--- title: "Johnson vs. Wilson: 2026 South Carolina governor’s race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-governor-sc" updated: "2026-08-31" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 South Carolina governor’s race: Jermaine Johnson (D) vs. Alan Wilson (R) Rating: Safe R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 31, 2026 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. ## Candidates - **Jermaine Johnson** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://johnsonforsc.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jermaine_Johnson) - **Alan Wilson** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://wilsonforsc.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Alan_Wilson_%28South_Carolina%29) ## Issues ### Economy and Taxation Salience: high Wilson 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. **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.” > — Jermaine Johnson, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jermaine_Johnson) **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.” > — Alan Wilson, via [Campaign site](https://wilsonforsc.com/) ### Education Salience: high Wilson 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. **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.” > — Jermaine Johnson, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jermaine_Johnson) **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.” > — Alan Wilson, via [Campaign site](https://wilsonforsc.com/) ### Public Safety and Criminal Justice Salience: high Wilson 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. **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” > — Jermaine Johnson, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jermaine_Johnson) **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.” > — Alan Wilson, via [Campaign site](https://wilsonforsc.com/) ### Healthcare Salience: medium Johnson supports full Medicaid expansion statewide, while Wilson advocates for targeted rural clinic support, telemedicine expansion, and provider incentives. **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 **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.” > — Alan Wilson, via [Campaign site](https://wilsonforsc.com/) ### Infrastructure Salience: medium Wilson proposes modernizing the Department of Transportation via government audits, while Johnson emphasizes his legislative record delivering broadband expansion and local road repairs. **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?” > — Jermaine Johnson, via [Campaign site](https://johnsonforsc.com/) **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.” > — Alan Wilson, via [Campaign site](https://wilsonforsc.com/) ### Abortion and Reproductive Rights Salience: medium Wilson is anti-abortion and supports defending state laws restricting abortion, whereas Johnson explicitly supports women's reproductive rights. **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 **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.” > — Alan Wilson, via [Campaign site](https://wilsonforsc.com/) ### Government Reform and Transparency Salience: medium Wilson promises state spending audits and an end to legislative earmarks, while Johnson advocates term limits and executive-legislative compromise. **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.” > — Jermaine Johnson, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jermaine_Johnson) **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.” > — Alan Wilson, via [Campaign site](https://wilsonforsc.com/) ### Immigration and Border Security Salience: medium Wilson advocates denying state benefits to undocumented residents and expanding 287(g) law enforcement programs, whereas Johnson has no documented position in the sources. **Jermaine Johnson:** No documented position in our sources **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.” > — Alan Wilson, via [Campaign site](https://wilsonforsc.com/) ### Environment and Climate Change Salience: low Johnson identifies addressing climate change as a personal policy passion, while Wilson has no documented position in the provided sources. **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 **Alan Wilson:** No documented position in our sources [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-governor-sc)