Polling Average
30%25%20%15%10%5%0%
25%
8%
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$1.6K
JUN 10, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Current roleGovernor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyMainstream Democrat
GenderMale
LocationSouth Carolina
BackgroundState representative
EducationCollege of Charleston — Communication (BA/undergraduate major)
Notable personal detailsJermaine L. Johnson Sr. is a Democratic member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, representing District 52 (Kershaw and Richland counties). He was first elected to the state House in 2020 (then representing District 80) and has announced and filed to run for Governor of South Carolina in the 2026 election cycle. Johnson attended the College of Charleston, where he majored in communication and played on the men’s basketball team, and later earned a doctorate in business administration and organizational leadership from Northcentral University.
The candidate advocates both increased direct payments to residents (a proposed Palmetto Dividend universal payment of $400 per adult) and targeted tax relief for working families (including lowering property taxes). There is no clear, consistent proposal in the available materials that specifies how the dividend would be funded or whether taxes would be raised on high earners or corporations to pay for expanded programs.
Supports expanding access to healthcare including investing in rural hospitals and broadening coverage; prioritizes affordable healthcare and reproductive rights as part of his policy agenda.
unknown
The candidate supports protecting women’s reproductive rights and says medical decisions should be left to families and their doctors. He has written legislation related to centering female legislators on reproductive issues and frames protecting reproductive rights as a policy priority.
Supports investing in state infrastructure and increasing in-state production and resiliency for food, energy, and water (including a campaign proposal to require at least 25% in-state production). Has supported alternative-fuel tax credits and generally scores highly with state conservation voters, while showing mixed positions on specific bills.
Supports increasing accountability for gun owners and tougher penalties for negligent storage to prevent children from accessing firearms; emphasizes prioritizing youth safety and putting resources behind prevention. No explicit support for sweeping bans or constitutional-carry measures found in the sourced materials.
Jermaine Johnson is in the news as a Democratic candidate in South Carolina’s 2026 governor’s race and is heading into the June 9 primary. His campaign reported about $160,000 raised in the first quarter, roughly matching fellow Democrat Billy Webster, according to filings with the South Carolina State Ethics Commission. Johnson also appeared at a University of South Carolina forum where candidates laid out priorities on issues like taxes, regulations, mental health, infrastructure, affordability, and environmental conservation.
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