Once a rising star in Republican politics, Rep. Nancy Mace suffered a decisive defeat in South Carolina’s GOP gubernatorial primary, finishing fifth according to unofficial returns.
Mace lost not only the statewide race but also her own home county and congressional district, underscoring the scale of her political collapse.
Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, backed by President Donald Trump, emerged as the frontrunner in the primary, with state Attorney General Alan Wilson securing the second runoff spot.
With no candidate securing an outright majority, Evette and Wilson will face each other in a runoff election scheduled for June 23.
Businessman Rom Reddy finished ahead of Mace, capturing approximately 14 percent of the vote, while Mace trailed with roughly 12 percent, according to the Associated Press.
Ralph Norman finished with about 16 percent, placing ahead of both Reddy and Mace in a crowded field that ultimately exposed the depth of Mace’s weakened standing within her own state party.
Mace conceded before 9 p.m. on election night, stepping back before the race had even been formally called as it became clear she faced an insurmountable deficit.
Addressing her supporters, Mace said she believes she lost the race when she chose to go against her own party and call for the release of the Epstein files, and that it cost her the governorship.
The defeat marks a sharp reversal for a politician who had once been considered a promising figure within the national Republican Party after flipping a competitive South Carolina congressional seat.
Being spurned by Trump, whose endorsement carries enormous weight in Republican primaries across the South, proved fatal to Mace’s campaign and effectively ended her path to the statehouse.
