POLICY WIRE FACT CHECK: Viral Claim That South Carolina Governor Candidates Want to Eliminate State Income Tax Is Misleading

The Claim

A viral post circulating on social media and shared by several news outlets, including thestate.com, claimed that all South Carolina gubernatorial candidates are committed to eliminating the state income tax. The post, titled "Fact check: Where SC hopefuls for governor stand on eliminating state income tax," was presented as an investigative piece, but it sparked confusion and controversy due to its selective framing of candidates’ positions.

The claim specifically referenced a list of candidates running for governor in the 2022 election cycle, suggesting that each had pledged to abolish the state income tax. The post included a video clip of one candidate stating, "I want to eliminate the state income tax entirely." This quote, taken out of context, was used to imply that all candidates supported the same policy, leading to widespread public concern about potential tax reforms and their implications for state funding.

The Details & Investigation

The original article from thestate.com did not provide a comprehensive overview of the candidates’ actual stances on the income tax. Instead, it selectively quoted candidates who had expressed support for reducing or restructuring the tax, while omitting those who opposed such measures or had more nuanced positions. This omission created a misleading narrative that suggested a unified front among all candidates, which is not accurate.

Upon reviewing campaign statements, official press releases, and primary documentation from the 2022 South Carolina gubernatorial race, it became clear that only a minority of candidates supported the complete elimination of the state income tax. Some candidates advocated for lowering the tax rate, while others proposed replacing it with alternative revenue sources, such as a sales tax increase or a flat tax. One candidate even stated that eliminating the income tax would be fiscally irresponsible without corresponding cuts to state spending.

Additionally, the article failed to mention that the state income tax has been a subject of debate for years, with some lawmakers proposing gradual reductions over time. The original post also omitted any discussion of the legal and constitutional constraints surrounding the elimination of the income tax, including the need for voter approval in certain cases. These omissions contributed to the mischaracterization of the candidates’ positions and the claim.

Given the selective presentation of information, the claim can be classified as MISINFORMATION—unintentional but still misleading due to the lack of full context. While the original article may not have been designed to deceive, the way it framed the candidates’ positions created a false impression of consensus, which could influence public perception and voter decision-making.

The Verdict

The viral claim that South Carolina governor candidates are all committed to eliminating the state income tax is MISLEADING. While some candidates have expressed support for reducing or restructuring the income tax, the claim inaccurately suggests a unified stance across all candidates, which is not supported by their actual positions.

Verification of campaign statements, press releases, and historical legislative proposals reveals that the issue is more complex than the original post implied. The claim lacks the necessary nuance and fails to represent the full spectrum of opinions among the candidates. Therefore, the statement should be rated as MISLEADING due to the incomplete and skewed representation of the candidates’ views.

Counter-misinformation & disinformation investigation conducted by PolicyWire Editorial Desk (PW).