Nancy Mace

Nancy Mace is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, she was first elected in 2020, defeating incumbent Joe Cunningham. Mace previously served in the South Carolina House of Representatives and was the first woman to graduate from The Citadel's Corps of Cadets.

Early life and education

Born at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, she spent much of her childhood in Goose Creek, South Carolina. Her father, Brigadier General J. Emory Mace, served in the United States Army. She attended The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, where she made history in 1999 as the first female graduate from the Corps of Cadets. She later earned a Master of Arts in journalism from the University of Georgia.

Political career

Before holding elected office, she worked in the private sector for companies like Google and in public relations. Her initial foray into politics was as a campaign staffer for Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign. In 2014, she was the Republican nominee for South Carolina's 1st congressional district, losing to incumbent Mark Sanford. She was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2017, representing parts of Berkeley County and Dorchester County.

U.S. House of Representatives

She was elected to the 117th United States Congress in November 2020, flipping a seat held by Democrat Joe Cunningham. Upon taking office, she was assigned to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. In the 118th United States Congress, she joined the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. She gained national attention for her role during the Speaker election following the 2023 vote.

Political positions

She has established a profile as a pragmatic conservative, often emphasizing issues like veteran affairs, economic development, and environmental conservation in the Lowcountry. She was one of the first Republican members of Congress to publicly acknowledge Joe Biden as the legitimate winner of the 2020 United States presidential election. She supports increased funding for Fort Jackson and the Port of Charleston. On social issues, she has expressed support for exceptions in abortion legislation and was a vocal critic of the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.

Electoral history

* 2014: Lost the general election for South Carolina's 1st congressional district to Mark Sanford. * 2018: Won election to the South Carolina House of Representatives from District 99. * 2020: Won the Republican primary and defeated incumbent Joe Cunningham in the general election. * 2022: Won re-election, defeating Democrat Annie Andrews in the general election.

Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina Category:South Carolina Republicans Category:The Citadel alumni