January 1, Nancy Mace Enters South Carolina Governor Race

Wyatt’s Take

• Nancy Mace throws her hat in the ring for governor, shaking up the Republican primary.
• She’s promising to put South Carolina first and steer away from weak leadership.
• Expect a no-holds-barred fight for values important to hard-working families.

Nancy Mace, well-known Republican Congresswoman from South Carolina, made it official Monday—she’s running for governor in 2026. She says she’ll bring “common sense and bold policies” to the table, aiming to move the state forward.

“I’m running to put South Carolina first,” Mace declared at her campaign kickoff. She promises a strong conservative roadmap, pushing back against what she calls tired, weak leadership.

The race for the Republican nomination is crowded, with Attorney General Alan Wilson, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, State Sen. Josh Kimbrell, and Rep. Ralph Norman all running. There’s no incumbent—Governor McMaster is term-limited out.

At her Charleston event, Mace told supporters, “South Carolina doesn’t need another empty suit.” She believes it’s time for new leadership that stands up for families and traditional values.

Mace claims the early lead in the primary, arguing that it’s mainly a two-person contest between her and Wilson. She didn’t hold back, accusing Wilson of ignoring issues affecting women and children, charges he calls “categorically false.” Wilson says Mace is “a liar who will do anything to get attention,” and that his own focus is on protecting children and conservative values.

Every sheriff in Mace’s district has endorsed Wilson’s campaign, showing just how sharp the competition is getting.

Mace got her start working at Waffle House after dropping out of high school, later becoming the first woman to graduate from The Citadel’s Corps of Cadets. She took her seat in Congress in 2020 after defeating a Democrat, making history as the first Republican woman from South Carolina in the House.

She’s had ups and downs with Donald Trump: she worked for his campaign, later criticized him for the January 6th Capitol riot, and then came around to endorse him for president in 2024. In her launch video, Trump even calls her a “fighter.”

Mace has taken a strong stance on culture issues, including leading opposition to a transgender congressmember using women’s restrooms in the House.

South Carolina’s governor’s race is heating up, and conservatives across the state are watching closely as candidates pledge to hold the line on the issues that matter most for families, faith, and freedom.

Read more at Fox News

Wyatt Matters

Rural families and working folks know what’s at stake in this election. Strong leadership rooted in real values is what keeps our communities steady and preserves freedom for the next generation.