President Donald Trump has endorsed Republican candidates in three contested gubernatorial primaries, where competition for his backing has dominated the contests.

South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette is highlighting her connection to President Donald Trump in her first campaign ad for the state's gubernatorial race.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina says she plans to start a statewide series of town halls this week in Myrtle Beach now that she's running for governor.

Republican congressman Ralph Norman is entering South Carolina's 2026 governor's race.

Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina says she is “seriously considering” a gubernatorial run in 2026.

(AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy)HONOLULU -- Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell says the city plans to allow some activities that were shut down last month to control the spread of the coronavirus to resume under new guidelines. Gary Herbert will increase pandemic restrictions in two Utah cities as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in the state. The county accounted for 42% of the state’s cases despite having only 20% of state’s population. Eric Holcomb’s statewide mask mandate and other coronavirus restrictions poses a possible disruption to his reelection campaign. But the real toll is thought to be much higher, in part because many COVID-19 deaths were probably ascribed to other causes, especially early on, before widespread testing.

Pamela Evette was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Friday, but is recovering in isolation with her family at home, officials said. It was the fifth negative test since the pandemic began for the governor and the third for his wife, Symmes said. Two members of Evette's staff and some of her security detail are also isolating but have not tested positive for COVID-19, Symmes said. But where the lieutenant governor was infected with the virus will likely never be known, said Brannon Traxler, interim public health director for South Carolina. South Carolina's rate of COVID-19 infection has dropped significantly since it nearly led the country in July.