McMaster Jr. Says He Won’t be Pamela Evette’s Running Mate

Jessica Holdman/S.C. Daily Gazette

COLUMBIA — A week after President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette brought accusations of a “backroom deal,” Henry McMaster Jr. said he will not be her running mate.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from friends, neighbors, colleagues, and even strangers encouraging me to run for public office, but now is simply not the right time for me to be considered for Lieutenant Governor,” McMaster Jr., son of Gov. Henry McMaster, posted on social media Friday.

Trump alluded to McMaster Jr. as Evette’s running mate in his post on Truth Social endorsing her.

“A BIG added plus for Pam is that, I hear, Henry McMaster, Jr., the brilliant and very competent son of Henry and Peggy, will be running with her as the next Lieutenant Governor,” he wrote.

The Evette campaign largely remained silent on the matter.

McMaster Jr’s post put an end to the question just before polling places closed on the last day of early voting ahead of the June 9 primary.

“It was incredibly humbling to be mentioned as a potential Lieutenant Governor candidate by the greatest President in American history,” he wrote. “Virginia and I have had an amazing year. We have successful careers, and our family is happy and healthy.”

He ended the post saying he is “Team Evette all the way.”

“I’m confident that, with Pamela Evette as our governor, South Carolina’s best days are ahead,” he wrote.

McMaster Jr. did not immediately respond to a message left by the SC Daily Gazette.

State Rep. Gil Gatch, an Evette ally, said the lieutenant governor is focused entirely on the primary.

“Nobody on this planet respects the opinion of the president more than her,” the Summerville Republican said. “But when she picks a lieutenant governor, she will be the first to let everybody know.”

Throughout the week, Evette’s competitors suggested McMaster Jr.’s consideration had been part of a political deal struck between the governor and the president — an accusation the governor has denied.

Attorney General Alan Wilson’s campaign repeatedly called on McMaster and Evette to address the matter.

“After a lifetime in public office paid for by South Carolina taxpayers, the Governor should answer the questions that continue to surround this backroom deal,” a Wilson campaign statement on Tuesday read. “South Carolina families deserve straightforward answers, not silence.”

And U.S. Rep Nancy Mace, on social media, called it “an obvious pay back.”

Evette campaigned hard in favor of the White House-requested effort to redraw South Carolina’s congressional voting lines in an effort to flip the state’s only blue seat, calling on legislators to pass a new map “by any means necessary.”

Senators initially rejected putting redistricting on the agenda for the off-session, despite Trump calling legislators personally and calling in to a GOP caucus meeting.

McMaster, in a May 14 order issued minutes after the regular session ended, brought legislators back to debate it anyway.

The next day, McMaster denied rumors that his order was connected to a potential Trump endorsement for his lieutenant governor.

Ultimately, 14 GOP senators voted with Democrats to kill the bill May 26, as record numbers of voters turned out on the first day of early voting.

After the Trump endorsement signaled the governor’s son would be part of Evette’s ticket, the rumors escalated to public allegations that the order for a special session was part of a deal.

Speaking to reporters this week, McMaster called any claims that he exchanged political favors for his son to become lieutenant governor misinformation.

“I think people are making up those kinds of stories to tell,” McMaster told reporters.

Had McMaster Jr. decided to run, his father said he’d support his son’s bid for any office he chose.

“I’m proud of what he’s doing,” McMaster said.

At least one of Evette’s opponents in the five-way race for the Republican nomination also weighed in following McMaster Jr.’s post.

“South Carolina doesn’t want a political dynasty — and apparently that message got through,” U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace wrote on social media.