Nancy Mace Concedes South Carolina Gubernatorial Primary After Failing To Gain Trump’s Support

Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace conceded she lost her gubernatorial bid during Tuesday’s primary after failing to receive the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

Trump-endorsed Republican South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Republican South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson advanced to a runoff, which will occur on June 23. Mace, who was in a distant fifth at the time of this writing, conceded the race, stating she was “at peace” with choosing to fight for releasing the Epstein files even if it cost her an election.

“I’ve taken on the rich and powerful in both parties because I stand with the people of South Carolina!” Mace said. “I am literally willing to get on a plane to evacuate you from a war zone – I’ve done that too. I voted to release the Epstein files and lost some support for that. As a survivor, I chose to stand on principle and stand against the Epstein cover-up. I chose to expose the names hidden in the sexual harassment slush fund. I chose to expose DEI judges. I chose to expose the abusers of children. And apparently, I chose wrong if the goal was winning an election.”

“I’m at peace with that. Because when a candidate is OK with corruption and cover-ups – something is broken. That’s not a political opinion. That’s a moral emergency,” Mace continued.

Mace defied Trump by pushing for the release of the files surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, which she claimed was the “sole reason” she did not receive the president’s endorsement. She joined Republican Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Lauren Boebert of Colorado and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia to fight for a discharge petition to force a vote on the release of the files. Trump pressured Mace and Boebert privately to take their names off the petition, though neither of them complied.

“That’s the sole reason I didn’t get the endorsement, because I voted to release the Epstein files, and I’m okay with that,” Mace told POLITICO. “I’ve worked very hard to expose pedophiles, and child rapists, and sex trafficking in my state, and will continue to do it regardless of the outcome of the election. It’s full steam ahead, no matter what. I’m not going down without a fight. I’m still the MAGA candidate. I support all of MAGA’s policies. I support our president. I’m also an independent conservative.”