Ex-Gov. Nikki Haley will vote for Nancy Mace in SC’s 1st District race, aide confirms
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will vote for Republican state Rep. Nancy Mace in South Carolina’s 1st District U.S. House race.
Haley’s spokeswoman Chaney Denton confirmed to The State on Monday that Haley, who served in President Donald Trump’s administration as the United States ambassador to the United Nations, will vote in November for Mace. The Daniel Island candidate is challenging U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham, a Democrat who stunned the state in 2018 when he narrowly defeated former state Rep. Katie Arrington, a Republican who won the primary against U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford.
The news was first reported by The (Charleston) Post and Courier on Monday.
Haley’s endorsement comes a day ahead of Vice President Mike Pence’s visit to the state.
Pence will meet with Gov. Henry McMaster on Tuesday to talk about the nation’s COVID-19 response and the state’s plans to reopen schools. But later, he’ll join Mace in Charleston for a joint fundraiser before heading back to Washington.
Pence’s trip is certain to help boost Mace’s campaign account.
Mace raised $714,000 between April 1 and June 30, bringing her fundraising total for the 2020 cycle to $1.9 million. She finished the quarter with $743,000 cash on hand, trailing Cunningham who raised $862,000 in the quarter, bringing his fundraising to a total of $4.4 million this cycle and leaving him with $3 million left to spend.
Haley isn’t planning to attend Mace’s fundraiser on Tuesday, but the public backing could help Mace.
The former governor picked up a new South Carolina residence last fall when she closed on a home on Kiawah Island. The Haley’s split their time between South Carolina and New York until Haley’s son graduated from high school this spring.
This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 4:34 PM with the headline "Ex-Gov. Nikki Haley will vote for Nancy Mace in SC’s 1st District race, aide confirms."
