South Carolina
Latest Coverage
See all articles
Nancy Mace Eyes South Carolina Senate Bid After Lindsey Graham's Sudden Death
Nancy Mace.
Rep. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, is giving serious thought to launching a Senate campaign following the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham. Graham died late Saturday night after what his office described as a "brief and sudden illness", with the announcement coming early Sunday morning.
His death immediately triggers a chain of political events. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster now has the authority to name an interim senator to hold the seat through January 3. But because Graham was already up for reelection this cycle, that appointment will only be temporary. State law requires a special election on August 11 to determine who will actually replace him as the Republican nominee, with the eventual winner facing Democratic candidate Annie Andrews, a physician, in November.
Mace's Mindset
One source who spoke with Axios described Mace's current thinking using a single phrase: "YOLO," short for "you only live once," suggesting she may be leaning toward jumping into the race despite the risks involved. A second source told the publication that Mace's team is already planning to test the waters, with a poll set to go into the field Monday to gauge how viable a run would actually be for her.
Mace's Rocky History With Statewide Races
This wouldn't be smooth territory for Mace. She previously ran for South Carolina governor and came in fifth place in that primary, which was ultimately won by state attorney general Alan Wilson.
Interestingly, back in the 2014, Mace challenged Graham directly for this same Senate seat and finished fifth in the primary, trailing both Graham and three other challengers in that race.
From Trump Critic to Trump Ally
Mace's political path since that 2014 defeat has taken her through several stages. She was elected to South Carolina's state legislature in 2018 before winning a seat in Congress in 2020. When she first arrived in the House, she positioned herself as a Republican willing to criticize Trump. That stance shifted considerably over time, and she has since become one of Trump's more vocal supporters in Congress, while also building a reputation as a outspoken social conservative.
Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.
Latest News
Sagar Kar author
Sagar is a journalist with an interest primarily in geopolitics and American domestic politics. Before joining Times Now, he wrote for Republic and Sw ... View More
News
World News
US
US News
End of Article