Alan Wilson
Republican | South Carolina
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Alan Wilson
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary
Race
Governor
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Francis Marion University, Florence,SC
University Of South Carolina Law School, Columbia, SC, J.D.
United States Army War College, Carlisle, PA
WORK & MILITARY
Army National Guard, Colonel, 1996-2026
AFFILIATIONS
Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church, Member, 2007-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Attorney General of South Carolina, 2011-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Attorney General of South Carolina, 2011-2026
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (8)
J.B. McCuskey
Todd Rokita
Mike Hilgers
Jeff Landry
Liz Murrill
OTHER (3)
Derek Brown
Phillip Lowe
Jay Jordan
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Sheriff Jay Koon - Lexington
Sherif Dennis Kelly - Greenwood
Dr. Bob Jones III
Sheriff Hobart Lewis - Greenville
Sheriff Duane Lewis - Berkely
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)
Deborah Long (2014)
Nikki Haley (2010)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Keystone PAC (2010)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund abortion providers. Period. I’ve fought against that as Attorney General and will continue as Governor.
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Abortion should be limited to very narrow circumstances, including to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape/incest/serious medical emergency. My priority is protecting life wherever possible and creating a culture of life in South Carolina, also including reforming foster care and adoption, prenatal and postnatal care, and supporting crisis pregnancy centers.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
I believe human life is sacred and deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
Human embryos represent life and should be treated with dignity and protected from intentional destruction.
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
Federal law should be enforced, including provisions that restrict the distribution of abortion-inducing drugs across state lines in violation of existing statutes. I’m currently part of a 21 state effort supporting it in addition to other measures I’ve taken against mail order chemical abortion drugs. I’ll continue that fight as Governor.
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
I believe wages are best determined by the market, economic growth, and opportunity, not by government mandates that can hurt small businesses and reduce job creation. Businesses need the freedom to make their own business decisions.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Free enterprise and strong property rights are foundational to economic success and upward mobility, and I will always defend them.
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
I will implement independent audits, called the Families First Audit Initiative, of state agencies to identify inefficiencies, fraud, waste, and abuse, increase transparency so taxpayers know where their money is going, cut unnecessary regulations and bureaucracy, reform underperforming agencies, and ensure every dollar spent delivers real value to families.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
It means the government cannot establish a national religion, but it does not mean faith should be pushed out of public life. People of faith have every right to live out their beliefs openly, and I believe it benefits public life and our communities. Citizens having a strong faith means we have a strong state and stronger family units, boosting opportunity and prosperity for everyone.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
No one should be forced by the government to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs. Protecting conscience rights is essential to preserving freedom. I’ve consistently defended the First Amendment and religious liberty as Attorney General. It’s a stalwart of our society and God-given rights.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
(C) I support maintaining Medicaid and Medicare for those who rely on them, while encouraging a system driven by competition, innovation, and private-sector solutions rather than expanding government control.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
I do not support creating broad government databases that track individuals’ medical conditions. We must protect personal privacy and limit government overreach.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
The Chinese Communist Party represents a significant and growing threat across multiple fronts, including national security, cyber espionage, and economic influence. We must take that threat seriously.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Our relationship with Israel is critically important. Israel is a key ally, a democracy in a volatile region, and a partner in the fight against terrorism. We should stand firmly with Israel.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
I am 100% opposed to sanctuary cities. Law enforcement must cooperate with federal authorities to enforce immigration laws and protect our communities. Sanctuary cities are unlawful and harmful to our society.
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
Education decisions should be made closer to home by states, local communities, and parents, not dictated by federal bureaucrats.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Strongly Agree
Foreign influence in our education system raises serious concerns, and we should ensure American schools are not shaped by foreign governments, especially in higher education.
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
Parents have the fundamental right and responsibility to guide their children’s upbringing, education, and health decisions, and government should respect that. Parents know what’s best for their child–not the government or unelected bureaucrats.
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
Trying to change a child’s gender is morally wrong and abusive to the child. Children should be protected from irreversible decisions, and parents should be fully involved in any decisions affecting their child’s well-being. God does not make mistakes.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
I believe marriage is a sacred institution rooted in faith and tradition, and I respect the role it plays in strengthening families and society.
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Strongly Disagree
I do not support expanding gambling, as it can have negative impacts on families and communities.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
My Chrisitan faith guides my life. I believe in personal responsibility, the importance of family, serving others, and leading with integrity and conviction. I try to lead with a biblical worldview.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I believe voter ID laws are important to ensure the integrity and confidence of our elections. I’ve defended election integrity time and time again and even sued the federal government when the Obama administration tried to outlaw our voter ID laws here in South Carolina.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
I do not support reparations. We should focus on equal opportunity and policies that benefit all Americans.
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
Women’s sports and private spaces should be protected to ensure fairness, safety, and equal opportunity for women and girls.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Strongly Disagree
We should be good stewards of our environment, but policies must be balanced, practical, and not come at the expense of economic growth or energy independence.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
We need a reliable, diversified energy portfolio, with a strong emphasis on dependable baseload sources like natural gas and nuclear energy to meet growing demand.
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
I am a conservative who believes in limited government, individual liberty, strong national defense, and traditional values.
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No, I have not.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No, I have not.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
The system should protect the public, uphold the rule of law, hold criminals accountable, and ensure justice for victims. We can’t afford soft on crime policies.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Protecting children from online predators is a core responsibility of government, and we must use every available tool to combat exploitation. It’s been a priority of mine as Attorney General and will continue to be as Governor. As a dad of two, this fight is personal to me.
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
Our legal system should be based on the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law, not foreign legal systems. Sharia law is dangerous and should not be allowed to take root here.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The Second Amendment shall not be infringed, and we should maintain that right while prosecuting the dangerous criminals who break the law. Taking away guns from law abiding citizens doesn’t stop crime.
