In 2025, Nancy Mace announced a campaign for Governor of South Carolina, entering the contest for the 2026 election. The seat is open due to term limits affecting the sitting governor.

Announcement

Mace launched her gubernatorial bid while serving in Congress. Her campaign has emphasized her record and her Charleston-area base.

Primary field and polling

South Carolina held its Republican gubernatorial primary on June 9, 2026. The primary field included multiple candidates. Internal campaign polling in March 2026 placed Mace as the early front-runner with approximately 24 percent support. Her standing declined through April and May.

On May 29, 2026, former President Donald Trump endorsed Pamela Evette, a rival candidate in the Republican primary, rather than Mace. By late May 2026, polling showed Mace at approximately 12 to 15 percent.

Trump endorsement of rival

Trump's May 29, 2026 endorsement of Pamela Evette was a significant development in the primary. Mace had been a Trump supporter in Congress; the endorsement of a competitor was widely noted in political coverage of the race.

Status

This entry tracks the campaign at a high level. Detailed developments — endorsements, polling, debates, filings, and results — are recorded as they occur in the Dispatches feed and summarized here.

See also

• Congressional Career
• Overview

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Neutral, public-record entry covering an active campaign. Details will change; "TODO: verify" items are not yet confirmed against a primary source.