WIS (TV)

Republican nominee Alan Wilson and Democratic nominee Jermaine Johnson have agreed to face off in a live, one-hour debate on Oct. 6 in South Carolina's governor's race. The debate, moderated by WIS anchor Judi Gatson with questions from Gray Media political reporters and anchors across the state, will air from the WIS studios in Columbia and stream across Gray-owned stations and digital platforms in Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, Columbia, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Augusta-Aiken, Charlotte and Savannah.

The race marks South Carolina's first open gubernatorial contest in nearly a decade. Gov. Henry McMaster, who took office after Nikki Haley left to become U.N. Ambassador and won full terms in 2018 and 2022, is term-limited. The November election will determine his successor, making this debate a key early test for both candidates ahead of a race prediction markets are watching closely.

South Carolina Rep. Jordan Pace, chair of the state's Freedom Caucus, is calling on House and Senate leadership to convene a special legislative session to address rising gas prices. His proposal would provide a rebate of $300 to households that claimed dependents on their most recent state income tax return and $200 to other filers, at a projected cost of nearly $500 million.

Pace's office says the plan would be funded without raising taxes, by removing earmarks from the recently passed House appropriations bill and reclaiming 90% of unencumbered agency carry-forward balances. It remains unclear whether a special session will actually be called.

The push comes as AAA data showed South Carolina's average regular gas price at $3.92 per gallon and diesel at $6.04 per gallon, both up more than a dollar from the same time last year. The proposal highlights growing political pressure over fuel costs and state fiscal policy ahead of any legislative action.

Gray Media, South Carolina's largest television ownership group, is requiring candidates in this fall's gubernatorial and U.S. Senate debates to sign contracts barring them from joining rival broadcasters' debates without Gray's written consent. The clause, confirmed by multiple campaign sources, could limit other outlets' ability to host their own televised debates before the Nov. 3 general election.

Gubernatorial nominees Alan Wilson (R) and Jermaine Johnson (D) have tentatively set an Oct. 6 debate with Gray station WIS-TV, Gray's sixth debate broadcast since April. A Senate debate between Darline Graham and Annie Andrews remains under negotiation. Andrews' campaign said it signed Gray's pledge but has also accepted invitations from other stations, including SCETV and Nexstar- and Hearst-owned outlets, raising questions about how the exclusivity clause applies to debate clips and other coverage.

The dispute follows Gray's earlier partnership with the state GOP on primary debates and comes amid broader competition between Gray, Nexstar, and other networks for control of political debate coverage nationally.