Rep. Nancy Mace’s South Carolina governor bid collapsed Tuesday night, and she went out blaming the political cost of pushing for the release of Jeffrey Epstein-related files after failing to land President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
The Republican congresswoman conceded after landing far behind the top contenders in the GOP primary, where Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and state Attorney General Alan Wilson advanced to a June 23 runoff.
With 65% of votes counted, Evette led the field with 29.5%, while Wilson followed with 26.2%, according to the Associated Press. Mace sat in a distant fifth place at 11.6%.
The loss marked a bitter turn for the firebrand congresswoman, who had tried to position herself as a MAGA-aligned outsider willing to take on both parties.
In her concession, Mace said she had no regrets about choosing principle over political survival.
Serving South Carolina has been the greatest honor of my life. Every vote I cast, every hearing I called, every fight I picked — it was always for you.
I’ve seen what happens when good people stay quiet. And I’ve seen what happens when they don’t. I would choose the latter every… pic.twitter.com/Dwx7oCUT9q
— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) June 10, 2026
“I’ve taken on the rich and powerful in both parties because I stand with the people of South Carolina!” Mace began. “I am literally willing to get on a plane to evacuate you from a war zone – I’ve done that too. 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 sexual harassment slush fund,” she continued.
“I chose to expose DEI judges. I chose to expose the abusers of children. And apparently, I chose wrong if the goal was winning an election.”
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Mace then framed the loss as proof that politics rewards silence over confrontation.
“I’m at peace with that. Because when a candidate is OK with corruption and cover-ups – something is broken. That’s not a political opinion. That’s a moral emergency,” Mace added.
The Epstein fight had become one of the defining tensions between Mace and Trump.
Mace said the “sole reason” she missed out on his endorsement was her support for releasing files related to the late convicted sex offender.
She had joined Republican Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Lauren Boebert of Colorado and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia on a discharge petition aimed at forcing a House vote on the files.
Trump privately pressured Mace and Boebert to remove their names from the petition, but neither did.
Mace also pushed the issue from the House Oversight Committee, where she led a March effort to call then-Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the Justice Department’s release of Epstein records.
“That’s the sole reason I didn’t get the endorsement, because I voted to release the Epstein files, and I’m okay with that,” Mace said during an interview with POLITICO.
“I’ve worked very hard to expose pedophiles, and child rapists, and sex trafficking in my state, and will continue to do it regardless of the outcome of the election. It’s full steam ahead, no matter what,” she went on.
“I’m not going down without a fight. I’m still the MAGA candidate. I support all of MAGA’s policies. I support our president. I’m also an independent conservative.”
Her campaign had also taken a turn against Evette in the final stretch.
On Tuesday, Mace accused the lieutenant governor of tolerating “political violence” after a supporter was arrested on assault charges for allegedly attacking someone backing Mace.
Vote against political violence – vote against Pam Evette today!
If she can’t condemn the violence by her campaign staff against my supporters, she doesn’t deserve your vote. pic.twitter.com/IrQxoqmruL
— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) June 9, 2026
“Vote against political violence – vote against Pam Evette today! If she can’t condemn the violence by her campaign staff against my supporters, she doesn’t deserve your vote,” Mace commented.
While Mace’s statewide campaign fizzled, the race for her current congressional seat moved forward without her.
Nancy Lacore will head into a Democratic runoff against veteran Mac Deford in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District/
Elsewhere in South Carolina, Sen. Lindsey Graham easily survived his Republican primary challenge.
The longtime senator defeated Mark Lynch on Tuesday night, drawing 106,164 votes, or 59.3%, with 35% of the vote in, according to the Associated Press. Lynch trailed with 48,171 votes, or 26.9%.
Graham will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November after she defeated Brandon P. Brown and Kyle Freeman in the Democratic primary.
Trump had given Graham a major boost days earlier with his “COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT.”
The president also praised Graham for helping advance the Save America Act.
“This Tuesday, June 9th, all Republicans in South Carolina should vote for Lindsey Graham — HE HAS MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT, AND WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
In Maine, another high-profile Senate fight produced a very different result.
Scandal-plagued Democrat Graham Platner officially won his party’s nomination to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins in one of the most closely watched races of the cycle.
Platner dominated Tuesday’s primary, pulling roughly 74% of the vote as of 9:30 p.m., according to NBC News.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills remained on the ballot even after suspending her campaign earlier in the race and drew about 18%.
Collins faced no Republican primary opposition and will meet Platner in the Nov. 3 general election.
“I’m humbled and proud to officially be your Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate to take on Susan Collins and the billionaire class she represents,” Platner wrote on X.
“Together, we will win this seat back for working Mainers. Thank you, Maine.”
Platner’s victory came despite a campaign battered by allegations and personal controversies.
The New York Times reported last week that three former romantic partners accused him of creating an “unsettling” and “toxic” environment in their relationships.
The Wall Street Journal had previously reported that Platner sent explicit messages to multiple women early in his marriage.
Those messages were reportedly turned over by a former campaign staffer after Platner’s wife showed them to the aide during the early days of the campaign.
Platner also spent much of the race dealing with fallout over a tattoo resembling a Nazi Totenkopf symbol that he later covered up.
The candidate said he got the tattoo while on leave with fellow Marines.
California Rep. Ro Khanna said after Platner’s win that Maine voters had offered him a “chance at redemption.”
“He talked about Maine giving him grace, Maine giving him a second chance, he talked about the need to earn people’s votes, so this was not an arrogant speech,” Khanna commented on CNN.
“He understands that he needs to do work, and he understands that they’re giving him a chance at redemption.”
Khanna claimed that Platner showed “both humility and strength” in his victory speech, but also acknowledged the challenge ahead.
“Susan Collins is formidable, but Graham has had a terrific night,” Khanna said on CNN.
Collins, however, said Platner still owes voters more direct answers.
“The allegations against Graham Platner are extremely troubling and serious, and he owes the people of Maine a detailed answer,” Collins commented on Tuesday.
