The State endorsement: Our choice in the Republican primary for the U.S. House
Lowcountry voters should resoundingly choose state Rep. Nancy Mace in the Republican Party’s 1st Congressional District primary on June 9.
Yes, it’s that simple, and for good reason: Mace’s productive record and work ethic as a state legislator make her the obvious choice to face incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham in November — and set up what could be one of the most closely watched congressional races in the nation.
That’s why The State Editorial Board is endorsing Mace.
Prior to winning election to the state Legislature in 2018, Mace was probably best known for being the first woman to graduate from The Citadel in 1999 — and for a unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign in 2014.
But during her two years as a lawmaker, Mace, 42, has played a leading role on issues ranging from conservation (she sponsored a House resolution opposing offshore drilling), guns (she drafted a concealed carry reciprocity bill) and abortion (the Berkeley Republican successfully pushed the House to place exceptions for rape and incest in a bill to ban abortions once fetal heartbeats are detected — an effort that led Mace to reveal that she had been sexually assaulted as a teen).
But the most promising thing about Mace’s candidacy is that she doesn’t view “bipartisanship” as a dirty word.
For example, Mace’s bill to prohibit pregnant prisoners in South Carolina from being shackled drew overwhelming support from Republicans and Democrats alike in the Legislature — and it was recently signed into law by Gov. Henry McMaster during a heavily covered public ceremony.
“I’ve had one of the most conservative records in the General Assembly, period,” Mace said. “But I also operate in a very nonpartisan way to try and get things done.”
Such open-mindedness would be a welcome asset on Capitol Hill, so it’s encouraging that Mace has vowed to build bridges if she’s elected to Congress.
During an interview with The State Editorial Board, Mace said one of her priorities in Congress would be to focus on economic issues. The businesswoman noted that prior to COVID-19, the metro Charleston area had an 1.86% unemployment rate; now the metro area’s jobless rate is 12.1%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“In the midst of COVID and post-COVID, how do we get our economy back?” Mace said. “The economy and jobs have to be the No. 1 issue.”
Mace’s track record suggests she would attack that issue and many others in a substantive manner.
Other candidates
In addition to Mace, The State Editorial Board interviewed two other Republican candidates in the 1st Congressional District primary: Mount Pleasant Town Councilwoman Kathy Landing and Brad Mole, a Bluffton resident who serves as chairman of the Lowcountry Affordable Housing Coalition.
A fourth primary candidate, Chris Cox of Mount Pleasant, did not respond to an interview request.
Landing has touted her strong conservative views on taxes (she believes Congress should protect and strengthen President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax cuts) and term limits (she thinks members of Congress should be limited to three terms). The businesswoman has won significant support as a congressional candidate: Landing has been endorsed by former Sen. Jim DeMint and several Lowcountry public officials.
Mole has pointed to Sen. Tim Scott, the only African American Republican in the U.S. Senate, as an inspirational figure he would seek to emulate in Washington. Mole also said his strong Christian faith mirrors that of most Lowcountry voters and would lead him to advocate for pro-life policies as a congressman.
But while Landing has run a strong and credible campaign — and Mole should be encouraged to seek future public office — Mace’s experience and accomplishments as a state legislator would allow her to make more of an impact in Washington.
Mace deserves The State Editorial Board’s endorsement, and Lowcountry voters should make her a first-ballot winner in the June 9 1st Congressional District Republican primary.
This story was originally published June 1, 2020 at 7:41 AM.