Nancy Mace plots ‘revenge’ on Trump after crushing defeat in South Carolina governor’s race
The congresswoman has had a love-hate relationship with the president.
Ryan Cooper 
Rep. Nancy Mace is putting a humorous spin on a rough election night. After failing to secure Donald Trump’s endorsement and landing in a distant fifth and final place in South Carolina’s GOP gubernatorial primary this past Tuesday, the congresswoman is signaling she plans to have the final word.
A Difficult Exit from the Gubernatorial Race
Mace, who opted to run for governor rather than seeking re-election to the U.S. House, navigated a complicated, love-hate dynamic with Trump throughout the campaign. Her primary bid fell short of the runoff, which will feature Trump-endorsed Lieutenant Governor Pam Evette and state Attorney General Alan Wilson.
During her campaign, Mace attempted to bridge the gap with the former president after previously criticizing him for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. According to reports from the Associated Press, she highlighted her legislative efforts to release files regarding the Jeffrey Epstein investigation to contrast her record against other Republicans.
In the final stretch of the primary, Mace courted controversy by proposing legislation to restrict political office and judicial positions to U.S.-born citizens. She specifically questioned the qualifications of gubernatorial rival Rom Reddy, a naturalized citizen whose parents immigrated from India and Italy.
Mace’s Social Media Comebacks
With her House seat already off the table and her gubernatorial run effectively over, Mace is leaning into the situation with sharp wit on social media. Addressing questions about whether she would pursue 'revenge' on Trump, Mace stated, 'The answer is yes. I’ll be adding to the unemployment number in January.'
The congresswoman hasn't stopped there with the quips. On Thursday, she tweeted, 'I could still come in first if Mike Pence has the courage.' She also dismissed common tropes regarding how she should be processing the loss, noting in a Wednesday post: 'Some people expect me to be eating a pint of ice cream after my loss. I have other plans.'
