Rep. Nancy Mace’s bid to become the next governor of South Carolina came to an abrupt halt Tuesday night after voters delivered a disappointing result for the congresswoman in the Republican primary, leaving two other candidates to battle it out in a runoff election.
The outcome marked a significant setback for Mace, whose campaign struggled to gain momentum in a crowded field and ultimately finished well behind the leading contenders. Instead, the race will move forward with a showdown between Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson after neither candidate secured the majority required to win outright.
Evette, who recently earned a coveted endorsement from President Donald Trump, finished atop the field with 29 percent of the vote. Wilson followed closely behind with 26 percent. Rep. Ralph Norman received 17 percent, businessman Rom Reddy captured 15 percent, and Mace trailed the group with 11 percent.
The result underscored the continued influence Trump holds within Republican politics, particularly in South Carolina, where his endorsement arrived at a critical moment in the campaign.
Just weeks before the primary, speculation had begun circulating that Trump was preparing to back Evette. Mace publicly pushed back against those reports and sought to cast doubt on claims that the lieutenant governor had secured the president’s support.
“Pamela Evette is NOT ENDORSED by DONALD TRUMP,” Mace wrote on social media. “Do not believe her LIES.”
The post included an AI-generated video depicting Mace and Trump together giving a thumbs-up gesture. However, any uncertainty surrounding Trump’s position was short-lived. Only hours later, the president formally endorsed Evette, providing a major boost to her campaign.
Evette quickly embraced the endorsement and publicly thanked Trump for his backing.
“I am deeply honored to receive President @realDonaldTrump’s Complete and Total Endorsement for Governor of South Carolina,” she wrote. “Thank you, Mr. President.”
The endorsement proved especially valuable in a race featuring several well-known Republican figures competing for the nomination.
For Mace, the loss follows a series of disagreements that have at times placed her at odds with Trump and parts of the Republican base. Among the most notable was her decision to join a small group of House Republicans supporting a discharge petition that forced a vote on legislation seeking the release of Department of Justice files related to deceased sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
More recently, Mace raised concerns about the Trump administration’s explanation for the war in Iran. In remarks made earlier this year, she questioned whether lawmakers and the public had received the same information regarding the conflict.
“The justifications presented to the American public for the war in Iran were not the same military objectives we were briefed on today in the House Armed Services Committee,” Mace said in March.
She also warned that prolonged military conflicts can create political challenges even among voters who generally support strong national defense policies.
“This gap is deeply troubling,” Mace said. “The longer this war continues, the faster it will lose the support of Congress and the American people.”
With Mace eliminated from contention, South Carolina Republicans will now turn their attention to the upcoming runoff between Evette and Wilson, a contest that will determine who carries the party’s banner into the general election and potentially becomes the state’s next governor.
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