Staff Reports
Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, is facing a tough primary challenge. She is one of the eight Republicans who voted to remove former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his position. Now, she is fighting to keep her seat against Catherine Templeton in the GOP primary for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District.
Mace is not just facing opposition from Democrats, but also from some members of her own party. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who she voted to remove, is actively working against her. He has been raising money for Mace’s opponent, Catherine Templeton, though he has not explicitly endorsed her. Mace has spoken out against McCarthy, accusing him of tearing apart the Republican Party by interfering in primary races.
This primary race has drawn widespread attention, and Mace is not the only one facing primary challenges. Five of the other Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy will also face their own primaries later this year. McCarthy has criticized Mace, attacking her voting record and the turnover in her office.
Catherine Templeton has used Mace’s vote to oust McCarthy to accuse her of being disloyal to the party. She has not spoken directly with McCarthy about ousting Mace but has asked him to help raise money for her campaign.
This primary race has become particularly heated, with former President Donald Trump endorsing Mace’s opponent, state Rep. John McGuire, making it even more competitive. The challenges come despite House Speaker Mike Johnson urging lawmakers not to involve themselves in other members’ primaries and to project a sense of unity ahead of the 2024 election.
Mace and other Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy are facing tough challenges from both their own party and their opponents. The primary race in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District has become a battleground for the future of the Republican Party.
