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Rep. Nancy Mace, a fiery Republican known for her provocative political style, officially launched her campaign for governor of South Carolina on Monday, upending what is expected to be one of the most crowded and combative Republican primaries in the state’s modern history.
Speaking at The Citadel, the military college where she made history in 1999 as its first female graduate from the Corps of Cadets, Mace, 47, declared herself a fighter who will not bow to party elites. “I didn’t come to join the club. They don’t want me, and I don’t want them,” she told supporters. “I wasn’t built to kiss the ring. I just wear one.”
The announcement ends months of speculation about her political future and positions Mace as a national figure in a high-stakes 2026 contest in a deep-red state where the Republican nominee is widely expected to win the governorship.
Background
A third-term congresswoman representing South Carolina’s coastal 1st District, Mace first entered politics as a state legislator before unseating Democrat Joe Cunningham in 2020. Her background as a Citadel graduate and daughter of retired Brig. Gen. James Emory Mace has helped her cultivate an image of personal grit and independence.
She made headlines in 2023 as one of only eight Republicans to vote to oust then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, bucking party leadership and drawing sharp criticism from GOP insiders. Her record includes votes against major spending packages and a series of public feuds with her own caucus.
Legal and Policy Positions
Mace’s gubernatorial campaign platform emphasizes hardline conservative positions on crime, education, and taxes. On Monday, she promised to eliminate the state income tax and ban what she described as “radical gender ideology” in public schools. “We’re going to ban pronouns in the classroom,” she said, adding that schools allowing “biological men in women’s bathrooms or locker rooms” would lose funding under her administration.
Her stance on LGBTQ issues marks a shift from earlier campaigns in which she supported LGBTQ rights. In recent years, she has pushed federal legislation restricting transgender bathroom access and publicly misgendered Delaware Rep. Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress.
Government and Legal Response
Mace’s campaign may also be shaped by explosive personal allegations she made during a 50-minute floor speech in February, in which she accused four men — including her former fiancé — of sexual assault, trafficking, and harassment. She also alleged that state Attorney General Alan Wilson, now a rival candidate, failed to act on evidence she said she provided his office.
Wilson’s office has denied receiving any such evidence and called her claims “categorically false.” The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) said in February it had opened an investigation after being contacted by U.S. Capitol Police, but Wilson’s office said last week it still had not received the case file.
Broader Context
Mace’s entry into the race adds to an already high-profile Republican field vying to succeed term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster. Other contenders include Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, state Sen. Josh Kimbrell, Rep. Ralph Norman, and Wilson, whose father is longtime GOP Rep. Joe Wilson.
The GOP primary promises to be intensely competitive, with several candidates boasting statewide recognition and strong conservative credentials. Former President Donald Trump has not endorsed anyone, though Mace’s launch video includes a clip of him calling her “a fighter.”
While Mace enjoys national name recognition and a loyal following among anti-establishment Republicans, her frequent controversies — including a recent incident in which she accused a man of assault after a handshake — could polarize voters.
Next Steps
Mace will begin a statewide “Mother of ALL Town Halls” tour on Wednesday, starting in Myrtle Beach. The early outreach signals her intent to build a grassroots campaign centered on direct voter engagement and cultural issues that resonate with the Republican base.
“We’re going on offense,” Mace said. “For your family, for your freedom, and for your future.”
