Nancy Mace teases bid to replace Sen. Lindsey Graham

Rep. Nancy Mace, who placed last in South Carolina's June gubernatorial primary, is seemingly considering a run to replace Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Mace, who primary challenged Graham in 2014, took to X on June 12 to tease a run to replace him. The outgoing congresswoman posted a clip of Al Pacino's Michael Corleone character saying, "Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in" from 1990's "The Godfather Part III." Mace captioned the clip with the quote.

Graham's office announced his death early June 12. He was 71. The four-term senator "passed away from a brief and sudden illness," a statement posted to his social media account said. His office added that "Senator Graham's family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period."

Graham prevailed over five primary challengers in June and was expected to face Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews in November.

Emergency responders were dispatched to Graham's Capitol Hill home around 8:30 p.m. ET following a report of someone suffering chest pain, according to audio on the Broadcastify website, which archives public safety radio feeds.

Nancy Mace: 'South Carolina lost a giant'

Mace mourned Graham's loss in a post Sunday morning before teasing a run of her own. "South Carolina lost a giant last night," she wrote. "For more than three decades, Lindsey Graham gave everything he had to this state and this country, from the Air Force to the United States Senate."

She continued, "We did not always agree, but no one ever questioned his love for South Carolina or the fight he brought to every room he walked into." Mace added: "Please joined me in praying for his family and for all who called him a friend. Rest easy, Senator."

The Lowcountry congresswoman, once a moderate, flipped a coastal South Carolina swing district in 2020 that encompasses Charleston before she became a staunch conservative firebrand when redistricting made her seat safer.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster is expected to appoint a replacement to Graham's seat, and a special election will be held. McMaster's Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, who placed behind Alan Wilson in a Republican gubernatorial runoff, and the state's former Gov. Nikki Haley, also a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, top the list of potential Graham replacements.

Contributing: Phillip Bailey, Christopher Cann

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nancy Mace teases bid to replace Sen. Lindsey Graham

Reporting by Jay Stahl, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

This story was originally published July 12, 2026 at 1:12 PM.