarks
Wilson pledges to overhaul state government by establishing the Families First Audit Initiative to uncover fraud and waste. He promises to eliminate legislative earmarks and backroom budget deals.
- Proposes the Families First Audit Initiative to audit state government spending
- Pledges to eliminate legislative earmarks and secret budget deals
“No more earmarks. No more back room deals.”
Immigration and Border Security
medium salienceWilson advocates denying state benefits to undocumented residents and expanding 287(g) law enforcement programs, whereas Johnson has no documented position in the sources.
Republican Alan Wilson
Supports strict immigration law enforcement
Wilson supports enforcing federal and state immigration laws in South Carolina and backing Donald Trump's border policies. He proposes denying state benefits to undocumented residents and supporting local participation in the federal 287(g) program.
- Proposes denying state benefits to undocumented residents
- Backs state and local participation in the federal 287(g) program
- Supports federal enforcement initiatives against illegal immigration
“If you want to be here, come here legally.”
Environment and Climate Change
low salienceJohnson identifies addressing climate change as a personal policy passion, while Wilson has no documented position in the provided sources.
Democratic Jermaine Johnson
Supports addressing climate change
Johnson lists addressing climate change as a core area of public policy he is personally passionate about.
- Identifies climate change as a key public policy passion