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By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
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Republican representative Nancy Mace insisted she has no regrets over her push to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, even after finishing a distant fifth in South Carolina’s Republican primary for governor.
Mace placed fifth in the June 9 South Carolina GOP gubernatorial primary after failing to secure President Donald Trump’s endorsement, which she linked to her vote to release Epstein files.
The result underscores the continued power of Trump’s endorsement in Republican primaries and the political risk of breaking with him on high-profile issues.
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Trump-endorsed Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina Pamela Evette and Attorney General of South Carolina Alan Wilson, a Trump supporter, have advanced to a June 23 runoff, while Mace’s loss leaves her political future uncertain after giving up her House seat.
Evette led the crowded Republican field with 28.9 percent, followed by Wilson on 26.2 percent, while Mace finished last on 12.1 percent.
Why It Matters
Tensions over the Epstein files became a defining fault line in the race, exposing divisions within the Republican Party over transparency and loyalty to Trump.
Mace emerged as one of the most vocal GOP advocates for releasing the files, placing her at odds with the president at a critical moment in the campaign.
What To Know
Mace responded to her defeat with a lengthy statement framing the loss as a consequence of principle rather than politics.
“I voted to release the Epstein files and lost some support for that,” she wrote, adding that she was “at peace” with the result and describing the issue as a “moral emergency.”
The South Carolina congresswoman cast herself as a candidate willing to “take on the rich and powerful in both parties,” arguing that exposing alleged misconduct—including in what she described as a “sexual harassment slush fund”—was more important than electoral success.
Her message leaned heavily on personal and political identity. Mace, who has previously spoken about being a survivor of sexual assault, said her decision to back the release of the files was rooted in that experience and framed the issue as a broader fight for accountability.
At the same time, she signaled no retreat from public life, telling supporters that “this isn’t the end of the fight—it’s just the end of this chapter.”
The tone of the post was notably defiant, portraying the campaign as a clash between confronting corruption and tolerating it. “When a candidate is OK with corruption and cover-ups — something is broken,” she said.
Despite her last-place finish, Mace quickly moved to shape the next phase of the race, endorsing Wilson in the upcoming runoff against Evette.
Breaking With Trump Over Epstein Files
Mace was one of a small group of Republicans who defied Trump by signing a discharge petition to force a House vote on releasing the Epstein files, putting her at odds with the president on a high-profile issue.
The move was seen as a direct challenge to Trump, though he ultimately signed legislation mandating the documents’ release after it passed Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Republican Primary Results
South Carolina’s Republican primary delivered a fragmented result, with no candidate reaching the majority threshold required to avoid a runoff.
With more than 99 percent of votes counted, Evette led the field with 136,390 votes (28.9 percent), followed by Wilson on 123,559 (26.2 percent).
Representative Ralph Norman placed third with 80,722 votes (17.1 percent), while businessman Rom Reddy took 66,922 (14.2 percent). Mace finished fifth on 57,332 votes, or 12.1 percent.
Under South Carolina election law, the top two candidates now advance to a June 23 runoff after no contender cleared 50 percent of the vote.
Trump’s late endorsement of Evette is widely seen as a decisive factor in shaping the race, helping propel her into first place in a crowded field.
What Happens Next
The runoff between Evette and Wilson will determine the Republican nominee to replace term-limited Governor Henry McMaster in a state where the GOP is heavily favored in November.
Mace, meanwhile, leaves the race arguing that political defeat does not invalidate the central plank of her campaign.
For her, she suggested in her post, winning wasn’t the only measure of success.
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