Fire-breathing Nancy Mace gets ICY reception in campaign for South Carolina's top job
'No way, not for South Carolina,' Rodney, a Charleston resident, told the Daily Mail in the city's bustling downtown on Monday. He made it clear in other terms that he was not a MAGA fan.
Another resident, Sherry, told the Daily Mail she is 'not interested in Miss Mace.'
'She's for our current president,' Sherry added, 'That's a no.'
Half of the voters the Daily Mail spoke to, most using first names only to protect their identities, were flat out against Mace, if not skeptical of her leadership in Congress.
Meanwhile, Annie, a South Carolinian seemingly in her mid-twenties, was more enthusiastic about Mace's announcement.
'It's awesome to have a woman run for governor,' she said. 'Historically, it has only been males in South Carolina, so I'm excited to see what she can do.'
Rep. Mace, 47, a third-term congresswoman who represents the coastal areas surrounding Charleston, announced on Monday she's running for governor in 2026. She's forged a fiery reputation for her dramatic confrontations with pro-transgender activists and divulged deeply personal stories about sexual assault and abuse.
Congresswoman Nancy Mace announced her bid for South Carolina governor on Monday
Charleston resident Annie told the Daily Mail she's excited to see a woman hop in the governor's race
The conservative is not shying away from her controversial reputation forged on Capitol Hill as she joins an already-crowded pack to replace outgoing Gov. Henry McMaster.
'I'm not a huge fan of Nancy Mace for our governor,' said Trent, a Republican from Charleston. 'There's a couple of big things that I don't agree with her on.'
He didn't elaborate on what, but did relent that he'd vote for Mace 'if there's not a better candidate.'
The congresswoman's primary opponents include South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and fellow Rep. Ralph Norman.
Though the race is still early, whoever secures an endorsement from President Donald Trump will likely hold a major advantage among the crowded GOP field.
Another South Carolinian, Bill, noted that Mace's announcement 'looks like an obvious step up for her ... after a bunch of years in Congress.'
Another Republican, David, admitted he didn't know anything about Mace.
'Well, I really don't know much about her, but I'm gonna look at her for sure,' he responded. As a conservative, he'd likely go for whoever the GOP nominee is, he later clarified.
Mace has been seen as some as a rising star in the GOP. Above she's pictured delivering a speech at the Republican National Convention last year
Rodney Simons, a Charleston resident, told the Daily Mail he thinks the congresswoman would not be a good choice for South Carolina governor
Maebelle, an elderly lady who appeared to be in her eighties, was happy to hear of Mace's announcement and shared some excitement about the news because she claimed the two had met.
'I think she's a cool person,' she told the Daily Mail. 'I met her once, and I think she'll be good.'
'She seemed to be a fair person, and someone you can go to and talk to and for the right things.'
Early polling shows that the 47-year-old may be one of the top contenders to win the Republican nomination, though it's too close to early seen.
A survey from the South Carolina Policy Council published last week found Mace with 16 percent support while state AG Wilson had 15 percent.
Wilson, the son of longtime congressman Joe Wilson, announced his bid for office last month. Mace sparked attacks against Wilson for mishandling legal cases and has painted him as someone 'who likes to put pedophiles on trial and give them one day in jail.'
Wilson has denied the accusation and has labeled the lawmaker a 'liar.'
The poll also showed Rep. Norman received 6 percent support, while Lt. Gov. Evette snagged 8 percent and State Sen. Josh Kimbrell had 3 percent. Still, over half of the respondents, 52 percent, said they were undecided.
During Mace's campaign announcement at her alma mater, The Citadel, a military college in Charleston, South Carolina, she ripped into 'weak leadership' of the past.
She pledged to no longer 'turn a blind eye' to 'trannies invading women's spaces, an unaccountable judicial process and failed schools.'
Her top priorities are to restore law and order, protect women and children and fix the judicial system.
She also had some new proposals: The Republican unveiled a five-year plan to eliminate state income taxes. 'Other states, like Florida, Tennessee, Texas, have zero state income tax,' she said.
Mace also announced initiatives to expand school choice, vocational education and floated policies that could help the state's authorities better cooperate with ICE to accelerate deportations.
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