Pamela Sue Evette (née Gajoch; born August 28, 1967) is an American politician and businesswoman and 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 her election as lieutenant governor. She is the first lieutenant governor to be elected on the same ticket as the governor. She has been in office since January 9, 2019, when Henry McMaster began his first elected term as governor.
Evette was the first lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket as the governor. Before the 2018 election, South Carolina lieutenant governors were elected independently of the governor. She defeated Mandy Powers Norrell in the gubernatorial election on November 6, 2018. Evette took office as South Carolina's second female lieutenant governor (the first being Nancy Stevenson from 1979 through 1983 under Richard Riley) on January 9, 2019.[3]
Evette took office as lieutenant governor on January 9, 2019.[4] Behind Nancy Stevenson, Evette is the second woman to hold the role of lieutenant governor, and first Republican woman to hold the office.[5]
In South Carolina, the duties of the lieutenant governor are to focus mainly on the initiatives of the executive branch. Evette has spent much of her time in office traveling the state to meet with businesses and constituents, giving speeches and addresses that support Governor Henry McMaster. Evette said in an interview with the Associated Press that she has "doubled the potential footprint" of the governor's office through hosting various events across the state and communicating with lawmakers.[6]
Evette has also focused her attention on education, school choice, promoting business, and protecting South Carolina's natural resources.
In 2019, Evette was asked to join Cohort 6 of the Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows program.[7]
In 2019, Evette launched the annual Grab A Bag SC, a statewide litter pick-up initiative with PalmettoPride to encourage South Carolinians to grab a bag and clean up their communities.[8]
In 2020, Evette served as chair of the South Carolina Governor’s Complete Count Commission for the 2020 Census.[9]
In 2020, Evette attended and helped lead the accelerateSC initiative.[10]
In 2020, Evette participated in the SC7 Expedition to raise awareness for floodwater prevention and the importance of protecting South Carolina’s natural resources.[11]
In 2023, Evette joined thousands of students at a State Rally Celebrating School Choice at the Capitol.[12]
Evette is South Carolina's first lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket as the governor. Her predecessor, Kevin L. Bryant, was a political enemy of Governor McMaster, and the two consequentially did not have the same political agenda.
In October 2019, 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.[13]
In November 2022, McMaster and Evette won reelection.[14]
On December 12, 2023, McMaster underwent a minor 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.[15]
Awards and honors
In 2015, Evette was ranked the #3 top female entrepreneurs in the United States by Inc. Magazine, noting that as CEO, she grew her business to a one-billion-dollar enterprise in the 15 years since its inception.[16]
Electoral history
South Carolina Gubernatorial Election (Lt. Governor), 2018[17]
Italics indicate next-in-line of succession for states and territories without a directly elected lieutenant governor or whose lieutenant governor office is vacant:
