EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Nancy Mace Explains Why She ‘Might Be Forced To Run’ For Governor

Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace is weighing a potential bid for governor in her state’s 2026 election, hinting that her decision on running may come soon, she told the Daily Caller in an exclusive interview Saturday.

“We’ll make a decision I hope pretty soon. I’m thinking about it and praying about it,” Mace told the Caller at Turning Point USA’s Young Women’s Leadership Summit. “The system is so broken there I might be forced to run.”

Since February, Mace has been at odds with South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, criticizing his inaction on prosecuting sex crimes — particularly in relation to video recordings she says were taken of her and other women without their consent by her ex-fiancé. (RELATED: Nancy Mace Says Nike Should Be Hit With ‘Consequences’ For Allegedly Funding Disturbing Trans Study)

Mace cited deep frustrations with what she views as systemic failures in the state’s justice system as one motivator for seeking her state’s highest office.

CONGRESSWOMAN NANCY MACE SAYS SHE ‘MIGHT BE FORCED TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR’ OF SOUTH CAROLINA

South Carolina Congresswoman @RepNancyMace tells @MattGaetz that she is “absolutely seriously considering” a run for governor of South Carolina. pic.twitter.com/EWOiRW6vkD

— One America News (@OANN) May 23, 2025

“I mean everything that I have seen uncovered — whether we’re talking about child molesters, I’ve uncovered the worst cases, murder. We have in one of our counties 350 cases of murder that are just on the docket, not being prosecuted. We’ve got pedophiles that are not in jail, and certainly not getting the firing squad,” she added.

Mace also responded to a recent multi-agency operation in her district, using the moment to highlight broader concerns about rising violence, illegal immigration, and the “No Kings” protests that took place across the country over the weekend.

“Even in Charleston right now, there’s a No Kings event today,” Mace said. “God bless ICE — number one, we should not be assaulting ICE officers. Members of Congress should be held accountable when they do something to commit violence like that. Number one. Number two is that it’s sad we’ve had over 20 million [illegal immigrants] invade the country.”

Turning her focus to South Carolina specifically, Mace warned about the prevalence of violent offenders entering the state illegally.

“They are everywhere. They are everywhere across South Carolina,” she said, referring to illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds.

Mace also criticized former Charleston County Sheriff Kristin Graziano for allegedly refusing to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when illegal immigrants are booked into county jails.

“We had a sanctuary sheriff last year, in Charleston County, that was letting illegals out who are rapists, murderers, and pedophiles because she wouldn’t work with ICE,” Mace said. “And very few of our elected leaders stood up and said something.”

Mace sent an Oversight Committee letter in November requesting all documents and communications related to the sheriff’s office’s transfer custody of illegal aliens to ICE.

“I did, and I got her fired from her job in November. She got unelected in a county that Kamala won,” Mace added. “So it’s really important that we stand up and we protect our citizens.”

🚨 OH MY GOSH…Rep. Nancy Mace OBLITERATES Tim Walz and his facial expressions say it all.

MACE: “Are you still friends with school sho*ters?”

WALZ: “I’ve never been friends with school sho*ters.”

MACE: “Didn’t you say you were on the debate stage? […]”

“What is a woman?… pic.twitter.com/MRFnlZpCGr

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 12, 2025

Mace also responded to Democrat Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s reaction during a congressional Oversight hearing Thursday when she asked him a straightforward question: “What is a woman?”

“I mean, ther’’s just crickets in the room,” Mace said. “He looked like a deer in headlights, and then he said he didn’t understand the question.”

She continued, “I mean, this guy was a heartbeat away from becoming the vice president of the United States of America and then asked me what I wanted him to say. I’m just a sophomore member of Congress, I wasn’t trying to be president or vice president. I think I killed his aspirations for president in 2028.” (RELATED: Tim Walz Says Genocidal Regime Might Be World’s ‘Moral Authority’)

Reflecting on the broader political fallout, Mace added, “They went down in a ball of flames on Thursday.”

She also offered a more somber response regarding the recent shooting in Minnesota.

Early Saturday morning, an assassin — identified as Vance Luther Boelter — shot and killed Democratic State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and also shot Democratic Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife.

Vance Boelter was captured by authorities late Sunday.

“You know, the other thing I want to point out today … Sadly, number one, I’m praying for Minnesota. It’s unfortunate that Governor Walz tried to make it political early on,” she said.

“It turns out that he, I think, made a grave mistake because people went after MAGA and went after conservatives online when the shooting happened. So I want Minnesota to know that we’re praying for her and their state, and all the people and families affected by the shooting today,” she added.

“But also, you know, Democrats need to stop this. They need to say this is wrong and put an end to the political violence,” Mace argued. “If they acknowledge there’s a problem, this could be solved in this country.”

No matter the reason, violence is always wrong. We denounce it in all its forms. https://t.co/UXpYjMtnPE

— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) June 14, 2025

Tax reform would be another key campaign issue if she were to run, Mace said.

“I might be forced to remove the highest state income tax in the Southeast,” she asserted.

Mace, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, also weighed in on whether she believes a broader strike in the Middle East is an imminent threat, and how the United States should navigate the balance between deterrence and diplomacy.

“I support Israel, and there are Gulf states that support Israel too, and obviously for geopolitical reasons are being very careful right now,” Mace said.

She emphasized the stakes involved in the growing tensions with Iran.

“Number one, no one wants war. Ok, no one wants war, but at the same time, no one wants Iran to have nuclear warheads because we know they will use them. And so it is a balance of deterrence,” she explained.

She continued, “When you’re a day away from being armed with a nuclear warhead, you’ve got to take those people out. And this has been very surgical.”(RELATED: ‘It’s Possible’ US Jumps In Iran-Israel War, Trump Says) 

The intelligence community remains divided on whether Iran is just days away from achieving nuclear weapons capability.

“They’ve gone after strictly nuclear sites and military leaders in Iran. Iran has then turned around and killed Israeli civilians — very different.”

“They are not the same,” she added. “But Israel has a lot more support out there, and she’s doing the work for the rest of the world right now.”