COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Governor Henry McMaster is endorsing Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette in this year’s gubernatorial race. The pair joined together on Senate Street Thursday morning for the announcement. McMaster called Evette his “eyes and ears,” and says she “talks the talk and w alks the walk.” “Ladies and gentleman! It is a thrill for me and for Peggy to be here to urge you. We want to endorse Pam for our next governor. We want to urge you to get behind her. Be sure — we have to keep winning. SC has been winning, winning…we need to keep winning with Pamela Evette as our next governor. Thank you!” says McMaster to the crowd. “Wow! It’s hard not to get teary eyed with that kind of endorsement, and you know it seems like just yesterday the governor and I were standing at a podium in Greenville and he was announcing me as his lieutenant governor,” says Evette, who has served under McMaster the past eight years — becoming the first lieutenant governor in South Carolina’s history to be chosen by their running mate (Before 2018, Lieutenant Governors in South Carolina were independently elected in general elections, often resulting in the two positions being held by different political parties). “We have been the conservative powerhouse of the nation. Taking what is just smart, smart ideas, common sense ideas,” she says, with according to Evette, those ideas include successful efforts to increase pay for law enforcement and teachers. “And if you like what you saw in this first chapter, you’re gonna love what you see in the next chapter,” she says. Should she win, Evette says her primary focus on day one would be eliminating the state income tax. She says she also plans to make SC more business friendly — by getting rid of “useless” regulations. Evette was also asked if there is any issue as governor where she would disagree with or fight back against President Donald Trump. “No. President Trump has done exactly what he said he would do when he ran,” she says. In regards to a possible Trump endorsement, Evette says, “I have said since the beginning of this race that everybody should be honored to have his endorsement but nobody should expect it.” Currently, the lieutenant governor faces four other Republican candidates and two Democratic candidates — all vying for the governor’s office. Attorney General Alan Wilson, Representative Nancy Mace, Representative Ralph Norman, and Senator Josh Kimbrell are competing against Evette for the Republican nomination. Representative Jermaine Johnson and Charleston Attorney Mullins McLeod are competing to gain the Democratic nomination. Regarding McMaster’s endorsement, Representative Nancy Mace says in a statement, “Governor McMaster has served South Carolina faithfully, and I respect his years of service. Pam Evette is a nice lady. But endorsements don’t fix potholes. Endorsements don’t eliminate the state income tax. And endorsements don’t put billions into roads and bridges. Results do. And my record does too. South Carolina families aren’t looking for more of the same. They’re looking for a strong leader with a plan, and we’re the only campaign that has one. I didn’t get into this race to collect endorsements. I got in to keep a promise to the people of South Carolina. And here’s what the establishment still hasn’t figured out: I don’t stop. I don’t waver. And I certainly don’t scare.” Representative Ralph Norman also responded to the endorsement saying, “Gov. McMaster chose Pam Evette to be his running mate, so it’s no surprise that he would endorse her. What South Carolina needs is a more conservative direction that shakes up the corruption in Columbia. We won’t get that from the same gang who’ve been in charge for decades.” SC’s primary is June 9th. Election Day is November 3rd. “I won’t let you down, I’ll continue to make you proud,” says Evette to McMaster. “Thank y’all,” she says to the crowd. Categories: Local News, News Tags: Governor Henry McMaster, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, Rep. Nancy Mace, Rep. Ralph Norman ...read more read less