Governor and Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the South Carolina governor and lieutenant governor race?
Jermaine Johnson has the strongest record in the South Carolina governor and lieutenant governor race. Jermaine Johnson and Alan Wilson each score 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026; Jermaine Johnson ranks first on the tiebreaker, the character score (50 to 44). Jermaine Johnson's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Alan Wilson's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Michael Addison (1 of 15 criteria) and Walid Hakim (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
United Citizens
Michael Addison
Running mate: Candace Brewer
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 1 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Green
Walid Hakim
Running mate: Arnold E Karr
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 3 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 58
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Strongest record
Jermaine Johnson
Running mate: Sam Skardon
60 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 25
Republican
Alan Wilson
Running mate: Mike Reichenbach
60 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 44
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 75
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Michael Addison
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Walid Hakim
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Jermaine Johnson
- On the record2021 to 2026
Lead sponsor of 60 House bills and joint resolutions from 2021 to 2026, none enacted as his bill per the legislature's records; Wilson raised his legislative record in the Oct. 6 debate.
Sources: S.C. Legislature, sponsor search, 2025 to 2026, Post and Courier via Yahoo, Oct. 6, 2026
- Credit2026-10-06
Debated Alan Wilson on WIS on Oct. 6, 2026, expected to be the only general election debate.
- Credit2020 to 2026
Elected to the S.C. House for District 52, covering parts of Kershaw and Richland counties, in 2020 and re-elected twice.
Sources: S.C. Legislature, member page, Ballotpedia, Jermaine Johnson
- Credit2016 to 2020
Served as a Richland County recreation commissioner from 2016 to 2020 before his election to the S.C. House.
Source: S.C. Legislature, member page
Alan Wilson
- On the record2021-08-17
The S.C. Supreme Court held that a budget proviso did not bar USC's universal mask mandate, rejecting the reading in his Aug. 2, 2021 letter that led USC to drop it.
Source: S.C. Supreme Court, Opinion No. 28053, Aug. 17, 2021
- On the record2020-12-10
As attorney general signed the 17-state amicus brief backing Texas v. Pennsylvania and the six-state motion to join the suit as plaintiffs; the Supreme Court denied Texas leave to file.
Sources: U.S. Supreme Court, motion to intervene, Dec. 10, 2020, U.S. Supreme Court, amicus brief of Missouri and 16 other states, Dec. 9, 2020
- Credit2026-08-26
His office was part of the multistate case against Meta, settled in August 2026; South Carolina's share is at least $247 million, paid over a decade.
Source: Yahoo News, Aug. 26, 2026
- Credit2026-10-06
Debated Jermaine Johnson on WIS on Oct. 6, 2026, expected to be the only general election debate.
- Credit1996 to 2026
Joined the S.C. National Guard as a platoon leader after college and deployed to Iraq, where he earned a Combat Action Badge.
Source: Ballotpedia, Alan Wilson
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Michael Addison. No public record found.
Walid Hakim. No public record found.
Jermaine Johnson. Files quarterly campaign finance reports with the S.C. State Ethics Commission; his first quarter 2026 report showed $159,705 raised. No Ethics Commission order against him found.
Source: WRHI, April 2026
Alan Wilson. Files quarterly campaign finance reports with the S.C. State Ethics Commission; his first quarter 2026 report showed $1,044,006 raised. No Ethics Commission order against him found.
Source: WRHI, April 2026
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Michael Addison. No public record found.
Walid Hakim. No public record found.
Jermaine Johnson. No public record found.
Alan Wilson. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Michael Addison. No public record found.
Walid Hakim. No public record found.
Jermaine Johnson. Took part in the Oct. 6, 2026 WIS televised debate with Alan Wilson, expected to be the only general election debate.
Alan Wilson. Took part in the Oct. 6, 2026 WIS televised debate with Jermaine Johnson, expected to be the only general election debate.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Michael Addison. No public record found.
Walid Hakim. No public record found.
Jermaine Johnson. State representative since December 2020 and a Richland County recreation commissioner from 2016 to 2020, with no censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: S.C. Legislature, member page
Alan Wilson. Attorney general since January 2011 and a South Carolina National Guard officer since 1996, with no censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Alan Wilson
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Michael Addison. No public record found.
Walid Hakim. No public record found.
Jermaine Johnson. Took the oath as a state representative in 2020 and again in 2022 and 2024. No misuse-of-office finding and no action to reject certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Jermaine Johnson
Alan Wilson. As attorney general, signed the Dec. 10, 2020 motion of six states to intervene as plaintiffs in Texas v. Pennsylvania, which sought to overturn certified results in four states, after signing the 17-state amicus brief (E2, E21).
Sources: U.S. Supreme Court, motion to intervene, Dec. 10, 2020, U.S. Supreme Court, amicus brief of Missouri and 16 other states, Dec. 9, 2020
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Michael Addison. No public record found.
Walid Hakim. No public record found.
Jermaine Johnson. Member of the S.C. House for District 52 since 2020, now in his third term, after serving on the Richland County Recreation Commission. Owns a consulting firm (E9).
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jermaine Johnson, S.C. Legislature, member page
Alan Wilson. South Carolina attorney general since 2011, a statewide elected office he has held for four terms, after work as an assistant solicitor and assistant attorney general. National Guard officer who deployed to Iraq.
Source: Ballotpedia, Alan Wilson
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Michael Addison. No public record found.
Walid Hakim. Publishes platform positions on education, law enforcement and land reform in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, home page
Jermaine Johnson. Publishes specific plans, including raising the share of families who owe no income tax to 70 percent and a municipal affordable housing grant program; in the debate backed a statewide data center moratorium.
Sources: Campaign site, Policies, South Carolina Public Radio, Oct. 7, 2026
Alan Wilson. More than 15 years as the state's chief prosecutor; in the debate gave specific positions on data center energy and a 0 percent income tax.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Michael Addison. Publishes an about page explaining his candidacy. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, Ballotpedia, Michael Addison
Walid Hakim. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025 and publishes a platform page.
Source: Ballotpedia, Walid Hakim
Jermaine Johnson. Three channels documented: a detailed policy page, the Oct. 6, 2026 debate and a completed Ballotpedia survey (2020). Has not completed the 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, Policies, South Carolina Public Radio, Oct. 7, 2026, Ballotpedia, Jermaine Johnson
Alan Wilson. Two channels documented: a campaign platform site and the Oct. 6, 2026 debate. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, South Carolina Public Radio, Oct. 7, 2026, Ballotpedia, Alan Wilson
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Michael Addison. No public record found.
Walid Hakim. Says his family moved to South Carolina in 1985 and that he attended Lexington High School and Newberry College.
Source: Campaign site, home page
Jermaine Johnson. Born in Los Angeles; lives in the Columbia area and has represented Kershaw and Richland counties since 2020, with local service on the Richland County Recreation Commission from 2016 to 2020. In-state share not available from the sources opened.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jermaine Johnson, S.C. Legislature, member page
Alan Wilson. Educated at Francis Marion University and the USC School of Law, in the S.C. National Guard since 1996 and statewide officeholder since 2011. In-state share of contributions not available from the sources opened.
Source: Ballotpedia, Alan Wilson
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Michael Addison. No public record found.
Walid Hakim. No public record found.
Jermaine Johnson. Campaign reports filed with the State Ethics Commission; no campaign finance penalty found. Owns a consulting firm.
Alan Wilson. Has headed the S.C. Attorney General's Office since 2011. Campaign reports filed with the State Ethics Commission; no campaign finance penalty found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Alan Wilson, WRHI, April 2026
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Michael Addison. No public record found.
Walid Hakim. No public record found.
Jermaine Johnson. Lead sponsor of 60 House bills and joint resolutions in the 2021 to 2026 sessions; none became law as his bill, per the legislature's bill records. Example: H. 3287 remained in committee.
Sources: S.C. Legislature, sponsor search, 2025 to 2026, S.C. Legislature, H. 3287 history
Alan Wilson. His office was part of the multistate case against Meta settled in August 2026; South Carolina's share is at least $247 million.
Source: Yahoo News, Aug. 26, 2026
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Michael Addison. No public record found.
Walid Hakim. No public record found.
Jermaine Johnson. No public record found.
Alan Wilson. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Michael Addison. No public record found.
Walid Hakim. No public record found.
Jermaine Johnson. No public record found.
Alan Wilson. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Michael Addison. No public record found.
Walid Hakim. No public record found.
Jermaine Johnson. No public record found.
Alan Wilson. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Michael Addison. No public record found.
Walid Hakim. No public record found.
Jermaine Johnson. No public record found.
Alan Wilson. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the South Carolina governor and lieutenant governor race?
Jermaine Johnson has the strongest record in the South Carolina governor and lieutenant governor race. Jermaine Johnson and Alan Wilson each score 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026; Jermaine Johnson ranks first on the tiebreaker, the character score (50 to 44). Jermaine Johnson's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Alan Wilson's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Michael Addison (1 of 15 criteria) and Walid Hakim (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the South Carolina governor and lieutenant governor race in 2026?
Michael Addison (United Citizens), Walid Hakim (Green), Jermaine Johnson (Democratic), Alan Wilson (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Michael Addison a good candidate for Governor and Lieutenant Governor?
Michael Addison has public evidence on 1 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Walid Hakim a good candidate for Governor and Lieutenant Governor?
Walid Hakim has public evidence on 3 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Jermaine Johnson a good candidate for Governor and Lieutenant Governor?
Jermaine Johnson scores 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 25 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Alan Wilson a good candidate for Governor and Lieutenant Governor?
Alan Wilson scores 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 44 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every South Carolina race scored, and the South Carolina 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.