Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) officially launched her campaign for governor of South Carolina on Monday, vowing to chart a “new course” for the state grounded in common-sense conservative principles and America First policies.
“I’m running to put South Carolina first,” Mace said in a campaign statement first shared with Fox News Digital.
“We can continue doing the things we’ve always done, or we can chart a new course — one filled with common sense and bold policies to hold the line for South Carolina.”
Mace unveiled her candidacy with a policy event at The Citadel, her alma mater, and released a 10-point agenda aimed at rebuilding the state “from the ground up.”
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GOP Field Crowded, but Mace Sees Herself in the Lead
Mace joins a growing Republican primary field in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster, the state’s longest-serving governor. Other declared candidates include:
But Mace said the real race is between her and Wilson.
“We’re starting out front, in the lead, and it’s a two-man race,” she said.
Mace Calls Out Wilson Over Assault Allegations
In a bombshell speech earlier this year on the House floor, Mace accused four men — including her ex-fiancé — of sexual assault, and accused AG Wilson of ignoring evidence tied to her case.
“I will fight to the finish, and I will take out South Carolina’s Attorney General,” Mace declared.
“He’s turned a blind eye on women and on children and on the state for a lot of reasons.”
Wilson vehemently denied the allegations, calling Mace’s accusations “categorically false” and labeling her a “liar” with a “liberal voting record.”
“South Carolina families need a governor who will fight for our values,” Wilson said.
“Not someone who will compromise them for political gain and social media clicks.”
Wilson’s campaign also highlighted that every sheriff in Mace’s district has endorsed his run for governor.
Mace Embraces Trump While Targeting Cultural Battles
Though she once criticized President Trump after January 6, Mace later endorsed him in the 2024 Republican primaries and has since embraced his brand of America First conservatism.
In her launch video, she features a clip of Trump praising her as a “fighter” who is “tough” when she sets her sights on a goal. She also said she’ll work hard to earn Trump’s endorsement in the race.
Mace has made cultural issues central to her campaign:
“No child is born in the wrong body. No boy belongs in a girls’ locker room. And no teenage girl should lose her scholarship to a boy in a skirt,” she said.
Mace has previously led efforts in Congress to block biological males from entering women’s restrooms, including barring Rep. Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress, from women’s facilities.
“I’ve already started shutting down this woke ideology at South Carolina schools,” Mace said.
“And will do significantly more to gut this abusive ideology and ship it out of state.”
Mace Background
Mace brings a compelling personal story to the race: once a high school dropout, she worked at a Waffle House before becoming the first female graduate of The Citadel’s Corps of Cadets. She made history again in 2020, becoming the first Republican woman elected to Congress from South Carolina.
