Rep. Nancy Mace announces gubernatorial campaign in South Carolina

Rep. Nancy Mace launched her bid for South Carolina governor, jumping into the GOP primary Monday.

Ms. Mace, a third-term lawmaker in the state’s 3rd District, announced her gubernatorial run at the Citadel military college in Charleston, where she graduated as its first female cadet.

“I’m running for governor because South Carolina doesn’t need another empty suit and needs a governor who will fight for you and your values,” she said. “South Carolina needs a governor who will drag the truth into sunlight and flip the tables if that’s what it takes.”

Ms. Mace will face off against Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, state Attorney General Alan Wilson and Rep. Ralph Norman in the primary. Republican Gov. Henry McMaster is term-limited.

Ms. Mace is expected to travel across the state and do a series of town-hall meetings throughout the week, including an event in Myrtle Beach.

Her first ad includes news sound clips describing Ms. Mace as a lawmaker who has angered both Republicans and Democrats while pleasing Mr. Trump, who branded her as a “fighter.”

She became known for leading the effort to prohibit biological men from the women’s bathrooms around the Capitol Hill complex after Rep. Sarah McBride, Delaware Democrat, a transgender woman, was elected to Congress.

The candidates will likely compete for Mr. Trump’s endorsement, who could be a significant factor in getting the needed votes for an edge in the primary election.

Mr. Wilson and Ms. Evette have also hyped their own political connections to the president. Ms. Mace, though, has gone as far as describing herself as “Trump in high heels.”

“No one will work harder to get his attention and his endorsement,” she said. “No one else in this race can say they’ve been there for the president like I have, as much as I have and worked as hard as I have to get the president his agenda delivered to him in the White House.”

Ms. Mace has chiefly supported Trump since he launched his first campaign in 2016. She did criticize him following Jan 6. ], 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol, which caused him to support a primary challenger in her 2022 race.

However, she won reelection that year and earned his endorsement in 2024.

After briefly serving in the South Carolina state House, in 2020 she became the first Republican woman elected to represent South Carolina in Congress, flipping the 1st District after one term with a Democratic representative.

• This story is based in part on wire service reports.