Why it Matters
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) says she knows exactly why President Trump refused to endorse her in the South Carolina governor's race, and she's not backing down.
"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 told Politico in a piece published Saturday by reporter Alex Isenstadt, "Nancy Mace knows her Epstein vote screwed her with Trump. She doesn't care."
The South Carolina Republican primary is scheduled for June 9, and Mace enters it without the one endorsement that arguably matters most in the state.
What Happened
Trump endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette for South Carolina governor via Truth Social, writing: "Pam Evette is a good friend, fighter, and WINNER, and will be a terrific Governor of South Carolina. Pam has my Complete and Total Endorsement — SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" The post did not mention Mace by name.
When Politico sought comment from the White House on the Mace situation, the administration directed the outlet to that same Truth Social post and declined to say more.
Evette has served two terms as lieutenant governor alongside Gov. Henry McMaster, one of Trump's earliest supporters. McMaster endorsed Evette on February 12, 2026, and Trump followed with his own endorsement by late May.
Background on Mace's Defiance
In the summer of 2025, Mace was one of four House Republicans who signed a bipartisan discharge petition led by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) to force a floor vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The bill compelled the Department of Justice to publish documents related to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The other Republican signatories were Massie, Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Rep. Lauren Boebert.
Politico characterized the move as "an open defiance of the president's wishes." Massie later posted on social media: "Although virtually all Republicans eventually admitted by their votes that it was right to release the Epstein files, only three were brave enough to sign my discharge petition to force that vote."
Mace has not let the issue drop since. On February 4, 2026, the House Oversight Committee passed two subpoena motions she introduced, including one demanding accountability from Attorney General Pam Bondi on the release of all Epstein-related files, according to a press release from her office.
After Trump endorsed Evette, Mace posted on X: "I know I put the likelihood of an endorsement on the line when I demanded transparency on the Epstein files. I demanded it because you deserved the truth — ALL OF IT — and as a survivor of a corrupt and broken court system, I will always pursue justice for those who deserve it."
She also texted Massie directly. "I let him know that I didn't get the endorsement, and we all know why," she told Politico.
Where the Race Stands
The Polling Picture
The numbers are not favorable for Mace. A Trafalgar Group tracking poll conducted May 29–31 has her in fifth place in the Republican field, behind Evette at 26.3 percent, businessman Rom Reddy at 17.2 percent, Attorney General Alan Wilson at 16.9 percent, and Rep. Ralph Norman at 16.1 percent.
Prediction markets are equally bleak. On Kalshi, Mace has under a 4 percent chance of winning the Republican nomination, compared to 68 percent for Evette. On Polymarket, she had a 45 percent chance as recently as December 2025 before falling sharply.
Mace's Counter-Narrative
Mace is not conceding the race. Speaking to Fox News, she argued that Trump's endorsement has not "sealed" the contest and that it remains a "dog fight," claiming grassroots voters remain unhappy with Trump's decision to back Evette.
She has also continued to publicly align herself with Trump's broader agenda, sharing a photo of herself and Trump with "MAGA MACE" written across it, even while acknowledging the Epstein files cost her his support.
Trump and His GOP Defectors
Trump has spent energy to get back at those in the GOP who have stood up to him. The Mace situation fits that pattern, though with a notable wrinkle: Trump had backed Mace's congressional reelection in 2024, describing her then as a "strong conservative voice," according to The Hill. The Epstein discharge petition appears to have erased that goodwill.