Nancy Mace claims Epstein files push cost her SC Governor race against Trump-backed Pamela Evette

CHARLESTON, SC: Republican Rep. Nancy Mace suffered a decisive defeat in South Carolina's gubernatorial primary Tuesday, failing to advance to a runoff that will now feature Trump-endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and state Attorney General Alan Wilson.

The result marks a major political setback for Mace, whose rocky relationship with President Donald Trump and increasingly confrontational campaign style became defining themes of the race.

Trump-Mace tensions cast shadow over campaign

Mace's defeat comes after years of political friction with Trump, despite periods when the congresswoman sought to align herself with the president and his supporters.

Donald Trump-backed Pamela Evette, South Carolina’s lieutenant governor, and Alan Wilson, the state’s attorney general, have advanced to a runoff in a competitive race to represent the Republican party in South Carolina’s gubernatorial election.

The result signaled a decisive defeat for Nancy Mace, the controversial Republican congresswoman. She attributed her fifth-place loss to her support for releasing the Epstein files, an issue that has continued to dog Trump.

“I voted to release the Epstein files and lost some support for that. As a survivor, I chose to stand on principle and stand against the Epstein cover-up. I chose to expose the names hidden in the s****l harassment slush fund. I chose to expose DEI judges. And apparently, I chose wrong if the goal was winning an election,” she said in a statement posted to X.

Mace's relationship with Trump remained long complicated, particularly after she criticized him following the January 6 Capitol riot before later attempting to rebuild ties with his political base.

Trump ultimately threw his support behind Evette, South Carolina's lieutenant governor and a close ally of outgoing Gov. Henry McMaster.

The endorsement provided a major boost to Evette's campaign and reinforced her standing among Republican voters looking for continuity with the state's current leadership.

Political observers had long viewed Trump's backing as a potentially decisive factor in the race, especially in a deeply conservative state where his influence remains strong.

Evette, Wilson move on as Republicans look ahead

Evette entered the race with significant financial advantages and strong name recognition after serving as lieutenant governor since 2019. Before entering politics, she built a successful business career and frequently highlighted her experience as an entrepreneur on the campaign trail.

As an entrepreneur, Evette grew Quality Business Solutions, an HR and accounting software company, into a billion-dollar revenue business before entering politics. She led the contest in fundraising, with a war chest of about $3.5m, including $1m of her own money.

Meanwhile, Wilson, who has served as South Carolina’s attorney general since 2011, is a reserve colonel in the national guard’s judge advocate general corps and the adoptive son of long-serving Republican US representative, Joe Wilson.

The runoff now sets up a contest between two established figures in South Carolina politics, with the winner expected to enter the general election as the favorite.

Democrats have nominated state Rep. Jermaine Johnson, a former professional basketball player, but South Carolina's strong Republican lean means national attention is likely to remain focused on the GOP showdown.

For Mace, however, the outcome represents a dramatic setback.