Mace won despite heavy financial backing for her opponent from McCarthy’s allies.
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., secured a victory in her contentious Republican primary on Tuesday, successfully fending off a challenge from attorney Catherine Templeton, who was strongly supported by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Mace, representing South Carolina’s 1st District, won with 57% of the vote, avoiding a runoff and defeating Templeton, who garnered 30%. Marine veteran Bill Young also ran but secured only 13% of the vote.
Mace’s position as one of the eight Republicans who voted to remove McCarthy as House Speaker last October played a significant role in the race, with McCarthy’s allies spending millions on ads to oppose her. Templeton, who had served as labor secretary under former Gov. Nikki Haley, framed Mace’s vote as a betrayal, stating that it was the reason she entered the race. Despite this, Mace garnered substantial support from former President Donald Trump, who endorsed her, providing her with a much-needed boost in the primary, despite a mixed history with Trump.
While Mace had initially called for the GOP to move past Trump following the January 6th riot at the Capitol, she shifted her position to strongly support him during the 2024 primaries, even defeating a Trump-backed challenger in 2022. She also outraised Templeton and received support from conservative groups such as the Club for Growth Action, which aired ads in her favor.
Mace expressed her desire for a decisive win ahead of the primary, saying she wanted to send a message to Washington that voters were not concerned with D.C. politics. Her campaign was adorned with signs promoting a “60-40” victory margin, signaling her hope for a clear mandate. Despite Templeton’s dismissal of McCarthy’s influence in the district, Mace’s broader appeal among voters proved successful in securing her place in the general election.
The win was a setback for McCarthy, who has vowed to continue his efforts to punish Republicans who voted against him last year. His political groups are also focusing on GOP Reps. Bob Good of Virginia and Eli Crane of Arizona, who face challenges in upcoming primaries. McCarthy’s chief antagonist, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, is also facing a primary challenger, marking the continuation of McCarthy’s push to reshape the House GOP.
