In the recent Republican primary for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, Rep. Nancy Mace emerged victorious, defeating two challengers and pushing back against allies of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, whom she previously voted to remove from office.
With a majority of the vote on Tuesday, Mace secured her spot without the need for a runoff in her quest for a third term representing the Charleston-area seat.
This win comes at a crucial time for Mace, who has faced scrutiny and backlash within her party for various reasons, including allegations of fostering a toxic work environment and her vote to remove McCarthy from the speakership.
Following her contentious vote against McCarthy, Mace donned a white T-shirt with a red “A” symbol, drawing parallels to the novel “The Scarlet Letter” and the judgment she felt she faced as a result.
During the primary campaign, McCarthy and his supporters launched attacks against Mace, spending millions to discredit her and support her opponent, Catherine Templeton. Mace and her allies portrayed Templeton as a puppet of McCarthy in response.
Mace’s relationship with former President Donald Trump has also been a point of contention, with Trump endorsing Mace’s primary opponent in the run-up to the midterm elections. Despite this, Mace secured a victory over her opponent with the backing of prominent figures like Nikki Haley.
In another part of the state, Rep. William Timmons won the Republican primary for the 4th Congressional District, fending off a challenge from state Rep. Adam Morgan, who was supported by members of the House Freedom Caucus and Rep. Matt Gaetz.
The primary battle between Timmons and Morgan centered on stylistic differences and party loyalty, with Timmons ultimately prevailing with endorsements from key figures like Gov. Henry McMaster and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Despite facing allegations of misconduct and a divorce in 2022, Timmons was able to maintain a financial advantage over his opponent, raising significantly more funds and benefiting from outside spending in his favor.
The overall outcome of the primaries highlights ongoing divisions within the Republican Party and the challenges faced by incumbents in securing their positions in office.
