History of Nancy Mace in Timeline

Nancy Mace is an American politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district, a position she has held since 2021. A member of the Republican Party, she previously served in the South Carolina General Assembly from 2018 to 2020. She is known for sometimes breaking with her party.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

December 4, 1977: Nancy Mace Born

On December 4, 1977, Nancy Ruth Mace was born. She is currently an American politician and U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district.

Others born on this day/year

1997: Father served as commandant of cadets

From 1997, James Emory Mace, Nancy Mace's father, served as commandant of cadets at the Citadel.

1999: Graduated from the Citadel

In 1999, Nancy Mace became the first woman to graduate from the Corps of Cadets program at the Citadel Military College of South Carolina.

1999: Graduated from the Citadel's Corps of Cadets program

In 1999, Nancy Mace graduated from the Citadel's Corps of Cadets program, earning a degree in business administration magna cum laude.

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" about her experience at the Citadel.

In the Company of Men: A Woman at the Citadel

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2004: Earned a master's degree

In 2004, Nancy Mace earned a master's degree in journalism and mass communication from the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.

2005: Father stopped serving as commandant of cadets

In 2005, James Emory Mace, Nancy Mace's father, stopped serving as commandant of cadets at the Citadel.

2007: Began working for FITSNews

In 2007, Nancy Mace began working for the website FITSNews.

2008: Founded the Mace Group

In 2008, Nancy Mace founded 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.

August 2013: Announced U.S. Senate Candidacy

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.

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

On June 10, 2014, Nancy Mace received 19,560 votes (6.2% of the vote) in the primary election for U.S. Senate in South Carolina, behind Lindsey Graham, Lee Bright, Richard Cash, and Det Bowers.

2016: Supported Donald Trump's presidential campaign

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

2016: Worked for Trump Campaign

In 2016, Nancy Mace worked for Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

September 18, 2017: Filed for special election

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: Defeated Cindy Boatwright

On January 16, 2018, Nancy Mace defeated Democrat Cindy Boatwright in the general election for the South Carolina State House District 99 seat, with 2,066 votes to 1,587.

January 23, 2018: Took office

On January 23, 2018, Nancy Mace took office as representative for South Carolina State House District 99.

November 6, 2018: Defeated Jen Gibson

On November 6, 2018, Nancy Mace defeated the Democratic nominee, Jen Gibson, in the general election.

2018: Represented the 99th district

From 2018, Nancy Mace represented the 99th district in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

2018: Cunningham's surprise victory

In 2018, Joe Cunningham won the election for South Carolina's 1st congressional district in a surprise victory.

2018: Joined South Carolina General Assembly

In 2018, Nancy Mace joined the South Carolina General Assembly.

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

In June 2019, Nancy Mace announced that she would seek the Republican nomination for South Carolina's 1st congressional district.

2019: Divorce from Curtis Jackson

In 2019, Nancy Mace divorced Curtis Jackson, with whom she had two children.

2019: Advocated for exceptions in abortion ban bill

In 2019, Nancy Mace successfully advocated for the inclusion of exceptions for rape and incest in a bill for a six-week abortion ban that passed the South Carolina state house. During a speech, Mace revealed that she had been raped at age 16.

2019: Received awards

In 2019, The Conservation Voters of South Carolina gave Nancy Mace a 100% Lifetime rating for her voting record against offshore drilling and seismic testing, and The South Carolina Club for Growth gave Mace its 2019 Tax Payer Hero Award.

May 2020: Prison reform bill signed into law

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

2020: Left South Carolina General Assembly

In 2020, Nancy Mace left the South Carolina General Assembly.

2020: Elected to Congress

In 2020, Nancy Mace was elected to Congress, defeating incumbent Democrat Joe Cunningham. She became the first Republican woman elected to Congress from South Carolina.

2020: Refused to support efforts to challenge election results

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 6, 2021.

2020: End of term as representative of the 99th district

In 2020, Nancy Mace's term as representative of the 99th district in the South Carolina House of Representatives came to an end.

January 3, 2021: Assumed office

On January 3, 2021, Nancy Mace assumed office as U.S. Representative.

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 the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act

On May 18, 2021, Nancy Mace voted against the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, stating that she opposed the bill because it did not address discrimination against Asian-Americans in higher education.

June 1, 2021: Home Vandalized

On June 1, 2021, the Charleston Police Department opened an investigation after Nancy Mace's home in Daniel Island was vandalized with profanity, anarchy symbols, and graffiti in support of the PRO Act.

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

On October 21, 2021, Nancy Mace was one of nine House Republicans who voted to hold Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena related to the January 6 Attack.

November 2021: Criticized Lauren Boebert for anti-Muslim comments

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

2021: Pleaded with Trump to condemn Capitol attack

Following the 2021 United States Capitol attack, Nancy Mace pleaded with Trump to condemn it and voted against impeaching Trump due to due process concerns.

2021: Became U.S. Representative

In 2021, Nancy Mace became the U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district.

2021: Introduced the States Reform Act

In 2021, Nancy Mace introduced the States Reform Act to remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and regulate it similarly to alcohol, aiming to support veterans, law enforcement, and businesses.

2022: Engagement to Patrick Bryant

In 2022, Nancy Mace became engaged to Patrick Bryant.

2022: Motives Behind Steve Bannon Contempt Vote

In 2022, Nancy Mace cited her vote to hold Steve Bannon in contempt was motivated by a desire to retain the power to subpoena, should the Republican party regain control of the House of Representatives.

2022: Defeated Arrington

In 2022, Nancy Mace defeated Katie Arrington in the Republican primary for her congressional seat.

2022: Re-elected to Congress

In 2022, Nancy Mace was re-elected to Congress.

2022: Nikki Haley Supported Mace

In 2022, Nikki Haley supported Mace in the Republican primary.

October 2, 2023: House passed the MACE Act

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

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

On October 3, 2023, Nancy Mace voted in favor of removing Kevin McCarthy, a fellow Republican, from his position as speaker of the House, citing unfulfilled legislative promises.

November 2023: Began a period of high staff turnover

Starting in November 2023, Nancy Mace's office experienced high levels of staff turnover, which included a complete turnover of all staff between November 2023 and February 2024.

2023: Broke Off Engagement with Patrick Bryant

In 2023, Nancy Mace broke off her engagement with Patrick Bryant, claiming she found him on a dating app, which he denied.

February 2024: Experienced a complete turnover of staff

By February 2024, Nancy Mace's office experienced a complete turnover of all staff that had started in November 2023.

April 2024: Introduced the PAAW Act

In April 2024, Nancy Mace introduced the Preventing Animal Abuse and Waste Act (PAAW Act) to prevent NIH research causing pain to dogs and cats.

December 2024: Accusation of assault at advocacy event

In December 2024, Nancy Mace stated that James McIntyre, a foster youth activist, threatened and physically assaulted her during a handshake at a foster care youth advocacy event. Witnesses disputed Mace's description of the handshake.

2024: Comments on Drone Sightings

During the 2024 United States drone sightings, Nancy Mace stated that she would not rule out the drones were from "outer space" or "outside the universe."

2024: Endorsed Trump in Republican Primary

In 2024, Nancy Mace endorsed Donald Trump in the Republican presidential primary.

2024: Re-elected to Congress.

In 2024, Nancy Mace was re-elected to Congress.

February 2025: Use of Slur at House Oversight Committee

During a House Oversight Committee hearing in February 2025, Nancy Mace used the slur "tranny" to refer to trans people. When confronted, she repeated the word three times, stating, "I don't really care." She also used the same slur during a confrontation with a transgender student at the University of South Carolina, and at a hearing for an amendment to prevent funding trans-related care for members of military families.

February 2025: Accusations of Abuse

In February 2025, Nancy Mace accused her ex-fiancé, Patrick Bryant, and three other men of physical abuse, rape, and sexual misconduct during a speech in the House of Representatives, which all the men denied.

March 2025: Criticism of Senator Slotkin's Reading Material

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

April 1, 2025: Withdrawal from Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth

On April 1, 2025, the United States attorney for the District of Columbia announced he would drop the misdemeanor charge against McIntyre. Following this announcement, Nancy Mace withdrew from the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth and was subsequently replaced as co-chair by Representative Erin Houchin.

May 2025: Authored Legislation on Animal Research

In May 2025, Nancy Mace authored legislation aimed at requiring animals used in federal research laboratories to be relocated or put up for adoption instead of being killed.

May 2025: Accusation 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, asserting that Graves' ideology was "hell-bent on erasing women and grooming children."

August 4, 2025: Announcement of Gubernatorial Bid

On August 4, 2025, Nancy Mace officially announced her candidacy for the 2026 gubernatorial election.

September 12, 2025: Remarks Following Charlie Kirk's Assassination

On September 12, 2025, following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Nancy Mace made unsubstantiated claims that the shooter was "a tranny or pro-tranny" before any suspect was apprehended.

October 30, 2025: Incident at Charleston International Airport

On October 30, 2025, Nancy Mace was involved in an incident with law enforcement at Charleston International Airport in South Carolina, after being late to meet her to escort her to her flight, resulting in public denouncement for her behavior.

2025: Signed petition calling for release of Epstein files

In 2025, Nancy Mace signed a petition calling for a vote on the release of the Epstein files, stating that the petition was deeply personal to her as a survivor of rape and sexual abuse.

2025: Support for Trump's Gaza Plan

In 2025, Nancy Mace supported President Trump's proposal to send U.S. troops to take control of the Gaza Strip and remove the Palestinians from the territory.

2025: Remarks on Zohran Mamdani

In 2025, after Zohran Mamdani's victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary and subsequent election, Nancy Mace made controversial statements, including falsely accusing him of "bringing Sharia law to America."

2025: Increased Criticism of LGBTQ Community

Starting in 2025, Nancy Mace began making more statements critical of gays and lesbians in public life, advocating for books with LGBTQ themes to be banned from schools and libraries. She has also accused gay and lesbian couples of grooming children and referred to the Charleston County Public Library as a "grooming center".