Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), a prominent MAGA-aligned lawmaker, announced Monday that she is entering the South Carolina gubernatorial race, setting up what is expected to be a heated Republican primary. Mace, currently serving her third term in Congress, said she is running because she’s “tired of politicians who smile for the cameras, lie to your face, and then vanish when it’s time to lead.” She added, “South Carolina doesn’t need another empty suit. It needs a governor who will fight for you and your values.”

Mace’s campaign platform focuses on fiscal restraint and education reform. She has proposed freezing the state’s general fund spending at about $11.6 billion, requiring agencies to cut budgets by 3% to 4% annually, expanding access to vocational and trade schools, and defunding any office or agency that refuses to comply with state or federal law. Her campaign video showcased her pro-Trump credentials, featuring a clip of former President Donald Trump praising her as a “fighter.” Once critical of Trump after the January 6th Capitol riot, Mace has since realigned herself with the former president and is now a vocal supporter of his “America First” agenda.

The Republican field includes Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Rep. Ralph Norman, and a former prosecutor whom Mace has accused of mishandling an abuse case involving her ex-fiancé. Mace, 47, made history as the first female graduate of The Citadel in 1999 and began her political career in the South Carolina House before winning a congressional seat in 2020. Despite past tensions, Mace and Trump endorsed each other during the 2024 election cycle. Addressing critics who call her combative, she told NewsNation she’s simply “fighting for a bigger, better, and brighter future for South Carolina,” emphasizing her record as one of Congress’s most effective conservative lawmakers.