Outgoing firebrand Rep. Nancy Mace teased a return to the private sector after getting a shellacking in the South Carolina governor’s race, where she finished in a distant fifth place.
Mace (R-SC) was resolute that her defeat “isn’t the end of the fight” but “just the end of this chapter” for her.
She went on to endorse state Attorney General Alan Wilson for governor, whom she once accused of failing to prosecute sexual predators.
“Headed back to the private sector at the end of this term, as the Founders intended,” Mace posted 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.”
It’s not immediately clear what kind of private-sector role Mace will pursue. She had previously founded a public relations consulting firm in 2008, before her stint in the South Carolina statehouse about 10 years later.
Some of her former firebrand colleagues, such as Matt Gaetz and George Santos, took up media-related roles. Gaetz became an anchor on One America News Network, and Santos launched a podcast.
At one point in the gubernatorial race, Mace had polled as the front-runner, but that quickly began to slip.
Nancy Mace finished in a distant fifth place in the GOP primary for South Carolina governor. Getty Images
Nancy Mace has served in the House since 2021. AFP via Getty ImagesPresident Trump — who has enjoyed a near-perfect endorsement record in House, Senate and gubernatorial GOP primaries this cycle — endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette for the role last month.
Now there will be a runoff between Evette and Wilson.
While reflecting on her blowout loss, Mace assessed that her vote to release the files on late sex predator Jeffrey Epstein cost her key votes, but stressed that she’s “at peace with that.”
Rep. Nancy Mace frequently generated national headlines during her tenure in Congress. Jim Bourg“[A]pparently, I chose wrong if the goal was winning an election,” she posted on X. “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 vote on the Epstein files put her at odds with Trump.
Mace then threw shade at Democrats for tapping scandal-plagued oyster farmer Graham Platner as their Maine Senate nominee.
“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 jabbed on X.
