Dr. Jermaine Johnson, the Democratic nominee for South Carolina governor, will announce his choice for lieutenant governor on Thursday, July 30, at public events in Columbia and Charleston, according to his campaign.
The Columbia announcement is scheduled for 11 a.m. on the steps of the South Carolina State House, 1100 Gervais St. Press check in begins at 10:30 a.m., and a gaggle with the candidates is expected to follow the remarks for roughly 15 minutes. Johnson’s campaign then moves to North Charleston for an evening rally at Commonhouse Aleworks, 4831 O’Hear Ave., with doors opening at 4:30 p.m.
The pick matters to voters in York and Lancaster counties because South Carolina elects its governor and lieutenant governor as a single ticket. Whoever Johnson names will appear alongside him on the Nov. 3 general election ballot, when Johnson faces Republican nominee Alan Wilson, the state attorney general, in the race to succeed Gov. Henry McMaster. McMaster cannot run again because of term limits.
Johnson, a Richland County Democrat who represents District 52, won the June 9 Democratic primary outright with about 58 percent of the vote, defeating Greenville businessman Billy Webster and Charleston attorney Mullins McLeod and avoiding a runoff. He was first elected to the state House in 2020 and is not seeking another term there so he can focus on the governor’s race. If he wins in November, Johnson would be the state’s first Black governor. He holds a doctorate in organizational leadership.
Wilson secured the Republican nomination on June 23, defeating Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in a runoff after a crowded primary that included U.S. Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell.
Columbia schedule
Press check in is set for 10:30 a.m. at the State House steps, with the program beginning at 11 a.m. Johnson is expected to introduce his running mate during those remarks. A press gaggle with the candidates follows and is estimated to run from about 11:15 to 11:30 a.m. Media availability is planned at the event.
Charleston schedule
Doors at Commonhouse Aleworks open at 4:30 p.m. A press availability with the candidates is scheduled inside from 4:45 to 5:15 p.m., followed by an outdoor rally from 5:15 to 6 p.m.
The last Democrat to win a statewide office in South Carolina was Jim Rex, elected state superintendent of education in 2006. More information on the events is available through the Johnson campaign.
Source: Johnson for South Carolina campaign media advisory; primary and runoff results as reported by The Associated Press.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
