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 who has served as the Attorney General of South Carolina. A member of the Republican Party, Wilson has held the office of attorney general for multiple terms, during which he has overseen a range of legal initiatives including efforts to combat child sexual exploitation, consumer protection investigations, and prosecutions of financial crimes. In 2026, Wilson entered the race for Governor of South Carolina, campaigning on a platform centered on affordability, government reform, education, and tax policy. His gubernatorial campaign has drawn attention within South Carolina's Republican primary field, where he has positioned himself as a candidate focused on family-oriented economic policies and a collaborative approach to intra-party competition. Wilson's tenure as attorney general and his bid for the governorship have made him one of the most prominent political figures in contemporary South Carolina politics.

Career

Attorney General of South Carolina

Alan Wilson has served as the Attorney General of South Carolina, the state's chief legal officer. In this capacity, he has been responsible for representing the state in legal matters, enforcing state laws, and overseeing investigations and prosecutions across a range of issue areas. His tenure has been marked by involvement in consumer protection, criminal prosecution, and legislative advocacy.

Child Sexual Exploitation Legislation

In February 2026, Wilson publicly praised the South Carolina Senate for unanimously passing legislation designed to strengthen penalties for child sexual exploitation in the state. The bill aimed to raise the criminal penalties associated with sexual exploitation offenses involving minors, reflecting a broader effort to enhance protections for children within the state's legal framework. Wilson's endorsement of the legislation underscored his office's focus on combating crimes against children, a priority he has emphasized throughout his time as attorney general.

Natural Gas Price Investigation

In February 2026, Wilson launched an investigation into rising natural gas prices following a significant number of complaints from South Carolina residents. The attorney general's office looked into recent price increases for natural gas that had affected consumers across the state, particularly in the aftermath of winter storms that had driven up demand and costs.

As part of this investigation, Wilson issued a formal letter to an Upstate gas company regarding the recent price increases that consumers had experienced following winter storms. The letter sought explanations from the company about the billing increases and the factors that contributed to higher charges for residential customers. The investigation illustrated Wilson's use of the attorney general's office as a vehicle for consumer protection, intervening on behalf of residents who faced unexpectedly high utility bills.

Criminal Prosecutions

Under Wilson's leadership, the attorney general's office has pursued criminal cases involving financial exploitation of vulnerable populations. In February 2026, a 44-year-old Lexington County man was charged with stealing more than $48,000 from a nursing home resident. The case was prosecuted through the attorney general's office, reflecting the office's role in addressing elder abuse and financial crimes targeting individuals in institutional care settings.

2026 Gubernatorial Campaign

In 2026, Alan Wilson entered the race for Governor of South Carolina, joining a competitive Republican primary field. His campaign has focused on several key policy areas, including government reform, education, tax policy, and economic affordability for South Carolina families.

Platform and Policy Proposals

Wilson has articulated a campaign platform centered on the theme of making life more affordable for South Carolina residents. In an interview with WCBD News 2, Wilson stated that "families first" would be the guiding principle of his administration if elected, emphasizing affordability as a central concern of his governance approach. He discussed proposals related to government reform, education policy, and tax reduction, framing these issues through the lens of their impact on working families in the state.

In early February 2026, Wilson unveiled new policy proposals defining the role his lieutenant governor would play if he were elected. The proposals outlined specific priorities and responsibilities for the lieutenant governor position, suggesting a more expansive and clearly defined role for the office within a Wilson administration. This approach signaled Wilson's interest in structural government reform and the efficient delegation of executive authority.

Republican Primary Dynamics

The 2026 South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary has featured multiple candidates vying for the nomination. In a February 2026 appearance in Greenville, Wilson joined other governor candidates for a forum where the candidates shared their visions for the state. Notably, U.S. Representative Nancy Mace, described by the Post and Courier as a "chief critic," was absent from the event. During the forum, Wilson urged his fellow Republican candidates to maintain a spirit of cooperation, stating, "We can't destroy each other in a primary." This remark reflected Wilson's strategic positioning within the race, advocating for a primary contest that would not weaken the eventual nominee heading into the general election.

Endorsements

Wilson's gubernatorial campaign has received endorsements from notable figures in South Carolina. In February 2026, the former president of Bob Jones University (BJU) endorsed Wilson for governor. BJU is a prominent institution in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and the endorsement from its former president was considered significant within the context of the state's conservative political landscape.

Political Positions

Based on his public statements and policy proposals during the 2026 gubernatorial campaign and his actions as attorney general, Wilson has articulated positions across several policy areas.

Affordability and Economic Policy

Wilson has made economic affordability a central theme of both his attorney general tenure and his gubernatorial campaign. His investigation into natural gas price increases demonstrated a willingness to use the power of the attorney general's office to hold utility companies accountable for price hikes that affect consumers. As a gubernatorial candidate, he has pledged that affordability would guide his administration, with a "families first" approach to governance that includes tax policy reform.

Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Wilson has prioritized the protection of children and vulnerable populations in his role as attorney general. His public support for legislation increasing penalties for child sexual exploitation reflects a law-and-order approach to criminal justice, particularly regarding crimes against minors. The prosecution of financial crimes against nursing home residents through his office further underscores this focus on protecting those who may be unable to protect themselves from exploitation.

Government Reform

Wilson has proposed restructuring the role of the lieutenant governor, outlining specific policy priorities and responsibilities that the position would carry within his administration. This proposal indicates an interest in making state government more efficient and in distributing executive responsibilities across the top levels of state leadership.

Education

Education has been identified as one of Wilson's key policy areas in his gubernatorial campaign. While specific policy details have been discussed in campaign contexts, Wilson has included education reform among the core issues he has addressed alongside affordability, tax policy, and government reform.

Consumer Protection Initiatives

As attorney general, Wilson has used the office's authority to investigate and address consumer complaints. His response to rising natural gas bills in early 2026 demonstrated this approach in practice. 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 that followed winter storms, which had created conditions of high demand and supply strain. Wilson's office issued formal correspondence to at least one Upstate gas company, demanding explanations for the billing increases and seeking documentation of the factors driving higher costs for residential customers. The investigation represented Wilson's broader use of the attorney general's office as a consumer protection tool, placing the weight of state legal authority behind individual consumer grievances.