Full Breakdown
Nancy Mace’s Primary Defeat and Its Political Reverberations
6/10/2026, 10:16:34 PM
Core Event: Fifth-Place Finish in South Carolina GOP Gubernatorial Primary
On June 9, 2026, U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace placed fifth in the South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary, receiving 12.2 % of the vote. The result eliminated her from the race and prompted a concession in which she endorsed Attorney General Alan Wilson for the June 23 runoff.
Background & Context: Mace’s Anti-Trans Advocacy and Prior Positioning
Since her 2020 election to the House, Mace became a leading opponent of transgender-rights legislation, repeatedly targeting Rep. Sarah McBride, the first openly trans member of Congress. Mace’s record includes attempts to restrict bathroom access for transgender people in federal buildings and a public incident in which she chased a woman she believed to be trans into a Capitol restroom. Her 2025-2026 campaign also highlighted a push for the release of Jeffrey Epstein’s files, a stance that alienated portions of the Republican establishment.
Timeline of Key Developments
- Nov 2020: Mace elected to the U.S. House.
- 2022: Wins re-election primary despite lacking a Trump endorsement.
- Aug 2025: Announces long-shot bid for South Carolina governor.
- June 9, 2026: Primary results announced; Mace finishes fifth.
- June 9, 2026 (evening): Mace issues concession and endorses Wilson.
- June 23, 2026: Scheduled runoff between Evette and Wilson.
Data & Statistics
- Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette: 29.3 % of primary vote.
- Attorney General Alan Wilson: 26.2 % of vote.
- Rep. Nancy Mace: 12.2 % of vote, fifth place.
- Donald Trump’s endorsement of Evette announced less than two weeks before the primary.
Official Statements & Responses
Rep. Sarah McBride addressed the primary outcome at Equality PAC’s National Pride Gala, noting that leadership sometimes requires restraint and emphasizing a persuasive rather than confrontational approach to cultural disputes. In her concession, Mace framed the loss as a consequence of her advocacy for exposing child-abuse perpetrators, asserting that her priorities differed from electoral calculations. Cameron Morabito, Mace’s director of operations, denied allegations of staff misconduct and threatened legal action against defamatory reporting.
Criticism & Opposition
Multiple reports describe Mace’s behavior as unprofessional, citing a profanity-laden outburst at a Charleston airport and allegations of staff creating burner accounts to defend her online. Critics also argue that her focus on national culture-war issues, such as the Epstein files, diverted attention from local economic concerns, contributing to her poor primary performance.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the extent to which Mace’s Epstein-file advocacy versus Trump’s endorsement determined the primary outcome. Campaign-expenditure figures remain unverified, and the reliability ratings of the cited reports range from moderate to unknown, leaving gaps in financial transparency.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Happy Pride, Nancy.” — Rep. Sarah McBride, U.S. Representative
- “I don't like punching down, and I believe in the politics of grace.” — Rep. Sarah McBride
- “I chose to expose the abusers of children. And apparently, I chose wrong if the goal was winning an election,” — Rep. Nancy Mace, U.S. Representative
- “Fucking incompetent,” — Rep. Nancy Mace (airport incident)
- “I hope she sues for every time you got paid to write this defamatory bullshit.” — Cameron Morabito, Director of Operations for Mace’s office
Why It Matters / Impact
Mace’s defeat underscores the decisive influence of former President Donald Trump’s endorsement within the South Carolina GOP, while highlighting the electoral risks for candidates who prioritize national culture-war agendas over localized policy messaging. The episode also illustrates the heightened visibility of trans-rights debates on the national stage.
What’s Next
The June 23 runoff will determine whether Evette or Wilson secures the Republican nomination. Mace’s endorsement of Wilson signals an attempt by the party’s establishment wing to consolidate opposition to Trump-aligned candidates, though the ultimate effect on her political future remains uncertain.
