The lead in the race to become the Republican nominee for South Carolina governor is heating up following Tuesday night’s second primary debate. And traders in Kalshi’s GOP nominee market were quick to act.
Pamela Evette has now pulled ahead of Alan Wilson at 35% and 33%, respectively, while U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace is now priced at 28%.
Wilson, Evette, and Mace shared the stage Tuesday night with State Sen. Josh Kimbrell, Rom Reddy, and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman. The debate covered a range of issues, from infrastructure to divisions within the party.
Evette came out strong with her opening statement citing her work with and endorsement from Gov. Henry McMaster. She listed her accomplishments as lieutenant governor “from cutting taxes to keep biological males out of women’s sports, from protecting life to defending your Second Amendment rights.”
Wilson characterized the debate as a job interview and implored the voters “to hire me to do this job” in his opening statement. He cited issues such as “education, affordability, crime, and conservative values” as the key topics for the evening and his campaign. He also cited his legal work “as the only person up in this race who has ever fought for and defended President [Donald] Trump in a court of law.”
Mace recognized her mother and recalled the family’s last moments with her father, veteran and former Citadel leader James Emory Mace, who passed away at 85. She thanked Norman and Wilson for reaching out to offer their condolences.
The debate was relatively peaceful and courteous between the candidates. One of the more controversial issues of the second debate touched on abortion and the Unborn Child Protection Act, which cleared the Senate Medical Affairs Committee Tuesday evening, sending it to the desk of the state’s Senate Majority Leader.
Live 5 News reported that the bill would ban abortions “as soon as a pregnancy can be clinically diagnosed. It would also remove exceptions under current law for rape, incest, and fatal fetal anomalies.”
The candidates were asked if they supported the bill or if the current six-week ban was adequate.
Evette said the bill “has gone too far. If a bill like that showed up on my desk, I would veto it as your next Governor.”
Mace said she supported exceptions for rape and incest, and Wilson said he would also veto the bill if he served as governor during its passage.
The takeaway:
Kalshi markets now predict:
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