Pamela Evette has been involved in several minor controversies during her tenure as Lieutenant Governor and in her campaign for governor. These include campaign advertisement disputes, internal party censure motions, questions surrounding her business practices, and her husband’s legal history.
False Endorsement Claims
Evette’s gubernatorial campaign was criticized for airing an ad that misleadingly implied endorsements from Governor Henry McMaster and former President Trump. The ad featured old footage of McMaster praising Evette, but McMaster later clarified he had not endorsed any candidate in the 2026 race. After criticism from rivals and McMaster himself, the advertisement was pulled from the air.
Intra-Party Critiscism
Certain members of the Greenville County GOP pushed for a formal censure against Evette, arguing she failed to adequately support core “America First” values and accusing her of party establishment ties.
Business Practices & “Woke” Rhetoric
Evette faced accusations of hypocrisy over attacking “woke corporations,” while her own company, Quality Business Solutions, previously implemented diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. Critics suggested there was a disconnect between her rhetoric and her own business practices.
Evette backers aggressively dispute that contention – arguing the 57-year-old Ohio native has had no direct involvement in her former company since she became lieutenant governor six-and-a-half years ago. According to them, the vast majority of pro-DEI rhetoric attributed to QBS came after her departure – and was the handiwork of the Arizona-based company which purchased a majority stake in QBS in early 2019.
Husband’s Fraud Allegations
Media reports surfaced about legal disputes involving Evette’s husband, David Evette, who was accused of diverting company funds in a prior business venture. Although David Evette claimed the issues were resolved amicably, the controversy has generated ongoing scrutiny of Evette’s family business dealings.
These issues have sparked both media attention and opposition criticism, particularly in the highly competitive atmosphere of her current campaign for governor.
