Rep. Nancy Mace says President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette has not ended the Republican race for governor in South Carolina, arguing that grassroots conservatives remain divided ahead of Tuesday’s primary.
Mace, one of several Republicans competing to succeed term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster, told Fox News Digital that Evette received only a modest boost after Trump backed her campaign. Mace said many grassroots Republicans are “very upset” with the endorsement and predicted that the race could still move to a runoff.
“It’s a dog fight,” Mace said. “We’re in it and I’m gonna fight to the death.”
Trump endorsed Evette last week, calling her a “good friend, fighter, and winner” and saying she would be a “terrific governor” of South Carolina. The endorsement also aligned Trump with McMaster, who has backed Evette as his preferred successor.
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The endorsement was a major development in a crowded Republican primary that includes Evette, Mace, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Rep. Ralph Norman and businessman Rom Reddy. If no candidate wins a majority, the top two finishers will advance to a runoff.
Mace said she was not surprised Trump did not endorse her. She linked the decision to her support for releasing files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender whose case has remained a major political issue among some conservatives. Mace was one of four House Republicans who signed a petition last year aimed at forcing a vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
“I knew it was on the line when I voted to release the Epstein files,” Mace said, adding that she would not trade that position for an endorsement.
The comments show how complicated Republican politics have become in South Carolina. Trump remains highly influential with the GOP base, but the race includes several candidates with their own conservative credentials and state-level support. Mace is betting that some voters will see her break with Trump on the Epstein files as a sign of independence rather than disloyalty.
Evette, meanwhile, is trying to use Trump’s backing as proof that she is the candidate best positioned to carry forward conservative priorities in Columbia. Her supporters argue that the endorsement gives her momentum in the final stretch of the primary.
Mace disagrees. She said Evette received only a small bump from Trump’s support and predicted that the endorsement may not be enough to avoid a runoff. Mace also said she disagrees with Trump’s decision and is asking South Carolina voters to support her anyway.
The race has drawn national attention because South Carolina is a deeply Republican state where the GOP primary could effectively determine the next governor. It has also become a test of Trump’s power in state-level primaries when multiple Republican candidates are competing for the same conservative voters.
For Mace, the challenge is clear: she must convince voters that she remains aligned with the conservative movement even without Trump’s endorsement. For Evette, the challenge is turning Trump’s support into enough votes to either win outright or enter a runoff as the clear favorite.
The final days of the campaign are likely to focus heavily on turnout, Trump loyalty, state leadership and which candidate voters believe can best replace McMaster.
Why It Matters
The South Carolina governor’s race is a test of Trump’s endorsement power in a crowded Republican primary. Evette has the president’s support, but Mace argues that grassroots voters are not automatically following his lead.
The race also matters because it could shape the future direction of Republican leadership in South Carolina after Henry McMaster leaves office.
What Comes Next
South Carolina Republicans vote Tuesday. If no candidate receives a majority, the top two candidates will move to a runoff.
If Evette wins or leads strongly, Trump’s endorsement will be viewed as a major factor. If Mace forces a runoff or outperforms expectations, it could show that some Republican voters are willing to split from Trump’s preferred candidate in state races.
Nancy Mace: “The midterms are going to be a bloodbath. You know, it’s going to be very difficult. I think we’re going to be swimming upstream this cycle because we haven’t delivered on our promises.” pic.twitter.com/cHANVZs0Qo
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) June 5, 2026
