South Carolina will elect a new governor in 2026. Republican nominee Alan Wilson, currently South Carolina's Attorney General, faces Democratic nominee Jermaine Johnson, a former state representative from Richland County.
South Carolina elects its Governor and Lieutenant Governor together. Wilson is running with State Senator Mike Reichenbach; Johnson is running with Sam Skardon.
REPUBLICAN — Alan Wilson
- Experience: Currently serves as South Carolina Attorney General and brings statewide executive and legal experience.
- Taxes and Government: Supports lower taxes, limited government and elimination of South Carolina's state income tax.
- Public Safety: Emphasizes tougher penalties for violent crime and fentanyl offenses, strong support for law enforcement and stronger enforcement against illegal immigration.
- Education: Supports public-school funding together with school choice and greater parental control.
- Social Issues: Pro-life and supportive of Second Amendment rights.
DEMOCRAT — Jermaine Johnson
- Experience: Served in the South Carolina House and emphasizes community-focused leadership.
- Affordability: Focuses on reducing costs for working families and using state programs and investment to expand economic opportunity.
- Education and Healthcare: Supports increased investment in public education and expanded rural healthcare access.
- Public Safety: Supports increased police staffing and pay while also supporting mental-health response teams for appropriate situations.
- Social Issues: Supports reproductive rights and a more permissive approach to marijuana policy.
The Choice
Wilson emphasizes lower taxes, conservative social policy, law enforcement and limited government. Johnson emphasizes public investment, affordability, education, healthcare access and a more progressive approach to social policy. The supplied comparison identifies essentially these same divisions.
This comparison is based on candidate campaign materials, public records and other publicly available information. Positions are summarized for voter information; readers are encouraged to review each candidate's own statements and campaign materials for additional detail.
