Nancy Mace is a three-term U.S. Representative from South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, serving since 2021. She was the first female cadet to graduate from The Citadel's Corps of Cadets. Mace has gained national attention for her outspoken conservative positions and willingness to challenge GOP leadership. She officially launched her gubernatorial campaign on August 4, 2025, framing herself as a 'firebrand' willing to fight for conservative principles.
Mace graduated from The Citadel in 1999 with a degree in business. She worked as a public relations consultant, real estate broker, and political consultant before her election to Congress in 2020. She previously ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2014 and served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2018-2020.