Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) says she’s planning on bringing her “Trump in high heels” demeanor to the 2026 governor’s race.
“To follow President Trump’s agenda, we have a real opportunity in 2026 to deliver America-first policy state by state in the midterm elections,” she told NewsNation Monday. “We need governors who are going to take that lead and implement those policies.”
Mace shared she’s hoping to earn an endorsement from Trump.
“He is a kingmaker, in this case, a possible queenmaker in the race for governor of South Carolina,” she explained. “We’re also unveiling policies that Donald Trump, I believe, will support, and we’re going to work hard to earn his endorsement, to earn support.”
The U.S. representative went on to argue that her political approach isn’t overly “combative.”
“There’s nothing combative about wanting a bigger, better and brighter future for the entire state of South Carolina,” she said. “These fights are worth fighting for, whether we’re talking about illegal immigration or men in women’s spaces or, in my case, in the state of South Carolina [where] we have the highest state income tax in the southeast.”
Mace has ignited controversy among voters in the past. In April, she faced backlash for posting a viral video of an expletive-laden confrontation between her and an “unhinged lunatic” voter.
The congresswoman was criticized for implying during the incident that the voter was gay, despite him never mentioning his sexuality during their testy run-in. Some social media users called out Mace as a “bigot” considering she previously claimed to be pro-LGBTQ.
In February, Mace doubled down on using an anti-transgender slur during a House hearing, even after being reprimanded for it. She also posted a slew of tweets containing anti-transgender rhetoric.
Mace is currently a front-runner in the polls, leading slightly over South Carolina’s Attorney General Alan Wilson in the 2026 race, NewsNation reports.
Mace, who announced her run Monday, joins a crowded pool of candidates seeking to succeed GOP Gov. Henry McMaster, who can’t run again because of term limits.