South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace finished fifth in the Republican gubernatorial primary with just 11.8% of the vote, then blamed her poor showing on her vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files and endorsed the opponent of President Trump’s chosen candidate in the upcoming runoff.

Mace Breaks With Trump After Crushing Loss

Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, who received a last-minute Trump endorsement in late May, will face state Attorney General Alan Wilson in a June 23 runoff after both advanced from Tuesday’s primary. In her concession speech, Mace threw her support behind Wilson despite Trump backing Evette. The move marks a direct split with the former president on the South Carolina governor’s race.

Mace attributed her devastating fifth-place finish to her congressional vote supporting the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal network. She told supporters she chose to stand on principle against what she called the Epstein cover-up, even though it may have cost her the election. The congresswoman acknowledged that choosing principle over political calculation proved to be the wrong strategy for winning votes.

Strong Words for Trump’s Pick

Mace did not hold back in her endorsement of Wilson over the Trump-backed Evette. She declared Wilson a law and order governor who would defeat Evette decisively in the runoff. Mace predicted Wilson would dominate the lieutenant governor in the head-to-head contest and said she looked forward to watching it happen. Her endorsement directly contradicts Trump’s late-stage intervention in the race supporting Evette.

What Comes Next

The Republican runoff election is scheduled for June 23, with the winner facing the Democratic nominee in November. Mace released a lengthy statement on social media defending her record and claiming every vote she cast and every fight she picked was for South Carolina voters. She called serving her state the greatest honor of her life while defending her controversial Epstein files vote. The Gateway Pundit plans to provide ongoing coverage of the runoff battle between Evette and Wilson as the race intensifies.