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Trump’s grip on GOP faces fresh challenge in South Carolina governor battle
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One week after President Donald Trump’s endorsement-winning streak in high-profile Republican primaries was snapped, the president’s immense clout over his party is facing another key test in South Carolina’s GOP gubernatorial nomination face-off.
A week and a half ago, the president handed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette 11th-hour support as she seeks to succeed a top Trump ally, term-limited Republican Gov. Henry McMaster.
Evette is facing off in the GOP primary against a handful of top rivals. They are longtime South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, and multimillionaire businessman Rom Reddy.
Since no candidate was expected to top 50% of the primary vote and land a majority, the top two finishers will advance to the June 23 Republican runoff.
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South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette announces her bid for the Republican nomination for governor at The Smokestack at Judson Mill in South Carolina on July 14, 2025. (Joshua Boucher/The State/Tribune News Service/Getty Images)
The brute force of the president’s endorsement power has been on display in GOP primaries over the past month, with his candidates ousting incumbents he targeted in showdowns in Indiana, Louisiana, Kentucky and Texas that grabbed plenty of national attention.
But Trump’s last-minute endorsement of Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra of Iowa in the race to succeed retiring GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds — which came on the same day he also backed Evette — wasn’t enough to muscle the three-term congressman to victory.
Feenstra was narrowly edged out by Zach Lahn, a businessman, farmer and former political strategist who was backed by the political wings of MAHA — the acronym for the Make America Healthy Again movement aligned with Trump Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — and Turning Point USA, the powerful conservative organization co-founded by the late Charlie Kirk.
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Zach Lahn raises his fist in celebration after defeating his primary opponent in Iowa’s GOP gubernatorial race on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Zach Lahn for Governor via Facebook)
In the South Carolina GOP gubernatorial primary, the major contenders had long been highlighting their support for Trump and his agenda in hopes of landing his support.
Trump, after staying neutral for months, endorsed Evette, praising her as an «America First Patriot» and a «WINNER» in his announcement.
The president also headlined a tele-rally for Evette on the eve of the primary.
Hours later, on the morning of the primary, Evette once again spotlighted the president’s backing of her campaign.
In a social media post, she wrote that Trump «needs a strong partner as Governor who will deliver on our conservative America First agenda. It’s why he gave me his ‘complete and total endorsement.’ Don’t let President Trump down. Get to the polls, bring your friends & family, and VOTE EVETTE!»
But Trump, in a social media post endorsing Evette, also said he expected Evette to choose Henry McMaster Jr., the governor’s son, as her running mate for lieutenant governor.
The comment by the president led to blowback in South Carolina political circles and speculation that McMaster, who succeeded then-Gov. Nikki Haley when she stepped down to serve as U.N. ambassador during Trump’s first term and who is in his 10th year as governor, was trying to give his son a political boost.
But McMaster denied any deal or pressure, and Evette has said she wouldn’t name any running mate until after the primary is over.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette stand on stage during an election night watch party at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia, S.C., on Feb. 24, 2024. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
And on Friday, the younger McMaster took his name out of contention, saying it was «incredibly humbling» to be mentioned as a possible lieutenant governor candidate, but that «now is simply not the right time.»
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Pointing to what he said was a smaller-than-expected bounce in the polls for Evette, longtime South Carolina political strategist Dave Wilson told Fox News Digital he thinks the Trump endorsement «backfired» because of the president’s push for the younger McMaster to join the Evette ticket.
«In South Carolina, we really don’t take it very well when Washington tries to tell us what to do,» Wilson emphasized.
south carolina, donald trump, primary results, governors, republicans elections, elections, iowa
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Nicaragua’s parliament plans to eliminate elections to codify President Ortega’s declaration
Sen. Ron Johnson: Election integrity should be a nonpartisan issue
Sen. Ron Johnson responds to New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill’s admission of 6,600 non-citizens improperly registered to vote due to a software error, with 400 actually voting. Johnson, from Wisconsin, stresses that election integrity, including voter ID and cleaning voter rolls, should be a non-partisan issue to restore public confidence in U.S. elections.
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Nicaragua’s lawmakers announced plans to abolish elections in the Central American country, following through on President Daniel Ortega’s declaration over the weekend that there would be no more elections, which enraged the international community.
The move was revealed on Tuesday by Nicaragua’s congress, which is firmly in the hands of Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo. Lawmakers said planned constitutional overhaul will ensure Nicaragua’s «peace, security and stability.»
With the announcement, lawmakers are making good on Ortega’s promise of no more elections, further closing off any potential path for the opposition to challenge the government he leads with Murillo, whom constitutional reforms elevated from vice president to «co-president.»
«There won’t be any more elections here for them to try to seize the government and seize power,» Ortega said on Sunday during a speech commemorating the 1979 Sandinista revolution, in which Ortega participated in the overthrow of the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza.
NICARAGUA’S ORTEGA SAYS COUNTRY WILL ‘NEVER AGAIN’ HOLD ELECTIONS, SHUTTING OUT OPPOSITION
Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega said officials in the Central American country will no longer hold elections. (REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria)
«The days when parties backed by the Yankees (United States) and the Somocistas would return to power are over — never again,» he declared.
The declaration appeared to eliminate the possibility of a future electoral challenge as Ortega and Murillo continue consolidating control over the country’s political institutions.
Ortega and Murillo expanded their authority through sweeping constitutional changes that took effect in 2025. The reforms included extending the presidential term from five years to six and placing the legislative, judicial and electoral institutions under the authority of the presidency.
The pair now exercise control over nearly every branch of government, including the armed forces, police and judiciary.
Ortega, Nicaragua’s longest-serving leader, has remained in power until early 2028, although his statement on Sunday effectively canceled Nicaragua’s next elections, which had been scheduled for November 2027.
Critics say Ortega had already effectively eliminated meaningful electoral competition during elections in 2011, 2016 and 2021.
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President Daniel Ortega’s promise to abolish elections prompted widespread condemnation from the international community. (Carlos Becerra/Bloomberg)
Many prominent opposition leaders have been imprisoned, forced into exile or stripped of their Nicaraguan citizenship, while opposition parties and independent civic organizations have lost their legal status.
A United Nations group of experts has accused the Ortega-Murillo government of systematically violating human rights as part of a campaign to eliminate criticism and preserve its hold on power. The experts said some alleged violations may amount to crimes against humanity.
The government launched a violent crackdown on anti-government protests in 2018. More than 300 people were killed during the unrest, according to international human rights groups.
Ortega’s effort to abolish elections prompted widespread condemnation from foreign governments, including the U.S.
«Daniel Ortega’s declaration that under his family’s dictatorship, Nicaragua will never again hold elections lays bare their true authoritarian nature. Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo have abandoned even the pretense of popular consent,» U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday.
«The Nicaraguan people have the right to choose their own leaders through democratic elections. The United States calls on the international community to join forces to demonstrate to the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship that it cannot expect to maintain business as usual with other nations when it is thwarting the basic tenets of our democratic hemisphere,» he added.
The move to abolish elections was announced by Nicaragua’s congress, which is firmly in the hands of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo. (INTI OCON/AFP)
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The Trump administration has described the Ortega-Murillo government as a dictatorship and imposed sanctions on members of the government and their allies. The State Department has also enacted visa restrictions targeting more than 2,350 Nicaraguan officials and their family members.
Volker Türk, the United Nations’ high commissioner for human rights, denounced Nicaragua’s legislative ambitions on Wednesday, saying that «people of all political viewpoints must be allowed to vote and run for office.»
«These latest developments further deepen the severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms, the dismantling of civic space, and the steady erosion of the rule of law,» Türk said in a statement.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
central america, latin america, elections, world, politics
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Ministra de Educación en Honduras descarta denuncias de extorsión en escuelas y colegios públicos
La titular de la Secretaría de Educación, Arely Argueta, afirmó que hasta el momento no se han recibido denuncias de extorsión contra docentes, escuelas o colegios del sistema público de Honduras.
No obstante, reconoció que los reportes surgidos en instituciones privadas también generan preocupación para las autoridades educativas.
“En el sistema público no hemos tenido denuncias de extorsión para docentes; sin embargo, los casos en el sector privado también nos preocupan, porque nuestro deber es velar por todos los maestros a nivel nacional”, expresó la funcionaria.
Las declaraciones de Argueta se produjeron luego de que la Federación Nacional de Instituciones Educativas Privadas de Honduras (Fenieph) denunciara que algunos colegios han cerrado sus puertas o cambiado de ubicación debido a amenazas y cobros ilegales atribuidos a estructuras criminales.
Ante el contexto de inseguridad, la ministra informó que la Secretaría de Educación mantiene coordinación con la Secretaría de Seguridad para reforzar los patrullajes policiales en los alrededores de escuelas y colegios.
Argueta pidió a padres de familia, estudiantes y docentes no alarmarse al observar presencia policial cerca de los centros educativos, ya que se trata de medidas preventivas orientadas a fortalecer la seguridad en las comunidades escolares.
También subrayó que la denuncia ciudadana es clave para atender cualquier situación irregular, incluyendo casos de narcomenudeo o amenazas contra miembros de la comunidad educativa.
“Si tenemos denuncias, las vamos a atender directamente desde el centro educativo afectado”, aseguró.
El presidente de la Fenieph, Carlos Sabillón, sostuvo que la extorsión afecta desde hace varios años a instituciones privadas, principalmente en Tegucigalpa y San Pedro Sula.
Según explicó, algunos colegios cerraron operaciones como consecuencia de las amenazas, mientras otros, especialmente aquellos que funcionan en locales alquilados, se trasladaron a diferentes barrios o colonias para intentar reducir el riesgo.
Sabillón indicó que las llamadas extorsivas se han convertido en una de las principales formas de intimidación. Por esa razón, algunos centros educativos decidieron cancelar sus líneas telefónicas fijas.
El dirigente advirtió que este delito, históricamente relacionado con el transporte público, pequeños negocios y comerciantes, se ha extendido hacia el sector educativo y pone en riesgo la estabilidad financiera de las instituciones privadas.
Aunque Educación descarta reportes en el sistema público, Argueta insistió en que cualquier denuncia será atendida en coordinación con las autoridades de Seguridad.
Por su parte, Sabillón pidió fortalecer las acciones contra las estructuras criminales y evitar que más colegios tengan que cerrar o abandonar las comunidades donde prestan sus servicios.
La situación evidencia una diferencia entre ambos sectores: mientras las autoridades no registran denuncias en escuelas públicas, los representantes de la educación privada aseguran que la extorsión ya provocó cierres, traslados y medidas internas de protección.
El contraste también ha llevado a las autoridades a reforzar la vigilancia preventiva y a solicitar que cualquier amenaza sea comunicada de inmediato.
Educación sostiene que la ausencia de denuncias formales no elimina la necesidad de mantener controles, mientras la Fenieph reclama una respuesta más contundente para proteger a estudiantes, docentes, propietarios y trabajadores de los centros afectados.
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