After a Controversial Term, Rep. Nancy Mace Triumphs in GOP Primary Challenge in South Carolina

Rep. Nancy Mace has secured the Republican nomination following a tumultuous second term in South Carolina, during which she transitioned from being an adversary to an ally of former President Donald Trump. She made headlines for various reasons beyond her work on the House floor.

Newsmax has confirmed her victory in the race.

Mace emerged as the winner over challengers Catherine Templeton and Bill Young in the voting that ended on Tuesday. She is set to face a Democratic opponent in the general election in the 1st District, which is considered the closest thing to a swing district in the predominantly Republican state of South Carolina.

Despite Trump’s endorsement — following his criticism of her in 2022 — Mace has attracted significant attention, far exceeding that of a typical second-term member of Congress.

She is a regular guest on interview shows, often engaging in debates with hosts. While she advocates for her party to take a moderate stance on issues like abortion and marijuana, she has also aligned with some of the most conservative members to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Mace defended her positions and beliefs by stating that she is simply reflecting the values of the 1st District, which stretches from the historic neighborhoods of Charleston down the coast to the newly developed retirement communities in Beaufort County.

Her opponents argued that her approach seems to be scattered, with Mace appearing inconsistent on various issues.

Templeton previously served as the head of South Carolina’s health and environmental agency, while Young is a Marine veteran and financial planner.

In the Democratic primary for the 1st District, businessman and former International African American Museum CEO Michael Moore is up against Mac Deford, a Citadel graduate and lawyer representing some of the larger communities in the district.

The 1st District was redrawn to be more Republican after a brief Democratic win in 2018. It was the only congressional district in South Carolina where Nikki Haley defeated Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

Another Republican incumbent facing a tough primary race is Rep. William Timmons in the 4th District, centered around Greenville and Spartanburg.

Timmons’ reelection bid has been complicated by personal issues, including accusations of an affair made by a husband in a widely shared Instagram post. Timmons has denied the allegations and requested privacy.

His challenger, South Carolina Rep. Adam Morgan, a member of the Freedom Caucus, is challenging Timmons from the right, claiming that he is not conservative enough to be a true Republican.

Trump has endorsed Timmons, while U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida has supported Morgan’s campaign through social media.

The 3rd District seat is open after Rep. Jeff Duncan opted not to run for reelection. Seven Republicans are vying for the seat, with no clear frontrunner in the race.

The Democratic primary in the 3rd District features high school science teacher Frances Guldner and Byron Best, who manages a Sherwin-Williams paint store in Greenwood.

Rep. Joe Wilson, seeking a 12th term in the 2nd District, is the only other U.S. House incumbent facing a primary challenger in the upcoming elections.

The Republican primary in the 6th District includes attorney Duke Buckner and welder Justin Scott, with the winner set to face Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn.

In the 7th District Democratic primary, teacher Mal Hyman and veteran Daryl Scott are competing for the nomination to challenge Republican Rep. Russel Fry in the general election.