The South Carolina Republican Party has announced a shift in the schedule for the upcoming gubernatorial primary debates. The first matchup, originally set for mid-March at Coastal Carolina University, has been moved to April 1 and relocated to the Newberry Opera House.
State party leadership indicated the change ensures the debates are accessible and well-organized for voters across the state. By pushing the date to April, the party avoids conflicts with the June primary filing deadline and the federal legislative calendar. This specific adjustment allows U.S. Representatives Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman to participate in the forum without missing critical votes while the House is in session.
While the first event has been moved, the remaining two debates in the series will proceed as originally planned:
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April 1: Newberry Opera House (Newberry)
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April 21: College of Charleston (Charleston)
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May 26: Wofford College (Spartanburg)
Locally, the debates will be available to stream digitally via the WBTV website and news app platforms.
Five high-profile Republicans have announced their bids for the governor’s mansion. The field includes veteran state officials and members of South Carolina’s congressional delegation:
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Alan Wilson: State Attorney General (serving since 2011)
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Pamela Evette: Lieutenant Governor (serving since 2019)
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Ralph Norman: U.S. Representative, 5th District (serving since 2017)
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Nancy Mace: U.S. Representative, 1st District (serving since 2021)
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Josh Kimbrell: State Senator (serving since 2020)
The primary election is set for June 9. Should no candidate receive a majority of the vote, a runoff debate will be held on June 16 at Coastal Carolina University, ahead of the June 23 runoff election.
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