Alan Wilson

Alan Wilson
Birthplace	South Carolina, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Attorney, politician
Title	Attorney General of South Carolina
Known for	Serving as Attorney General of South Carolina; 2026 South Carolina gubernatorial election candidate

Alan Wilson is an American attorney and politician serving as Attorney General of South Carolina. A Republican, Wilson has held the office for multiple terms, overseeing legal initiatives that range from combating child sexual exploitation to consumer protection and financial crime prosecutions. In 2026, he entered the race for Governor of South Carolina on a platform emphasizing affordability, government reform, education, and tax policy. Within the state's Republican primary field, he's positioned himself around family-oriented economics and collaborative intra-party competition. His tenure as attorney general and gubernatorial bid have made him a prominent figure in contemporary South Carolina politics.

Career

Attorney General of South Carolina

Alan Wilson has served as South Carolina's Attorney General, the state's chief legal officer. He represents the state in legal matters, enforces state laws, and oversees investigations and prosecutions across various issue areas. His work has included consumer protection, criminal prosecution, and legislative advocacy.

Child Sexual Exploitation Legislation

In February 2026, Wilson praised the South Carolina Senate for unanimously passing legislation to strengthen penalties for child sexual exploitation. The bill raised criminal penalties for sexual exploitation offenses involving minors, reflecting broader efforts to enhance protections for children in the state's legal framework. His endorsement underscored his office's focus on combating crimes against children, a priority he's emphasized throughout his tenure as attorney general.

Natural Gas Price Investigation

Residents complained. Wilson launched an investigation in February 2026 into rising natural gas prices that were hitting South Carolina consumers hard. His office examined recent price increases, particularly in the aftermath of winter storms that had driven up demand and costs.

Wilson issued a formal letter to an Upstate gas company demanding answers about the billing increases consumers had faced following the winter storms. He wanted explanations for the price spikes and documentation of what had driven those higher charges for residential customers. The investigation showed how he's used the attorney general's office for consumer protection, stepping in when residents faced unexpectedly high utility bills.

Criminal Prosecutions

Wilson's office has pursued criminal cases involving financial exploitation of vulnerable populations. In February 2026, a 44-year-old Lexington County man faced charges for stealing more than $48,000 from a nursing home resident. The prosecution through his office reflected the office's role in addressing elder abuse and financial crimes against people in institutional care settings.

2026 Gubernatorial Campaign

Wilson entered the race for Governor in 2026, joining a competitive Republican primary field. His campaign centered on several policy areas: government reform, education, tax policy, and making life more affordable for South Carolina families.

Platform and Policy Proposals

The theme of his campaign is clear. "Families first" would guide his administration, he told WCBD News 2, with affordability as the central concern driving his approach to governance. He's discussed government reform, education policy, and tax reduction through the lens of how they affect working families in the state.

In early February 2026, Wilson outlined how his lieutenant governor would function if he won office. The proposals defined specific priorities and responsibilities for that role, signaling his interest in structural government reform and efficient delegation of executive authority.

Republican Primary Dynamics

Multiple candidates have competed in the 2026 South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary. In February 2026, Wilson joined other governor candidates at a Greenville forum where they outlined their visions for the state. U.S. Representative Nancy Mace, described by the Post and Courier as a "chief critic," didn't attend. Wilson told his fellow candidates something important that day: "We can't destroy each other in a primary." This reflected his strategic positioning in the race, advocating for a primary contest that wouldn't damage the eventual nominee heading into the general election.

Endorsements

His gubernatorial campaign has drawn endorsements from prominent South Carolina figures. In February 2026, the former president of Bob Jones University backed Wilson for governor. BJU, a major institution in Upstate South Carolina, lent credibility within the state's conservative political landscape.

Political Positions

Through his work as attorney general and his 2026 campaign, Wilson has articulated positions on several policy areas.

Affordability and Economic Policy

Affordability stands at the center of both his attorney general work and his gubernatorial campaign. His natural gas investigation showed his willingness to hold utility companies accountable for price hikes affecting consumers. As a gubernatorial candidate, he's pledged that affordability would guide his administration, with a "families first" approach that includes tax policy reform.

Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Wilson has prioritized protecting children and vulnerable populations as attorney general. His support for legislation increasing penalties for child sexual exploitation reflects a law-and-order approach to criminal justice, especially regarding crimes against minors. His office's prosecution of financial crimes against nursing home residents further shows this commitment to protecting those unable to defend themselves from exploitation.

Government Reform

Wilson has proposed restructuring the lieutenant governor role with specific policy priorities and responsibilities within his administration. This indicates interest in making state government more efficient and distributing executive responsibilities across top state leadership.

Education

Education appears among his core campaign priorities. He's included education reform alongside affordability, tax policy, and government reform in his policy discussions.

Consumer Protection Initiatives

Wilson has used the attorney general's authority to investigate and address consumer complaints. His response to rising natural gas bills in 2026 demonstrated this approach. After receiving what his office described as a significant number of complaints from South Carolina residents about unexpectedly high natural gas bills, Wilson initiated an investigation into the pricing practices of gas companies serving the state.

The investigation focused particularly on price increases following winter storms, which created conditions of high demand and supply strain. His office issued formal correspondence to at least one Upstate gas company, demanding explanations for billing increases and seeking documentation of factors driving higher costs for residential customers. The investigation represented how Wilson uses the attorney general's office as a consumer protection tool, bringing state legal authority to bear on individual consumer grievances.