Controversial Rep. Nancy Mace Launches Bid for South Carolina Governor After Months of Inflammatory Comments

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace has officially entered the 2026 South Carolina governor’s race.

The Republican congresswoman, long rumored to be eyeing the position, made her candidacy official on Monday, Aug. 4. Her launch comes after a period of ideological repositioning, in which she has leaned hard into far-right messaging. In her campaign video, Mace highlighted a year full of headline-grabbing moments, describing herself as a “firebrand” and a “fighter.”

At 47, Mace has undergone a notable political transformation. Once seen as a moderate, she took office just days before the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and initially used her platform to condemn President Donald Trump for his role in the events. Her criticism drew Trump’s backlash and led him to endorse a primary challenger in her 2022 reelection bid. Mace prevailed, later mended ties with Trump, and rebranded herself as a MAGA-aligned conservative.

Since the start of the current congressional term in January, Mace has been at the forefront of House Republicans’ anti-transgender efforts, advocating for a ban on transgender individuals using bathrooms at the U.S. Capitol and using inflammatory language during a House hearing. She’s also shared multiple posts on X characterizing transgender identities as “delusion and mental instability.”

Her current rhetoric marks a sharp contrast from her earlier stance. In 2021, Mace expressed disappointment that COVID-19 had disrupted South Carolina’s Pride celebrations and wrote that she looked forward to “celebrate the challenges our LGBTQ+ has overcome, and the bright future ahead.” That same year, she publicly stated, “I strongly support LGBTQ rights. No one should be discriminated against. Religious liberty, gay rights, and transgender equality can all coexist.”

In February, Mace delivered an emotional speech on the House floor in which she accused four men — including her former fiancé, Patrick Bryant — of sexual misconduct, accusations Bryant strongly denied. She also alleged that South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, now a gubernatorial rival, ignored evidence she provided in the case.

Mace also drew national attention in January for a fiery back-and-forth with Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett during a House Oversight Committee hearing, telling Crockett, “If you want to take it outside, we can do that.” In another viral moment in April, Mace was caught on camera cursing at a constituent during an exchange in public.

Before joining Congress, Mace served in the South Carolina House of Representatives for two years. She made history as the first woman to graduate from The Citadel’s Corps of Cadets and later worked in public relations and journalism before launching her political career.

Mace enters a highly competitive Republican field, which includes Attorney General Wilson, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, a staunch conservative. Despite strong name recognition that positions her as an early frontrunner, the race remains open, with all candidates enjoying significant statewide support.