Democrats may still be in disarray over New Hampshire’s First-in-the-Nation presidential primary, but U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) says everything is running smoothly for the GOP in the Palmetto State.
“We’re First-in-the-South, and we’re always going to keep that title,” the conservative firebrand told NHJournal on Friday. “And being First-in-the-South is a smart place to be.”
Mace, 47, was in New Hampshire to speak at a Politics and Eggs event hosted by the New England Council at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. She also attended several Republican fundraisers during her brief visit.
Whenever an elected official visits New Hampshire—especially with an open presidential race on the horizon—questions inevitably arise about White House ambitions. However, Mace appeared to be focused on a different contest.
“New Hampshire picks presidents,” she told the NHIOP audience, praising the state’s pivotal role in launching Donald Trump’s 2016 GOP nomination. “And maybe you’ll pick the next South Carolina governor, too,” she added, teasing a potential run for statewide office.
In a speech that mixed humor with personal hardship, Mace recounted her early struggles—dropping out of high school at 17 and working at Waffle House—before eventually becoming the first woman to graduate from The Citadel’s Corps of Cadets. Whatever her motives for coming to New Hampshire, the two-term congresswoman didn’t disappoint those expecting her trademark brand of unvarnished conservatism.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) takes questions from New England Council President Jim Brett.
“I love being here in the Granite State, because this is where real men protect women,” Mace said in her opening remarks.
“I’ve learned in my fight in Congress that we, as women, still have a war to wage with the far left, who want men in women’s spaces. They want men in our locker rooms. They want men showering next to our 12-year-old daughters. And they think men can get pregnant. I’m just here to say the biological truth is not that.”
Some Republicans who heard the speech speculated that the reference to men in women’s spaces and locker rooms may have been a subtle dig at Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who angered some Republicans by vetoing a so-called “bathroom bill” here in New Hampshire.
Asked about federal spending, Mace criticized the budget process for forcing Congress to fund “crazy things… like tranny mice.”
Turning to moderator Jim Brett, president of the New England Council, Mace asked, “Can I say ‘tranny’ in here?” Without waiting for a response, she launched into a story about the National Institutes of Health allegedly spending $26 million to make mice transgender in order to study the effects of a date rape drug.
Mace leaned hard into cultural issues, underscoring how the political landscape has shifted. A decade ago, Republicans largely avoided culture war topics. Today, polls show Democrats on the defensive over high-profile issues like illegal immigration, women’s sports, and parental rights.
She criticized Democrats’ support for sanctuary policies and cited a recent House Oversight Committee hearing.
“I had [Minnesota Gov.] Tim Walz, and he couldn’t define what a woman is,” Mace said. “If you can’t define what a woman is, you can’t represent women, and you certainly can’t be president of the United States.”
“To the Democrats in the room: The faster you get back to normal, the harder a time you’re going to give us,” she added.
