Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) failed to advance in South Carolina’s gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, putting at least a temporary end to one of the most unusual political careers in recent memory. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, who had the backing of President Donald Trump, and Attorney General Alan Wilson advanced to a primary runoff. Mace placed fifth at the time the Associated Press called the race. The outcome was not unexpected, as despite high name recognition and a talent for attracting media attention, Mace had struggled in public polling for months.
Struggles Across the State
Mace was struggling throughout the state: She was not winning a single county and was running fifth even in her home county of Charleston. Mace conceded the race on Tuesday night.
“This isn’t the end of the fight, but it is the end of a chapter,” Mace said.
A Tumultuous Political Career
Mace first won office in 2020, initially positioning herself as a moderate. She harshly criticized Trump for his actions surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and expressed relatively liberal views on abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. However, over time, Mace developed a reputation for alienating her staff and focusing on national media attention.
She shifted dramatically to the right, especially on transgender rights. She introduced a resolution to bar transgender women from using women’s restrooms in the Capitol following the election of Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) and used anti-trans slurs during hearings. She later participated in the dramatic ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, further alienating her from some colleagues. Her decision to wear a scarlet “A” on her chest during the drama—a reference to “The Scarlet Letter”—reinforced the perception that she cared more about attention than governance.
Advocacy for Sexual Assault Victims
At the same time, Mace was a consistent advocate for victims of sexual assault. She was one of a handful of House Republicans to lead the charge to release the Epstein files, though this did not seem to put her on Trump’s enemies list in the same way it did for Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).
“I voted to release the Epstein files and lost some support for that,” Mace wrote on social media on Tuesday night. “As a survivor, I chose to stand on principle and stand against the Epstein cover-up. I chose to expose the names hidden in the sexual harassment slush fund. I chose to expose DEI judges. I chose to expose the abusers of children. And apparently, I chose wrong if the goal was winning an election.”
A Strange Twist
There is still time for one more strange twist in Mace’s career. Last year, she delivered a speech on the House floor where she accused her ex-fiancé and other prominent men in South Carolina, including Wilson, of being complicit in sex crimes against women. “Women who come forward in your system are treated like criminals under your leadership, in your system and on your watch, Attorney General Alan Wilson,” Mace said at the time. On Tuesday night, in her concession speech, Mace made her endorsement for the runoff: Alan Wilson.
