Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace lost the South Carolina governor’s primary on June 9, placing fifth with just over 12% of the vote. Mace said she lost support after helping push for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, while other political figures head t
When South Carolina voters went to the polls on June 9, Rep. Nancy Mace’s campaign ended in the least promising way possible: fifth place, with just over 12% of the vote.
The Republican primary set up a high-stakes runoff, with Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette—endorsed by President Donald Trump—and state Attorney General Alan Wilson advancing.
Mace, who had been seeking to move into the governor’s office, acknowledged her defeat in a concession speech that immediately tied her loss to one flashpoint: her role in pushing for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
In her concession speech, she said, “I voted to release the Epstein files and lost some support for that,” adding, “As a survivor, I chose to stand on principle and stand against the Epstein cover-up. I chose to stand against child rapists.”
Mace previously helped lead a push—along with three other Republicans—to force the Justice Department to release the files. a decision she said harmed her chances. The primary outcome suggests voters were weighing more than a single issue. even as her stated motivation centered on holding alleged abusers accountable.
While Mace framed the loss as a direct consequence of her position on the Epstein files, her broader record is crowded with incidents and proposals that have repeatedly kept her in headlines.
In 2025, she refused to attend town halls for constituents, saying on social media that the events had been organized by “left-wing extremists.” She also called her constituents “nasty” and “evil,” telling them they were taking away from “real people who have real needs.”
She has also accused individuals of misconduct and taken sharp language into public spaces. In December 2024, she claimed she was “physically accosted” by a foster care advocate when the two shook hands. In October 2025, she called police officers at Charleston International Airport “(expletive) incompetent.”.
Her legislative agenda has similarly drawn criticism, particularly around immigration and transgender-related issues. Recently. she introduced two bills directly targeting immigrants: one that would only allow people born in the United States to hold elected office. and another requiring mandatory “assimilation” screenings for immigrants trying to live in the United States.
On transgender issues, the attacks have been persistent. She has gone after trans people in recent years, using transphobic slurs and attempting to pass a federal bathroom bill requiring people to use facilities aligned with their assigned sex at birth.
Her supporters might argue these stances fit her political identity. Critics say they show a pattern of elevating conflict over governing.
That argument comes into sharper focus because even within Mace’s own explanation for the loss—her embrace of the Epstein file release—voters still chose not to back her for governor.
The political runoff now determines who South Carolina will send into the next phase of the campaign: Evette, the candidate backed by President Donald Trump, and Alan Wilson, who is also moving forward after the primary.
Mace’s campaign ends, but the debate over her priorities remains. She said she was acting on principle as a survivor. Voters made a different calculation on June 9—one that placed her fifth, with just over 12% of the vote.
Nancy Mace South Carolina governor primary Pamela Evette Alan Wilson Jeffrey Epstein files Justice Department runoffs Donald Trump endorsement immigration bills transgender bathroom bill Charleston International Airport