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Rep. Nancy Mace’s bid to become South Carolina’s next governor came to an abrupt end Tuesday as the Republican congresswoman failed to advance to a runoff election, capping a turbulent campaign marked by controversy, clashes with President Donald Trump and questions about her political future.
South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and state Attorney General Alan Wilson secured the top two spots in the Republican primary and will face each other in a June 23 runoff to determine the party’s nominee for governor.
Mace entered the race as one of the best-known Republicans in the field and was widely viewed as a serious contender. But her campaign lost momentum amid a series of political setbacks, including her decision to break with Trump and support efforts to release files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump ultimately endorsed Evette during the final weeks of the campaign, praising her close ties to outgoing Gov. Henry McMaster, one of the president’s earliest supporters. The endorsement provided a significant boost to Evette in a crowded six-candidate Republican field.
For months, Trump’s neutrality had shaped the race as candidates competed for the president’s support. When Trump eventually backed Evette, it underscored Mace’s increasingly strained relationship with the president.
Ahead of the primary, Mace acknowledged that her involvement in pushing for the release of Epstein-related documents likely cost her any chance of securing Trump’s endorsement. Despite that, she continued to campaign aggressively while fending off millions of dollars in negative advertising from rival campaigns and outside groups.
The combination of sustained attacks and Trump’s backing of another candidate ultimately proved too much to overcome.
Mace’s defeat leaves her political future uncertain. By running for governor, she chose not to seek reelection to her coastal South Carolina congressional district, effectively giving up her House seat. She has also indicated she does not plan to pursue a return to Congress.
The loss represents another victory for Trump as he continues to exert influence over Republican primaries and challenge GOP officials who have diverged from him on high-profile issues. The outcome follows recent defeats for several Republicans who broke with the president, including Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.
With only months remaining in her congressional term, Mace will now return to Washington without an immediate path to elected office after January, leaving open questions about her next move in politics.
