Major Controversies Surrounding Nancy Mace: A Detailed Timeline

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Nancy Mace.

Nancy Mace is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district since 2021. A Republican, she is known for her occasionally independent stance within the party. Before entering Congress, Mace was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. She also has a background in business, having founded a consulting firm. As a congresswoman, she has focused on issues such as coastal protection, veterans' affairs, and economic development.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

2020: Refused to support challenge to 2020 election results

In 2020, Nancy Mace publicly refused to support efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election, citing that Congress did not have the authority to influence the election's outcome.

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.

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

On May 18, 2021, Nancy Mace joined 61 other House Republicans to vote against the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, citing concerns about discrimination against Asian-Americans in higher education.

November 2021: Criticized Lauren Boebert for anti-Muslim comments

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

2021: Mace Cosponsors Life at Conception Act

In 2021, Mace cosponsored the Life at Conception Act, which would recognize a fertilized egg as a person with equal protections and establish a nationwide abortion ban.

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. She later voted against impeaching Trump, stating that due process had not been properly followed.

2022: Mace Criticized States Enacting Abortion Bans After Overturning of Roe v. Wade

In 2022, Mace criticized states enacting abortion bans without exceptions in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.

October 3, 2023: Voted to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker

On October 3, 2023, Nancy Mace voted in favor of removing Kevin McCarthy, a fellow Republican, from his position as speaker of the House. She cited McCarthy's failure to follow through on her legislative priorities.

October 2023: Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Redistricting

In October 2023, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding the NAACP's challenge to South Carolina's congressional map.

2023: Break up with Patrick Bryant

In 2023, Nancy Mace broke up with Patrick Bryant, claiming she found him on a dating app, a claim he denied.

2023: Federal Panel Rules Mace's District a Racial Gerrymander

In 2023, a three-judge federal panel ruled that Nancy Mace's congressional District 1 was redrawn in a "stark racial gerrymander" intended to suppress Black voters.

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

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

May 2024: Supreme Court Reverses Ruling on South Carolina Redistricting

In May 2024, the Supreme Court reversed the lower court's ruling in a 6–3 decision, finding that South Carolina's redistricting decisions were driven by partisan goals rather than race.

August 15, 2024: Mace Mispronounces Kamala Harris' Name

On August 15, 2024, Nancy Mace received nationally circulated criticism for repeatedly mispronouncing Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris' name and claiming "I will say Kamala's name any way that I want to."

November 18, 2024: Mace Introduces Resolution on Single-Sex Facilities

On November 18, 2024, Mace introduced a resolution to prohibit "Members, officers, and employees of the House of Representatives" from using single-sex facilities in the Capitol or House Office Buildings that don't correspond to their "biological sex", specifically targeting transgender women and Delaware representative Sarah McBride.

December 2024: Alleged assault at foster youth event

In December 2024, Nancy Mace claimed that James McIntyre threatened and physically assaulted her during a handshake at a foster care youth advocacy event, leading to his arrest.

2024: Mace Shifts Stance on LGBTQ Rights

In 2024, Nancy Mace shifted to a significantly more hostile position regarding LGBTQ rights around and after the 2024 presidential election campaign.

2024: Comments on United States drone sightings

In 2024, during the United States drone sightings, Nancy Mace suggested that the drones could be from "outer space" or "outside the universe". However, a subsequent U.S. government investigation found nothing anomalous.

February 2025: Mace Uses Derogatory Term for Trans People

At a House Oversight Committee hearing in February 2025, Mace used the slur "tranny" to refer to trans people and repeated it when confronted.

February 2025: Accusations of abuse, rape, and sexual misconduct

In February 2025, Nancy Mace accused her ex-fiancé, Patrick Bryant, and three other men of physical abuse, rape, and sexual misconduct in a speech in the House of Representatives. The men denied her accusations, and one of them later sued her for defamation.

March 2025: Mace Criticizes US Senator Elissa Slotkin

In March 2025, Mace criticized US Senator Elissa Slotkin for reading aloud from a children's book about LGBT tolerance, saying "The Left gets mad when we call them groomers but then continue to do this."

April 1, 2025: Misdemeanor charge dropped; Mace withdrew from Congressional Caucus

On April 1, 2025, the United States attorney for the District of Columbia announced he would drop the misdemeanor charge against James McIntyre. Shortly after, Mace quietly withdrew from the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth and was replaced by Rep. Erin Houchin.

May 2025: Accusations of sexual grooming

In May 2025, during a DOGE subcommittee hearing, Nancy Mace accused Fatima Goss Graves, CEO of the National Women's Law Center, of sexual grooming, stating that Graves was "grooming children."

2025: Islamophobic post against Zohran Mamdani

In 2025, following Zohran Mamdani's victory in the New York City mayoral election, Nancy Mace posted an Islamophobic message alongside a picture of Mamdani wearing traditional Muslim robes, referencing 9/11.

2025: Mace Critiques LGBTQ Themes

Starting in 2025, Mace began making more statements critical of gays and lesbians in public life, calling for books with LGBTQ themes to be banned from schools and libraries.