South Carolina voters back tax cuts, spending limits, and transparency as GOP governor race remains wide open

South Carolina voters are signaling strong support for tax relief, spending restraint, and government transparency as the state heads into a wide-open, unsettled Republican primary for governor in 2026, according to a new statewide poll commissioned by the South Carolina Policy Council.

The survey of 1,200 registered voters finds voters sharply dissatisfied with the country's direction, skeptical that increased government spending has improved outcomes, and broadly aligned across party and ideological lines around a set of fiscal and governance reforms.

At the same time, nearly half of likely Republican primary voters remain undecided in a crowded gubernatorial field. The high number of undecideds is the dominant story. It signals that the race is early, volatile, and wide open.

Voters are more upbeat about South Carolina than the nation, with some warning signs

While a majority of voters say they are dissatisfied with the country's direction, views in South Carolina are more positive. Six in 10 voters say they are satisfied with the direction of the state, compared with 39% who are dissatisfied.

Tax reform has broad support

Eliminating the income tax has moved from a conservative wish list to a popular mandate. Support for eliminating South Carolina’s state income tax is both strong and broad:

• 72% of voters support phasing out the income tax
• Including 84% of Republicans, 61% of Democrats, and 62% of independents
• Support peaks at 85% among conservatives and still commands majority backing among moderates

However, voters consistently pair tax relief with expectations of fiscal discipline. Two-thirds of voters say tax reform should be accompanied by spending reform, including more than 70% of Republicans and conservatives.

The poll also finds voters skeptical that recent spending increases have delivered tangible benefits:

• 62% say state services have not improved despite state spending nearly doubling over the past decade
• That view is shared by majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and independents

Voters support structural limits on spending growth, with 65% supporting caps tied to population growth and inflation, including roughly three-quarters of Republicans and conservatives.

Transparency and budget accountability draw rare bipartisan agreement

Transparency is overwhelmingly popular.

More than three-quarters of voters support making legislative spending transparency requirements permanent, including more than 85% of Republicans and 68% of Democrats.

Voters demand accountability before approving more spending. Nearly two-thirds (63%) want the governor to fully enforce zero-based budgeting laws already on the books.

Voters also express reluctance to approve additional infrastructure funding without reforms. A majority opposes increasing Department of Transportation funding without structural changes, reflecting frustration with how existing resources are managed.

Education: Parental rights and academic standards unite voters

South Carolina voters are unconvinced that public schools are delivering. Only 46% are satisfied, while 38% are dissatisfied, underscoring persistent concerns about quality and outcomes.

While voters are divided on overall satisfaction with K–12 public education, they are aligned on several priorities:

• 82% say parental rights in education are important
  • Including 87% of Republicans, 77% of Democrats, and 78% of independents

A majority (54%) support banning mandatory grading floors, particularly conservatives, who view such policies as lowering academic standards.

When asked about their top concerns regarding public schools, voters most often cite academic standards (25%) and school safety (23%), well ahead of ideological or cultural issues.

Voters reject shifting costs to ratepayers

Voters say data centers should pay their own way. As South Carolina competes for large, energy-intensive data centers, voters strongly oppose policies that would shift costs to residential customers.

Roughly eight in ten (79%) voters say data centers should either generate their own power (40%) or pay for needed infrastructure upgrades (39%). Support for requiring long-term power purchase agreements (76%) is similarly strong.

Concerns linger about reviving the V.C. Summer nuclear project. Nearly three-quarters of voters (74%) say utilities should offset residential costs if new generation primarily serves data centers, reflecting lingering distrust following the project’s failure.

Republican primary dominates, but remains unsettled

The 2026 GOP Gubernatorial Primary is a wide-open contest with no clear frontrunner.

Nancy Mace leads named candidates at 18%, but 43% of likely Republican primary voters remain undecided in the 2026 gubernatorial race when presented with a ballot of potential candidates.

Among Republican primary voters, no candidate has consolidated support:

1. Nancy Mace 18%
2. Alan Wilson 12%
3. Pam Evette 12%
4. Ralph Norman 11%
5. Josh Kimbrell 4%
6. Undecided 43%

With over four in ten voters undecided, the 2026 Republican primary for governor is clearly still in its early stages. South Carolina voters are keeping their options open.

Large pool of politically homeless voters

While voter interest in the 2026 elections is high, 35% of voters say they feel politically homeless, including a majority of independents (57%) and four in ten Democrats.

While these voters may not switch parties, they represent a critical audience in competitive primaries, where turnout and persuasion matter more than party loyalty.

Bottom line

The poll paints a picture of an electorate focused less on partisan labels and more on results:

• Strong support for tax relief paired with spending discipline
• Broad agreement on transparency and accountability
• Emphasis on parental rights, academic standards and safety in schools
• Skepticism toward policies that shift costs from large corporations to residents

As the Republican primary for governor takes shape, the findings suggest policy positions, not just personalities, could play a decisive role in determining the next direction of state leadership.

Randy Ellison is founder and president of Targoz Market Research, where he advises corporations, associations, non-profits, and government agencies on consumer and voter attitudes, product development, and communications strategy. He previously served as Director of Marketing at the National Federation of Independent Business and worked in media research and polling at Gannett Newspapers. Ellison holds a graduate degree in political management from The George Washington University and a B.A. in economics from the University of Tennessee.