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Pamela Evette

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Pamela Evette
Official portrait, 2019
93rd Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
GovernorHenry McMaster
Preceded byKevin L. Bryant
66th Chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 2025
Preceded byGarlin Gilchrist
Personal details
BornPamela Sue Gajoch
(1967-08-28) August 28, 1967 (age 58)
Ohio, U.S.
PartyRepublican
Spouse(s)
First husband
​
(divorced)​

David Evette
Children3
EducationCleveland State University (BBA)

Pamela Sue Evette (née Gajoch; born August 28, 1967) is an American politician and businesswoman serving as the 93rd lieutenant governor of South Carolina since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, she was the CEO of Quality Business Solutions in Upstate South Carolina before she was elected. Evette is the first lieutenant governor to be elected on the same ticket as the governor.

Early life, education, and career

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Evette is the granddaughter of Polish immigrants.[1] Born in Ohio, Evette earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Cleveland State University. Evette worked as an accountant until moving to Travelers Rest, South Carolina in 2005, where she founded and acted as CEO of Quality Business Solutions, a payroll, HR and back-office solutions software firm.[2]

Political career

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Evette (right) and Senator Tim Scott, 2018

Lieutenant governor of South Carolina

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She defeated Mandy Powers Norrell in the state's gubernatorial election on November 6, 2018, as the running mate of Henry McMaster. Evette took office as South Carolina's second female lieutenant governor (the first being Nancy Stevenson from 1979 until early 1983 under Richard Riley) on January 9, 2019, and first Republican woman to hold the office.[3][4]

Evette spent much of her time in office traveling the state, giving speeches and addresses that supported Governor Henry McMaster. Evette said in an interview with the Associated Press that she had "doubled the potential footprint" of the governor's office through communicating with lawmakers at various events across the state.[5]

In October 2019, Evette and PalmettoPride launched a statewide initiative to encourage South Carolinians to clean up their communities.[6] Later that same month, Evette was involved in a car collision in Greer, South Carolina when her driver inappropriately activated his flashing blue and red lights to go through an intersection. Evette's driver was cited, and Evette was uninjured.[7]

In 2020, Evette served as chair of the South Carolina Governor’s Complete Count Commission for the 2020 Census.[8] In July 2020, Evette participated in the SC7 Expedition to raise awareness for protecting South Carolina’s natural resources and floodwater prevention.[9][10]

In November 2022, McMaster and Evette won reelection.[11]

In 2023, Evette joined thousands of students at a rally supporting school choice at the state capitol.[12]

On December 12, 2023, McMaster underwent an outpatient heart procedure to correct paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, an intermittent irregular heartbeat. Evette served as acting governor for two hours. The South Carolina Constitution provides that the lieutenant governor may take executive action in case of emergency if the governor is temporarily disabled.[13]

In February 2024, Evette advocated for the expansion of home visit programs for SC moms and babies.[14] On May 6, 2024, the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce and Evette announced the "Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders" Youth Employment Initiative to promote the importance of youth employment and to create a job board made for teenagers.[15]

Evette with US Army Headquarters Support Company, 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, South Carolina, 2023.

Alongside Governor McMaster, Evette has attended events to aid South Carolinians impacted by the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.[16]

2026 gubernatorial campaign

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On July 14, 2025, Evette announced her candidacy for governor of South Carolina in 2026.[17]

In the first round of the Republican primary, Evette placed first. She then advanced to a runoff election with state Attorney General Alan Wilson, and subsequently lost.[18]

Political positions

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2020 presidential election

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Evette is a supporter of President Donald Trump and has criticised other Republicans for not supporting the conspiracy theory that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.[19]

Congressional redistricting

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Evette is a supporter of Republican attempts to redistrict South Carolina's Congressional map.[20]

Electoral history

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South Carolina Gubernatorial Election (Lt. Governor), 2018[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Pamela Evette 921,342 54
Democratic Mandy Powers Norrell 784,182 46
South Carolina Gubernatorial Election (Lt. Governor), 2022[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Pamela Evette 988,501 58
Democratic Tally Parham Casey 692,691 41
Other - 22,000 1
2026 South Carolina gubernatorial election Republican primary[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Pamela Evette 136,480 28.9
Republican Alan Wilson 123,643 26.2
Republican Ralph Norman 80,790 17.1
Republican Rom Reddy 66,992 14.2
Republican Nancy Mace 57,380 12.1
Republican Josh Kimbrell (withdrawn) 3,957 0.8
Republican Jacqueline DuBose (decertified) 3,714 0.8
Total votes 472,956 100.0
2026 South Carolina gubernatorial election Republican primary runoff[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Alan Wilson 218,569 68.6
Republican Pamela Evette 100,227 31.4
Total votes 318,796 100.0

Personal life

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Evette is married to David Evette, with whom she has one son. She also has one son and one daughter from a previous marriage.

Evette and her husband attend a Catholic Church in Taylors, South Carolina.[25]

References

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  1. ↑ "Pamela Evette". governor.sc.gov. November 18, 2018.
  2. ↑ Shain, Andy (November 3, 2018). "SC governor race guide: Their backgrounds, stances, chances of winning". The Post and Courier. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  3. ↑ WSPA Staff (November 7, 2018). "Pamela Evette to be second woman to hold Lt. Gov office in SC". WSPA. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  4. ↑ WSPA Staff (November 7, 2018). "Pamela Evette to be second woman to hold Lt. Gov office in SC". WSPA. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  5. ↑ "New to Politics, SC Lt. Gov Evette Reflects on First Year". Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  6. ↑ Lyles, Sarah (October 1, 2019). "Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette Challenges South Carolinians to Grab A Bag on November 16, 2019". PalmettoPride. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  7. ↑ Andy Shain (October 17, 2019). "Driver injured after collision with SC Lt. Gov. Evette's state vehicle". The Post and Courier.
  8. ↑ "Lt. Governor Pamela S. Evette, S.C. Leaders Launch #CountMeIn Campaign to Highlight Importance of 2020 Census | S.C. Governor Henry McMaster". governor.sc.gov. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  9. ↑ says, Stacey Strickland (July 22, 2020). "The South Carolina Seven – South Carolina Wild". Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  10. ↑ "South Carolina 7". southcarolina7.com.
  11. ↑ "SC Election Results". The New York Times. November 8, 2022.
  12. ↑ Week, National School Choice. "Thousands of Students to Converge on Columbia for State Rally Celebrating School Choice at the Capitol". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Governor Henry McMaster to Undergo Minor Outpatient Medical Procedure Friday | S.C. Governor Henry McMaster". governor.sc.gov. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Lt. Governor supports expansion of home visit programs for SC moms, babies". February 7, 2024.
  15. ↑ "DEW and Lt. Governor Pamela Evette Announce Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders Youth Employment Initiative | SC Department of Employment and Workforce".
  16. ↑ "Team South Carolina County Days - South Carolina Emergency Management Division".
  17. ↑ Bustos, Joseph (July 14, 2025). "Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette joins race for South Carolina governor. 5 things to know". The State Newspaper. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  18. ↑ Kinnard, Meg; Collins, Jeffrey (June 10, 2026). "Evette and Wilson advance to runoff for South Carolina governor while Graham clinches nomination". Associated Press. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  19. ↑ "The Republicans who rejected 2020 election result running for governor". Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Trump's pick moves on in South Carolina governor primary". Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  21. ↑ "South Carolina Election Results 2018: Live Midterm Map by County & Analysis". www.politico.com. November 7, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  22. ↑ "2022 Statewide General Election Election Night Reporting". scvotes.org. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  23. ↑ "South Carolina Governor Primary Results 2026". nbcnews.com.
  24. ↑ "South Carolina Governor Primary Runoff Results 2026". nbcnews.com.
  25. ↑ "Pamela Evette | S.C. Governor Henry McMaster".
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