So Apparently Nancy Mace’s Fifth Stage of Grief Is Running for Senate
A source familiar with the matter confirmed to Jezebel that Mace is considering running for Lindsey Graham’s seat in this year’s primaries.
Photo: Getty Images Politics Nancy Mace
It was literally hours after Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-S.C.) office announced his death on Sunday when Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), as she does, immediately made things about her. According to a new report by Politico, the congresswoman is now already drooling over a bid for Senate to fill the late Senator’s vacant seat—clearly unfazed by coming dead-fifth in the state’s gubernatorial primary in June.
A source familiar with the matter, who spoke under condition of anonymity, confirmed to Jezebel that Mace is considering the run. This adds to the Politico report, wherein two individuals that said they’re “familiar with her thinking” (such a concept might honestly be the most outlandish part of this entire story) added that Mace is planning to poll for her exploratory bid this week, potentially using the leftover cash she has from her federal campaign account. And according to another source that spoke to Axios, the congresswoman’s mindset for this race can best be characterized with a “YOLO” attitude. Quirky!
Mace is currently to vacate her District 1 seat in January, after suffering the aforementioned and humiliating defeat in the gubernatorial primary on June 9. She tried running for Senate once before, against Graham, in 2014, but landed a fifth place then as well. Her recent defeat, in part, could be attributed to the fact she’s said she enjoys watching videos of people and families being detained by ICE; in September targeted Rep. Ilhan Omar (R-Minn.) for hate speech Omar never actually said; in October screamed at TSA agents for failing to meet her with a security detail at the airport; and in May floated kicking naturalized citizens out of Congress.
Graham had been running for re-election in this year’s primaries, and was expected to square off against Dem. nominee Annie Andrews. And though it’s not clear who will replace him on the ticket, CNN data journalist Harry Enten suggested Mace has slim chances of being that person. “At this point, I don’t see the math there,” he said. “The people who are putting their money where their mouths are don’t give Nancy Mace much of a chance to win that nomination.” An assessment that was pretty much cemented on Monday, when Trump endorsed Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to be his interim replacement.
“I’m never going to shut the door,” Mace said on Fox News, also on Sunday. “You only live once and, you know, if the people of South Carolina would like me to serve in that capacity, I’ll certainly take a look at it.” I don’t know. It seems like the people of South Carolina have kind of already spoken.
Keep scrolling for more great stories.