Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., placed fifth in the South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary Tuesday, prompting social media criticism from Democratic colleagues Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Sarah McBride of Delaware.
Mace has served in the U.S. House since early 2021. She announced her primary bid for governor after previously saying she would only serve three terms.
"Headed back to the private sector at the end of this term, as the Founders intended. When I ran in 2020 I said I'd only serve 3 terms and my time is up. It's truly been an immense honor and I wouldn't trade it for anything else," Mace wrote in a Wednesday post on X.
What the Right Is Saying
Mace fired back at Omar's criticism. "Say what you want about me, but I would never marry my brother," she wrote.
In a follow-up post from her @RepNancyMace account Wednesday, Mace stated: "Say what you want about us, but at least we've never been confused about what gender we are, and we'd never marry our brother."
The exchanges highlight ongoing tensions between the two lawmakers that have persisted for more than a year.
What the Left Is Saying
Omar responded to Mace's post with a jab referencing past comments between the two lawmakers. "One-way ticket to where you came from with your name on it, Nancy," Omar wrote on X, adding a hand waving emoji.
McBride also weighed in, responding to a post that read "Nancy Mace [handshake emoji] Riley Gaines" and described her as a "Conservative woman who placed 5th." McBride wrote "thoughts and prayers" in her response.
The exchanges come after previous clashes between the members. Last year, Mace posted from her official congressional account: "One-way ticket to Somalia with your name on it, Ilhan Omar."
What the Numbers Show
Mace placed fifth in Tuesday's South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary with approximately 14% of the vote, according to incomplete returns from the state.
First-place finisher Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette received about 32% of the vote, while second-place state Attorney General Alan Wilson garnered roughly 25%. The two will face each other in a June 24 runoff election.
Mace's loss marks an unexpected outcome for a three-term incumbent House member seeking higher office.
The Bottom Line
The primary defeat ends Mace's gubernatorial ambitions and returns focus to her remaining time in Congress, where she has about eight months left in her current term.
The social media exchanges between the lawmakers illustrate continued personal tensions that have developed during their overlapping time in the House. Evette and Wilson will now compete in the Republican runoff ahead of the November general election.