Republican Rep. Nancy Mace Launches South Carolina Gubernatorial Bid for 2026
Rep. Nancy Mace launched her 2026 South Carolina gubernatorial campaign, emphasizing conservative fiscal policies and opposition to transgender rights, aligning with Mr. Trump.
GOP firebrand Rep. Mace to run for South Carolina governor
World News Group
Mace announces campaign for South Carolina governor
Washington Examiner
Nancy Mace Launches Campaign For South Carolina Governor
The Daily Wire
Overview
- Republican Rep. Nancy Mace officially launched her campaign for South Carolina governor in the 2026 primary, holding her initial event at The Citadel military college in Charleston.
- Mace, who describes herself as "Trump in high heels," has become a staunch ally of Mr. Trump, despite her past criticisms following the January 6 Capitol attack.
- Her campaign emphasizes strong opposition to transgender rights, a significant part of her political identity, and she has faced criticism for using anti-transgender slurs.
- A Citadel graduate, Mace previously voted to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and consistently opposed large spending bills, showcasing her conservative fiscal stance.
- Mace is joining a crowded GOP primary field, has begun a series of town halls in Myrtle Beach, and is presenting a 10-point agenda for her campaign.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources collectively frame Nancy Mace's campaign launch by emphasizing her controversial political persona and history of shifting stances. They consistently label her a "GOP firebrand" and highlight her "unexpected positions and actions," focusing on past conflicts and high-profile incidents. This editorial approach portrays her as a disruptive figure, rather than primarily detailing her policy platform.
"Mace told Fox News last week that she was leaning toward running for state-wide office, citing economic issues, crime and "gender-bending ideology" at colleges in the state."
CBS News"Mace told The Associated Press on Sunday she plans a multi-pronged platform aimed in part at shoring up the state’s criminal justice system, ending South Carolina's income tax, protecting women and children, expanding school choice and vocational education and improving the state's energy options."
ABC News"Mace has managed to grab headlines through some of her unexpected positions and actions."
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FAQ
Nancy Mace's 10-point agenda is a conservative, common-sense roadmap to rebuild South Carolina from the ground up, emphasizing fiscal conservatism, strong leadership, and opposition to policies she views as weak, particularly around transgender rights and government spending.
Nancy Mace is competing in a crowded GOP primary against South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, state Senator Josh Kimbrell, and Republican Representative Ralph Norman.
Nancy Mace was initially critical of Donald Trump following the January 6 Capitol attack, suggesting he had no future in the party, but she later became a staunch ally and supported his 2024 presidential bid. She has also shifted from some moderate positions to more conservative stances, including opposing transgender rights and leading efforts to restrict restroom use.
Launching her campaign at The Citadel is symbolically significant because Nancy Mace is an alumna and the first woman to graduate from the Corps of Cadets program there. It highlights her connection to South Carolina and her military college background as part of her campaign identity.
Nancy Mace has emphasized strong opposition to transgender rights as a core part of her political identity and has faced criticism for using anti-transgender slurs and leading GOP efforts to restrict restroom use in the Capitol after the first transgender person was elected to Congress.
History
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