Nancy Mace won South Carolina’s Republican gubernatorial primary on June 9 with nearly a 30-point margin, a decisive victory that defied expectations shaped by President Donald Trump’s endorsement of her chief rival, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.
Mace, a three-term U.S. representative from South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, emerged triumphant in what her campaign described as the most expensive Republican primary in state history. She defeated a crowded field that included Evette, state Attorney General Alan Wilson, Rep. Ralph Norman, and business executive Rom Reddy.
The result marked a striking reversal of pre-election forecasts. According to USA Today, a Trafalgar Group poll conducted just days before Trump’s endorsement showed Evette with a slight lead at 19.9%, while Mace trailed at 14.6%. But after Trump announced his support for Evette on May 29, polls showed the lieutenant governor surging to 26.3%, with no other candidate exceeding 18%.
Trump’s endorsement of Evette underscored a complicated relationship between the president and Mace. The congresswoman had sought Trump’s backing for months, but their alliance has been strained by past disagreements. In 2021, Mace criticized Trump’s rhetoric after the January 6 Capitol riot, calling it “un-American.” More recently, she joined three other House Republicans in voting to compel the Justice Department to release files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — a move that drew Trump’s public disapproval.
In response to Trump’s May 29 endorsement of Evette, Mace posted on X: “I know I put the likelihood of an endorsement on the line when I demanded transparency on the Epstein files. If sacrificing my values is the price of an endorsement, I will never pay it.” She subsequently rebranded herself as the “Iron Lady,” invoking a comparison to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Mace’s campaign emphasized grassroots support and her independent streak. According to USA Today, Marty Irby, president of a conservative lobbying firm, noted that Mace had previously defeated Trump-backed candidates and didn’t rely on presidential endorsements. “She is a fearless woman,” Irby said. “She’s the most fearless member of the House.” Her victory in the primary now positions her as the Republican nominee to succeed term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster in the general election this November.
Sources
- Nancy Mace for Governor — Confirmed the 30-point primary victory margin and described it as the most expensive Republican primary in South Carolina history
- USA Today — Reported on Trump’s endorsement of Evette, polling shifts after the endorsement, Mace’s Epstein vote, and commentary from Republican activists and supporters
- The Washington Post — Provided live election results and context on the crowded five-candidate field
