Nancy Mace won’t run for Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat

Firebrand Republican Rep. Nancy Mace announced Monday that she will not run for the South Carolina Senate seat held by the late Lindsey Graham.

“I’m not running for the U.S. Senate, not because I’m backing down from a fight, but because the one I’m already in matters right now,” she said in a video announcement.

Her decision comes after a fifth-place primary finish in her run for governor earlier this year and as the race to succeed Graham is already taking shape.

Mace began exploring the viability of a potential bid just hours after Graham’s death became public, two people familiar with her thinking told POLITICO at the time, but decided against a second statewide bid in as many months.

Her move effectively guarantees she will not be serving in elected office once her term ends early next year.

In the video, Mace said “the laws meant to protect me and other women failed us, and I won’t stop until that changes.”

“Serving South Carolina has been the honor of my life, and I will continue to voice our values everywhere I can; I’m even going to shit post from time to time, because someone has to call out the dumbasses,” she said.

Sen. Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister who was appointed to serve out the remainder of his term shortly after his death, announced Monday that she is running for a full term, and she has already secured President Donald Trump’s endorsement.

GOP Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman have announced bids as well.

The filing window for the special primary election opens Tuesday and closes one week later. The election will be held Aug. 11, with a runoff for the top two candidates if no one wins 50 percent of the vote Aug. 25.

Whoever wins the special GOP primary will be the heavy favorite to secure a full term in November.