How Nancy Mace built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Nancy Mace is an American politician currently serving as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district since 2021. Affiliated with the Republican Party, she is known for representing her constituency in the House of Representatives. Her political career involves legislative duties and engagement in national issues within the framework of the Republican platform.
In 1999, Nancy Mace became the first woman to graduate from the Corps of Cadets program at The Citadel Military College of South Carolina.
In 2001, Nancy Mace wrote "In the Company of Men: A Woman at The Citadel" about her experiences at the Citadel.
In 2007, Nancy Mace began working for the website FITSNews.
In 2008, Nancy Mace started a public relations and consulting firm called The Mace Group.
In 2012, Nancy Mace volunteered for the campaign of presidential candidate Ron Paul.
In August 2013, Nancy Mace announced her candidacy in the 2014 election for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in South Carolina.
In 2013, Nancy Mace sold her stake in the website FITSNews.
On June 10, 2014, Nancy Mace received 6.2% of the vote in the primary election, losing to Lindsey Graham and other candidates.
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".
In 2016, Nancy Mace supported Donald Trump for president as a coalitions director and field director for the campaign.
In 2016, Nancy Mace worked for Donald Trump's presidential campaign.
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.
On January 16, 2018, Nancy Mace defeated Democrat Cindy Boatwright in the general election for South Carolina State House District 99.
On January 23, 2018, Nancy Mace took office in the South Carolina State House.
On November 6, 2018, Nancy Mace won the general election against Democratic nominee Jen Gibson.
From 2018, Nancy Mace represented the 99th district in the South Carolina House of Representatives, covering Hanahan, northeast Mount Pleasant, and Daniel Island.
In 2018, Democrat Joe Cunningham won the seat in South Carolina's 1st congressional district in a surprise victory.
In June 2019, Nancy Mace announced that she would seek the Republican nomination for South Carolina's 1st congressional district.
In 2019, Nancy Mace advocated for the inclusion of exceptions for rape and incest in a six-week abortion ban bill and revealed that she had been raped at age 16.
In May 2020, Governor Henry McMaster signed Nancy Mace's prison reform bill into law.
In 2020, Nancy Mace was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first Republican woman elected to Congress from South Carolina.
In 2020, Nancy Mace was one of seven Republicans who publicly refused to support their colleagues' efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election.
On January 3, 2021, Nancy Mace assumed office as the U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district.
On January 6, 2021, Nancy Mace criticized President Trump for his role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol.
In April 2021, Mace voiced her opposition to a Democratic proposal to grant the District of Columbia statehood, arguing that Washington, D.C. was too small to qualify as a state.
On May 18, 2021, Nancy Mace voted against the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act.
In June 2021, Mace was one of 26 Republicans who voted for the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act.
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.
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.
In November 2021, Nancy Mace criticized fellow Republican congresswoman Lauren Boebert for her anti-Muslim comments about Democrat Ilhan Omar.
In 2021, Mace co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act, which would recognize a fertilized egg as a person and establish a nationwide abortion ban. Mace also expressed views on abortion bans and called for Republicans to be more moderate on the issue, supporting exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother.
In 2021, Mace introduced the States Reform Act to remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and regulate it similarly to alcohol.
In 2021, Mace stated her strong support for LGBTQ rights and equality, stating that "No one should be discriminated against." She opposed the Equality Act, and co-sponsored the Fairness for All Act instead.
In 2021, Mace was among a few Republican representatives who did not sign onto an amicus brief to overturn Roe v. Wade.
In 2021, Nancy Mace voted against the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, along with all other Senate and House Republicans.
In 2021, after the Capitol attack, Nancy Mace pleaded with Trump to condemn it, but ultimately voted against impeaching him.
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.
In 2022, Mace criticized states for enacting abortion bans without exceptions following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. She expressed disagreement with Florida's abortion ban signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, emphasizing the need for compassion for women who are victims of rape or incest.
In 2022, Mace voted for H.R. 7691, the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, which would provide $40 billion in emergency aid to the Ukrainian government.
In 2022, Nancy Mace defeated Katie Arrington in the Republican primary for her congressional seat, despite Trump's endorsement of Arrington.
In January 2023, Mace introduced the Standing with Moms Act, which would create a website, life.gov, linking women to crisis pregnancy centers.
In February 2023, Nancy Mace co-introduced the Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems 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 that the American people were spoon-fed lies regarding the measure.
In July 2023, as Chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, Mace questioned David Grusch about nonhuman craft and biological remains during a congressional hearing on UAPs (UFOs) and government transparency.
On October 2, 2023, the House of Representatives passed a cybersecurity bill titled the MACE Act, intended to modernize federal cybersecurity job requirements.
On October 3, 2023, Nancy Mace voted in favor of removing Kevin McCarthy, a fellow Republican, from his position as speaker of the House.
During a January 2024 hearing, Nancy Mace called Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, "the epitome of White privilege."
In April 2024, Nancy Mace introduced the Preventing Animal Abuse and Waste Act (PAAW Act).
In November 2024, Mace criticized the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) for allegedly withholding the truth about the government's activities concerning UAPs, questioning the secrecy surrounding the topic.
In 2024, Nancy Mace endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican primaries, reversing her previous stance.
In 2024, Nancy Mace endorsed Donald Trump in the Republican presidential primary.
In 2025, Mace supported President Trump's proposal to send U.S. troops to take control of Gaza and remove the Gazans from the territory.