Rep. Nancy Mace brings SC governor campaign — and protesters — to Rock Hill
Dozens of protesters chanted “Nancy Mace is a disgrace, wasting time and spewing hate,” outside of a brewery Monday night as the South Carolina Republican congresswoman brought her gubernatorial campaign to Rock Hill.
The demonstration continued throughout the evening near the venue entrance. Meanwhile, inside Hoppin’, off of Dave Lyle Boulevard, Mace delivered a speech focused on her campaign promises and congressional record, kicking off with a few jabs at the protesters outside, calling them “lunatics” and using a transphobic slur.
“These are the people who are very confused,” she said. “They’re all messed up.”
Mace said she welcomed the protests and open dialogue. However, some protesters, including one who showed The Herald a screenshot of her ticket, said they registered for the event and were denied entry.
“They’re hiding behind a mask because they’re too scared to show their face,” Mace said. “They’re not man enough to come into the room and ask the tough questions.”
Protesters said they opposed Mace’s anti-LGBTQ stances, many of which she touted during her event, including strict bathroom rules and defunding schools that recognize transgender students’ pronouns. Brian, a South Carolina resident who organized the protest and declined to provide a last name, said the protesters planned on showing up to every Republican campaign event possible leading up to the election.
Inside the brewery, attendees mostly supported Mace. During her Q&A period when one protester took the microphone to ask about Trump’s executive orders, two attendees shouted “nobody likes you,” and “we came here for Nancy not you.” When Mace called abortion “murder” after being questioned about defunding medical care for women, attendees applauded.
As the protester left the room, Mace told the woman to tell the other protesters “hi,” again using a transphobic slur.
What would Mace do as SC governor?
Last week, Mace joined U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, South Carolina Sen. Josh Kimbrell and Attorney General Alan Wilson in the crowded Republican primary field to succeed term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster. Norman, notably, is the Rock Hill area’s congressman.
Mace led an early South Carolina Policy Council poll with 16% of Republican respondents saying they would vote for her in a primary as of July 28. Still, 52% said they were undecided. On Monday she called the Republican primary a “two-man race” between her and Wilson.
Mace reiterated multiple times her support for President Donald Trump and hope that he would endorse her run for governor. Trump supported Mace in her campaign for Congress in January 2024, and she supported his 2024 presidential campaign over that of former Gov. Nikki Haley, who endorsed Mace two years earlier.
On Monday, one of her first public stops since announcing her run, Mace told an audience of around 60 people she would fire anyone bringing undocumented people into the country, veto funding for any school that “thinks men can get pregnant,” and be tougher on crime.
“I’m going to hold the line against illegal immigrants. I’m going to hold the line against DEI. I’m going to hold the line against this woke agenda that’s being pushed,” she said.
Mace unveiled her “path to prosperity” for South Carolina, stating she would lower state income tax to zero over five years by capping general fund spending, cutting state agencies and eliminating some departments.
She also promised to push for anti-immigration policies such as fining businesses that hire undocumented workers, working with the federal government to deport undocumented immigrants and ending “sanctuary loopholes.” Mace said she would take a tough approach to crime, implementing the death penalty for people who rape children and enforcing strict laws against people experiencing homelessness.
Mace’s educational pitches focused largely on anti-LGBTQ measures. She said she would “ban pronouns,” and “child porn in libraries.” She also advocated for school choice and expanding the number of charter schools in the state.
Mace said she opposes the Silfab Solar manufacturing facility in Fort Mill because she knows local residents do.
“I share the anger of local residents who feel like they’ve been duped,” she said about the facility. “As governor, this would not happen on my watch.”
What did attendees say?
Wayne Collinson said that he came to the Monday night rally to understand how Mace reconciles her relationship with Trump and what her claim of being “Trump in heels” means for the people of South Carolina.
Some attendees told The Herald they support Mace because they think she brings new ideas to the Republican party.
“I think it’s really good to have women’s views in the Republican caucus,” said attendee Matt Mikkelson. “She’s a small business Republican in a small, limited government. Hopefully she will talk about fiscal issues and she will be smart with money and careful of taxpayer dollars.”
Stephanie Neuman said she thought Mace shared strong points with the crowd but there’s a way to get a point across while also being kind.
“I am not in the camp where spewing names towards people gets you any other respect or results,” Neuman said.
This story was originally published August 11, 2025 at 9:06 PM.
