News Summary
Rep. Nancy Mace has officially announced her candidacy for governor of South Carolina, aiming to succeed term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster. Mace, a third-term U.S. House representative, emphasized the need for effective leadership in her campaign launch at the Citadel military college. While seeking former President Trump’s endorsement, she has proposed a series of bold initiatives, including cutting state income tax and banning ‘woke ideology’ in education. The GOP primary will feature significant competition, including several notable candidates.
South Carolina
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) has officially announced her candidacy for governor, launching her campaign to succeed term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster. Mace made her announcement on Monday at the Citadel military college in Charleston, where she is an alumna. Her entry into the race signals the start of a competitive GOP primary featuring several notable candidates.
Currently serving her third term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Mace highlighted the need for effective leadership in her announcement. She criticized current politicians for a lack of authenticity and commitment to governance. Mace aims to position herself as a champion for the values of South Carolinians, promising to address the issues she believes are affecting the state.
While Mace has not yet secured the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, she plans to actively seek his support. In her campaign announcement video, she included a clip of Trump calling her a “fighter.” However, their relationship has been complex; Mace was critical of Trump after the January 6 insurrection and voted to certify Joe Biden’s election as president, despite now aligning herself more closely with Trump’s political platform. Following a victory over a Trump-endorsed opponent in the 2022 GOP primary, she has positioned herself as a strong ally of the former president and has labeled herself “Trump in high heels.”
As part of her campaign platform, Mace has made bold proposals, including a commitment to ban what she describes as “woke ideology” and to target issues related to gender identity in educational settings. She has promised to freeze South Carolina’s general fund spending at approximately $11.6 billion and proposes annual budget cuts of 3% to 4% for every state agency. Additionally, Mace expressed her support for expanding access to vocational and trade schools to help prepare the workforce for future demands.
In her campaign, she has indicated a commitment to a “zero-tolerance approach to crime” and aims to cut the state income tax to zero. Mace has also vowed to defund any office, agency, or department that fails to comply with state and federal laws, reflecting her commitment to adherence to legal standards and her vision for governance.
Other GOP candidates in the South Carolina gubernatorial primary include state Attorney General Alan Wilson, U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell. The winner of the GOP primary will likely be the frontrunner in the general election, as South Carolina is viewed as a solidly red state, having consistently supported Trump in the last three presidential elections.
Mace has also been involved in public accusations against her ex-fiancé and three other men, claiming they committed various sex crimes against her and others, allegations which they have denied. She has accused Attorney General Wilson of failing to take appropriate action regarding her ex-fiancé, a claim he has called “categorically false.”
Throughout her political career, Mace has attracted attention for her controversial stance on transgender rights, having criticized Rep. Sarah McBride, a fellow politician and the first transgender member of Congress. She has proposed measures to block McBride from accessing women’s facilities in the Capitol and has pledged to ban pronouns in educational settings, demonstrating her commitment to traditional gender norms in education.
Mace’s entry into the gubernatorial race is indicative of the changes within the GOP landscape in South Carolina and reflects a larger trend in GOP politics regarding issues of identity and governance.
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