U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) endorsed South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson (R) for governor following her loss in the GOP primary runoff.
The endorsement signals a strategic shift in the 2026 South Carolina gubernatorial race [1], as Mace seeks to consolidate support against the Trump-endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.
Mace conceded the primary on Tuesday, less than two hours after polls closed [2]. The congresswoman finished fifth in the race [3]. Despite previous political frictions with the Attorney General, Mace said she wanted to help Wilson secure the nomination.
"I want you to know that I'm going to endorse Alan Wilson for governor," Mace said.
By backing Wilson, Mace aims to create a unified front to defeat the candidate backed by former President Donald Trump. The move comes after Mace faced a challenging primary cycle that saw her finish behind four other candidates [3].
Mace described the decision to support her former political rival as having "buried the hatchet," Mace said.
The endorsement occurs at a critical juncture for the Republican party in South Carolina. With the primary runoff approaching, the alignment of former candidates can significantly shift the momentum of the race, especially when facing a candidate with high-profile national endorsements.
Mace said that she conceded the South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary race Tuesday less than two hours after polls closed [2]. Her decision to move quickly toward an endorsement suggests a desire to influence the final outcome of the 2026 election cycle [1] rather than remaining on the sidelines.
“"I want you to know that I'm going to endorse Alan Wilson for governor,"”
This endorsement represents a tactical alliance between two Republican figures who previously clashed. By backing Alan Wilson, Nancy Mace is attempting to leverage her remaining influence to block the Trump-endorsed candidate, Pamela Evette, potentially reflecting a broader internal struggle within the state party between different factions of GOP loyalty.
