Nancy Mace has built one of the most talked-about political careers in South Carolina. She broke barriers as the first woman to graduate from The Citadel, then rose from the state legislature to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Her outspoken style, shifting political alliances, and a bruising 2026 governor’s race have kept her in the national spotlight.
Who is Nancy Mace?
Nancy Mace is an American politician who has represented South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House since January 2021.
She became the first Republican woman ever elected to Congress from South Carolina. Known for a blunt, media-forward style, she has clashed publicly with figures in both parties throughout her career.
In 2026, Mace ran for governor of South Carolina but lost badly in the Republican primary.
She has said she will not seek reelection to Congress and plans to leave public office when her current term ends in January 2027.
Early Life of Nancy Mace
Nancy Ruth Mace was born on December 4, 1977, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Her father, James Emory Mace, was a U.S. Army brigadier general who later served as Commandant of Cadets at The Citadel. Her mother, Anne Mace, worked as a schoolteacher.
Mace grew up in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. She has spoken publicly about being a victim of sexual assault at age 16, an experience she says contributed to her dropping out of high school.
She later earned her diploma through coursework at Trident Technical College and worked as a waitress at a Waffle House before returning to her education.
Nancy Mace Age
Nancy Mace is 48 years old as of 2026, born on December 4, 1977.
At this age, Nancy Mace is also well-liked for her physical appearance, with a height of 5 feet 7 inches and a weight of 56 kg.
Nancy Mace Ethnicity and Nationality
Mace is an American citizen born and raised in the southeastern United States.
She has deep ties to South Carolina, where her family has lived for generations and where she has spent nearly her entire political career.
Nancy Mace Education
In 1996, Mace enrolled at The Citadel, the historic military college in Charleston that had only recently begun admitting women.
She graduated magna cum laude in 1999 with a degree in business administration, becoming the first woman to complete the school’s Corps of Cadets program.
She later earned a master’s degree in journalism and mass communications from the University of Georgia in 2004.
Her time at both schools shaped much of her early public identity as a barrier-breaking figure in a traditionally male institution.
Nancy Mace Career
Mace’s path to Congress ran through business, writing, and state politics before she reached Washington.
Early Career
After graduating from The Citadel, Mace wrote a 2001 memoir about her experience there. She went on to work in public relations and real estate, later founding a consulting firm called The Mace Group in Charleston.
State Legislature and First House Run
Mace entered elected office in 2018, winning a seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives for District 99. Two years later, in 2020, she defeated a Democratic incumbent to win South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, flipping a competitive coastal seat.
U.S. House of Representatives
Mace took office in January 2021, days before the Capitol riot on January 6. She initially criticized Donald Trump’s role in that day’s events, which drew his public opposition during her 2022 reelection bid.
She won that race anyway and later realigned herself closely with Trump ahead of the 2024 election.
In 2023, Mace was one of eight House Republicans who voted to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker.
She won a third term in 2024 and became known in her final term for high-profile floor speeches, including a February 2025 address accusing several men, including her former fiancé Patrick Bryant, of sexual misconduct.
Bryant has denied the allegations, and one of the men named filed a defamation lawsuit against her.
2026 Governor’s Race
Mace announced in August 2025 that she would run for governor of South Carolina rather than seek reelection to the House. She campaigned as a Trump-aligned conservative in a crowded Republican primary that included Attorney General Alan Wilson and Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette.
Mace finished in fifth place in the June 9, 2026, primary, receiving roughly 12 percent of the vote. She said afterward that her vote to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein cost her support within the party.
After the Primary Loss
Following her defeat, Mace said she planned to return to the private sector once her House term ends. In July 2026, after the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, she publicly weighed entering the special primary for his seat but ultimately announced on July 20, 2026, that she would not run.
She said she intended to finish her final months in Congress focused on legislation for survivors of sexual assault.
Nancy Mace Husband
Nancy Mace has been married and divorced twice. Her first marriage was to Chris Niemiec, an Air Force JAG Corps officer she met while studying at The Citadel. The couple later divorced.
She then married Charleston businessman Curtis Jackson in 2004. That marriage ended in divorce in 2019. In 2022, Mace became engaged to software entrepreneur Patrick Bryant, but the couple separated in 2023 before their public falling out in February 2025.
Nancy Mace Children
Mace has two children, Miles and Ellison, from her marriage to Curtis Jackson. She has often spoken about balancing motherhood with her responsibilities in Congress.
Nancy Mace Net Worth
Nancy Mace’s estimated net worth is around $1 million, based on her congressional financial disclosures.
Her income has come from her House salary, her consulting work through The Mace Group, and book sales tied to her 2001 memoir.
As a sitting member of Congress, Mace earns an annual salary of about 174,000 dollars. She has not disclosed a more specific net worth figure publicly.
Nancy Mace Social Media
Mace is active on X, where she frequently posts about legislation, her personal story, and political developments.
She has used the platform to announce major decisions, including her exit from the 2026 Senate special election.
She also maintains an official congressional website and social accounts tied to her House office. Her online presence has remained a central part of her public identity throughout her career.
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The Bottom Line
Nancy Mace built a career defined by breaking barriers, shifting alliances, and a willingness to court controversy.
From her historic graduation at The Citadel to her rise in Congress and her bruising 2026 run for governor, she has remained one of South Carolina’s most closely watched political figures.
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