Career Timeline of Nancy Mace: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Nancy Mace built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Nancy Mace is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district since 2021. As a member of the Republican Party, she has navigated a complex political landscape, sometimes aligning with and sometimes diverging from her party's leadership. Prior to her congressional service, Mace made history as the first female graduate of The Citadel. Her political positions often reflect a blend of conservative principles and more moderate stances, particularly on issues such as cannabis reform and environmental conservation. Mace's background in business and technology has also informed her approach to economic policy.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1999: Graduated from The Citadel

In 1999, Nancy Mace became the first woman to graduate from The Citadel's Corps of Cadets program, earning a degree in business administration.

2001: Authored "In the Company of Men: A Woman at The Citadel"

In 2001, Nancy Mace wrote "In the Company of Men: A Woman at The Citadel", published by Simon & Schuster, detailing her experiences at the military college.

In the Company of Men: A Woman at the Citadel

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2007: Began working for FITSNews

In 2007, Nancy Mace began working for the website FITSNews, which covers South Carolina politics and current events.

2008: Started The Mace Group

In 2008, Nancy Mace started The Mace Group, a public relations and consulting firm.

2012: Volunteered for Ron Paul's campaign

In 2012, Nancy Mace volunteered for the presidential campaign of Ron Paul, contributing to his political efforts.

August 2013: Announced candidacy for U.S. Senate

In August 2013, Nancy Mace announced her candidacy in the 2014 election for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in South Carolina.

2013: Sold stake in FITSNews

In 2013, Nancy Mace sold her stake in the website FITSNews, ending her involvement with the South Carolina politics and current events platform.

June 10, 2014: Primary election for U.S. Senate

On June 10, 2014, Nancy Mace participated in the primary election for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in South Carolina, receiving 6.2% of the vote.

2014: Campaign Statement on Obamacare

During her 2014 U.S. Senate campaign, Mace said "We must use any means possible to repeal, defund, and ultimately stop Obamacare" because it will "suffocate individual liberty and further stifle economic growth".

2016: Supported Donald Trump for president

In 2016, Nancy Mace supported Donald Trump for president, serving as a coalitions director and field director for his campaign.

2016: Worked for Trump's 2016 presidential campaign

In 2016, Nancy Mace worked for Donald Trump's presidential campaign, contributing to his efforts to win the election.

September 18, 2017: Filed for special election for SC State House

On September 18, 2017, Nancy Mace filed as a Republican to run in a special election for the South Carolina State House District 99 seat.

January 16, 2018: Won the General Election

On January 16, 2018, Nancy Mace defeated Democrat Cindy Boatwright in the general election for South Carolina State House District 99.

January 23, 2018: Took office for SC State House

On January 23, 2018, Nancy Mace officially took office as a member of the South Carolina State House, representing District 99.

November 6, 2018: Won General Election

On November 6, 2018, Nancy Mace won the general election against Democratic nominee Jen Gibson, continuing her representation in the South Carolina State House.

2018: Represented the 99th district

From 2018, Nancy Mace represented the 99th district in the South Carolina House of Representatives, which included Hanahan, northeast Mount Pleasant, and Daniel Island.

June 2019: Announced candidacy for South Carolina's 1st congressional district

In June 2019, Nancy Mace announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for South Carolina's 1st congressional district, then represented by Democrat Joe Cunningham.

2019: Advocated for rape and incest exceptions

In 2019, Nancy Mace successfully advocated for the inclusion of exceptions for rape and incest in a bill for a six-week abortion ban in South Carolina, revealing she was raped at 16.

May 2020: Prison reform bill signed into law

In May 2020, Governor Henry McMaster signed Nancy Mace's prison reform bill into law, which ends the shackling of pregnant women in prison.

2020: Refused to support challenge to election results

After the 2020 Presidential election, Nancy Mace was one of seven Republicans who publicly refused to support their colleagues' efforts to challenge the results.

2020: Elected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 2020, Nancy Mace was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, making history as the first Republican woman elected to Congress from South Carolina.

January 3, 2021: Assumed office

On January 3, 2021, Nancy Mace assumed office as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives after defeating Joe Cunningham in the November general election.

January 6, 2021: Criticized Trump for Capitol attack

On January 6, 2021, Nancy Mace criticized President Trump for his role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol, although she did not vote to impeach him.

April 2021: Opposition to D.C. Statehood

In April 2021, Mace voiced her opposition to a Democratic proposal to grant the District of Columbia statehood.

May 18, 2021: Voted against COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act

On May 18, 2021, Nancy Mace joined 61 other House Republicans in voting against the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, expressing concerns about its scope and focus.

June 2021: Vote for Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act

In June 2021, Mace was one of 26 Republicans to vote for the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act.

June 2021: Vote to Repeal Authorization for Use of Military Force

In June 2021, Mace was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.

October 21, 2021: Vote to Hold Steve Bannon in Contempt

On October 21, 2021, Mace was one of nine House Republicans who voted to hold Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena to appear before the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack.

November 2021: Criticized Lauren Boebert's comments

In November 2021, Nancy Mace publicly criticized fellow Republican congresswoman Lauren Boebert for her anti-Muslim comments directed at Democrat Ilhan Omar.

2021: Cosponsorship of Life at Conception Act

In 2021, Mace cosponsored the Life at Conception Act, which aimed to recognize a fertilized egg as a person and establish a nationwide abortion ban.

2021: Support for LGBTQ Rights

In 2021, Mace expressed support for LGBTQ rights and equality, stating that no one should be discriminated against, and co-sponsored the Fairness for All Act.

2021: Introduction of States Reform Act

In 2021, Mace introduced the States Reform Act to remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and regulate it similarly to alcohol.

2021: Did Not Sign Onto Amicus Brief to Overturn Roe v. Wade

In 2021, Mace was among a few Republican representatives who did not sign onto an amicus brief to overturn Roe v. Wade.

2021: Became U.S. Representative

In 2021, Nancy Mace became the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district, marking a significant milestone in her political career.

2021: Voted against American Rescue Plan Act

In 2021, Nancy Mace, along with all other Senate and House Republicans, voted against the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

2021: Pleaded with Trump to condemn Capitol attack

In 2021, after the United States Capitol attack, Nancy Mace pleaded with Donald Trump to condemn it and urged him to get off Twitter. She later voted against impeaching him.

July 2022: Vote in Favor of Respect for Marriage Act

In July 2022, Mace was among 47 Republican representatives who voted in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which protects existing same-sex and interracial marriages under federal law.

2022: Vote for Ukraine Aid

In 2022, Mace voted for H.R. 7691, the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022, which would provide $40 billion in emergency aid to the Ukrainian government.

2022: Defeated Arrington in primary

In 2022, Nancy Mace defeated Katie Arrington in the Republican primary for her congressional seat, despite Trump's endorsement of Arrington.

2022: Re-elected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 2022, Nancy Mace was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, continuing her service in Congress.

2022: Received support from Nikki Haley

In 2022, Nikki Haley had supported Nancy Mace in her primary, leading to Mace endorsing Trump over Haley in 2024.

2022: Criticism of State Abortion Bans

In 2022, after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Mace criticized states enacting abortion bans without exceptions.

January 2023: Introduction of the Standing with Moms Act

In January 2023, Mace introduced the Standing with Moms Act, which would create a website (life.gov) linking women to crisis pregnancy centers.

February 2023: Introduced Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems Act

In February 2023, Nancy Mace co-introduced the Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems Act, aiming to share federal offshore wind power revenue with states for coastal protection and restoration.

May 31, 2023: Vote Against Fiscal Responsibility Act

On May 31, 2023, Mace was among 71 House Republicans who voted against the final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 to raise the debt ceiling. She later claimed the American people were lied to about the measure.

July 2023: House Subcommittee Hearing on UAPs

In July 2023, as Chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, Mace questioned David Grusch about recovered nonhuman craft and biological remains during a hearing on UAPs.

October 2, 2023: House passed the MACE Act

On October 2, 2023, the House of Representatives passed a cybersecurity bill titled the MACE Act, which was introduced by Mace and intended to modernize federal cybersecurity job requirements.

October 3, 2023: Voted to remove McCarthy as speaker

On October 3, 2023, Nancy Mace voted in favor of removing Kevin McCarthy from his position as speaker of the House, citing his failure to follow through on her legislative priorities.

2023: Vote on Ban on Center of Excellence in Ukraine

In 2023, Mace voted for a ban on a Center of Excellence in Ukraine that enhances NATO activities.

2023: Vote on Removing Troops from Syria

In 2023, Mace was among 47 Republicans to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.

January 2024: Called Hunter Biden "the epitome of White privilege"

During a January 2024 hearing, Nancy Mace stated that Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, was "the epitome of White privilege."

April 2024: Introduced Preventing Animal Abuse and Waste Act

In April 2024, Nancy Mace introduced the Preventing Animal Abuse and Waste Act (PAAW Act), which aims to restrict NIH-funded research causing significant pain to dogs and cats.

November 2024: Criticism of Pentagon's AARO

In November 2024, Mace criticized the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) for its handling of UAPs, questioning the government's secrecy.

November 2024: Introduced the Protecting Women's Private Spaces Act

In November 2024, Nancy Mace introduced the Protecting Women's Private Spaces Act, a bill that seeks to ban transgender individuals from using bathrooms that correspond to their sex assigned at birth on federal property.

2024: Endorsed Trump in Republican primaries

In 2024, Nancy Mace endorsed Donald Trump in the Republican primaries over Nikki Haley, contrasting with Haley's support for Mace in the 2022 primary.