Former President Donald Trump announced his support for two Republican candidates seeking their party’s gubernatorial nominations on Friday, inserting himself into competitive races in South Carolina and Iowa where multiple allies had been vying for his endorsement.
Through social media announcements, Trump threw his weight behind South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Iowa Rep. Randy Feenstra as both states gear up for their upcoming primary contests.
Voters in Iowa head to the polls Tuesday, while South Carolina’s primary is scheduled for June 9.
Evette has worked as lieutenant governor for two terms under Gov. Henry McMaster, who was among Trump’s first supporters during his initial White House campaign. McMaster endorsed his second-in-command earlier this year, signaling to observers that Trump’s support might follow.
In his Friday announcement, Trump praised both Evette and the state she serves, highlighting that she campaigned for him in 2024. He described “A BIG added plus” for her candidacy as the possibility that Henry McMaster Jr. — the current governor’s son — could join her ticket as running mate.
The battle for the former president’s endorsement has dominated the primary campaign in the solidly Republican state of South Carolina.
In his separate statement about Feenstra, Trump called him “MAGA all the way” and predicted he would “fight tirelessly” for the state on matters including economic issues, border security and backing law enforcement.
Both candidates had actively sought Trump’s endorsement, believing it could prove decisive in states that helped secure Trump’s 2024 electoral victory. Feenstra publicly stated earlier this year that he had requested Trump’s support, while Evette’s campaign materials have prominently displayed photographs of her alongside Trump.
Feenstra faces four other Republicans in his primary race — state Rep. Eddie Andrews, businessman and former conservative political director Zach Lahn, former state Rep. Brad Sherman and former director of the state Department of Administrative Services Adam Steen — as they compete to succeed outgoing Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who decided against seeking a third term.
In South Carolina, Evette is running against Rep. Nancy Mace, Rep. Ralph Norman and state Attorney General Alan Wilson for the Republican nomination.
Both states are experiencing their first contested Republican gubernatorial primaries in several years, as Reynolds and McMaster have each held office for approximately ten years.
