State Sen. Kimbrell ends his 2026 GOP bid for SC gov days before June 9 primary
State Sen. Josh Kimbrell who was last in the polls for the Republican nomination for South Carolina governor, is bowing out of the 2026 race to be the state’s top executive.
The Spartanburg County resident, announced the decision to suspend his campaign Wednesday evening in a video posted on Facebook.
“It was an honor to run for governor of South Carolina, because, as I think I proved in all the debates that I participated in, I had real ideas and a real record of accomplishment in the legislature,” Kimbrell said.
”(It) didn’t work out for me this time, because of just a myriad of factors, including some of the nastiest politics I’ve ever experienced in my life, total slander and absolute libelous attacks against my family and me from the day that I decided to get in this race back in early June of 2025,” Kimbrell said.
Kimbrell, the 41-year-old who is in his second term as a state senator, never gained traction in the campaign and had to deal with lawsuits from a former business partner during his run.
After Monday’s debate on SC ETV, Kimbrell foreshadowed the decision to drop out and said he was leaning towards supporting either Attorney General Alan Wilson or Isle of Palms businessman Rom Reddy.
On Thursday Kimbrell announced he is backing Wilson’s campaign.
“There’s a difference between earning a position and being handed one,” Kimbrell said. “Alan Wilson earned his place. He served in the military. He served as a prosecutor. He served four terms as Attorney General. He has a record. He has accomplishments. He has spent years doing the job and fighting for South Carolina.”
Kimbrell’s withdrawal comes less than a week before the June 9 primary.
This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 5:30 AM with the headline "State Sen. Kimbrell ends his 2026 GOP bid for SC gov days before June 9 primary."
