Rep. Nancy Mace signaled that her time in elected office may be coming to an end after suffering a decisive defeat in South Carolina’s Republican gubernatorial primary.
The South Carolina congresswoman finished a distant fifth in the race and later suggested she plans to leave public office when her current House term concludes.
“Headed back to the private sector at the end of this term, as the Founders intended,” Mace wrote on X.
“When I ran in 2020, I said I’d only serve 3 terms and my time is up. It’s truly been an immense honor and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.”
Mace insisted that her defeat did not mark the end of her political activism.
“This isn’t the end of the fight,” she said. “It’s just the end of this chapter.”
Following the race, Mace endorsed South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who advanced to a runoff against Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette. The endorsement was notable because Mace had previously criticized Wilson and accused him of failing to prosecute sexual predators.
At one point, Mace appeared to have a viable path to the nomination and even led some early polling. But her campaign lost momentum after Trump endorsed Evette last month, a move that reshaped the race and helped propel the lieutenant governor into the runoff.
The president has maintained a remarkably strong endorsement record in Republican primaries this election cycle, particularly in gubernatorial and congressional contests.
Mace reflected on her loss by arguing that her stance on the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein may have cost her political support.
“Apparently, I chose wrong if the goal was winning an election,” she wrote on social media. “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.”
Her support for releasing the Epstein files placed her at odds with Trump and some other Republicans.
The congresswoman also used her post-election comments to take aim at Democrats, referencing Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner.
“Enjoying my first cup of coffee since getting my ass kicked last night, and reading about how Dems nominated the guy with the nazi tattoo,” she wrote.
Mace has not announced what she plans to do next in the private sector. Before entering elected office, she founded a public relations consulting firm and later served in the South Carolina House before winning election to Congress in 2020.
Several former members of Congress have recently moved into media and political commentary roles after leaving office, though Mace has not publicly discussed any specific plans for her post-congressional career.
For now, the congresswoman appears focused on finishing her final term in the House while preparing for life outside elected office.
The post Nancy Mace Teases Private-Sector Return After Crushing Defeat In South Carolina Governor’s Race appeared first on Real News Now.
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