Rep. Nancy Mace's bid to become South Carolina's next governor came to an abrupt end Tuesday night, as the Republican congresswoman failed to advance from a crowded GOP primary that was dominated by one question from start to finish: Who would win Donald Trump's endorsement?
That answer ultimately belonged to Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.
NBC News projects that Evette and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson will advance to a June 23 runoff after neither candidate secured the majority needed to avoid a second round. With South Carolina remaining one of the nation's most reliably Republican states, the runoff is widely expected to determine who will succeed term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster.
For Mace, the result marks a significant political setback after months of campaigning and years spent building a national profile. Once viewed as one of the state's most recognizable Republican figures, Mace entered the race hoping to consolidate support from conservatives and secure Trump's backing. Instead, the former president threw his weight behind Evette during the closing stretch of the campaign.
Decision Desk HQ projects Pamela Evette and Alan Wilson advance in SC Governor Republican Primary#DecisionMade: 8:26 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/BoDlI7JwSb
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) June 10, 2026
The endorsement quickly became a central issue in the race. Trump not only issued a formal endorsement but repeatedly reinforced his support as voting approached. Evette's campaign made sure voters knew it.
On the eve of the election, the campaign distributed a press release highlighting what it called Trump's "Complete and Total Endorsement" and pointed to a new Truth Social post in which the president again urged Republicans to support her candidacy. Trump also participated in a tele-rally Monday night alongside Sen. Lindsey Graham, giving Evette one final boost before voters headed to the polls.
The endorsement battle had loomed over the contest for months. In a state where Trump remains overwhelmingly popular among Republican voters, securing his backing was viewed as one of the most valuable assets any candidate could obtain. Once Evette emerged as Trump's preferred choice, the dynamics of the race shifted dramatically.
While Mace had spent years cultivating a reputation as an outspoken and often headline-grabbing member of Congress, she was unable to translate that visibility into enough support to reach the runoff. Her campaign struggled to break through as attention increasingly centered on the Trump-backed lieutenant governor and Wilson, who has long maintained a strong statewide profile as attorney general.
Following her defeat, Mace quickly threw her support behind Wilson, endorsing him in the upcoming runoff against Evette.
Now the Republican contest enters its final phase. Evette heads into the runoff carrying the momentum of Trump's endorsement and a strong primary performance, while Wilson will attempt to rally voters looking for an alternative path forward. In less than two weeks, South Carolina Republicans will decide which candidate moves on to become the overwhelming favorite in November's general election.
For Mace, however, the race is over, bringing an end to one of the most closely watched chapters of her political career.