Rep. Nancy Mace Condemns Kevin McCarthy’s Actions in South Carolina GOP Primary

In an escalating conflict within the Republican ranks, U.S. Representative Nancy Mace blasted former House speaker Kevin McCarthy over allegations of his direct intervention in the ongoing GOP primary races, including her own in South Carolina.

Mace Accuses McCarthy of Disrupting Republican Unity

During a recent session of The Post and Courier’s Pints and Politics series, Mace publicly denounced McCarthy’s involvement in her and other fellow Republicans’ primaries. She accused him of reaching out to her donors and urging them to contribute to her opponent, Catherine Templeton’s campaign.

Mace stated, “Kevin McCarthy has called donors of mine and asked them directly to donate to my opponent Catherine Templeton. That is what he’s doing. I’m not the only person that he’s targeting. There are eight of us and it’s sickening to see how much money he’s spending behind all these lies.”

Diverted Funds Affecting Party’s Chances in 2024

Professing concern over the future of the GOP, Mace argued that the funds being poured into internal conflicts could be better utilized. She proposed that this money could be directed towards securing more significant wins for the party in 2024. Mace emphasized the need for unity, stressing that Republicans should focus on maintaining control of the U.S. House, flipping the Senate and regaining the White House. She further questioned McCarthy’s approach to achieving these goals.

Templeton Invokes Mace’s Past Actions; Mace Responds

In the mounting tension of the GOP primary, fellow candidate Catherine Templeton brought up Mace’s vote against McCarthy in the past, arguing that Mace’s actions led to a fractured relationship with fellow congressmen, thus impacting their support for her campaign.

In response, Mace expressed her support for former President Donald Trump’s re-election and stated that disagreements have been resolved. Meanwhile, Templeton proclaimed herself as the ‘America-First’ candidate, aligning herself squarely with Trump’s policies.

Major Issues Addressed in Primary Debates

During the debates, the candidates addressed a variety of issues, including their stand on a federal abortion ban, their views on the Israel-Hamas war, and their thoughts on a possible TikTok ban.

Regarding a national abortion ban, all agreed that it should include exceptions for victims of rape, incest, and to protect the mother’s life. However, the candidates expressed differing views on what a suitable timeline would be for a national abortion ban.

The three candidates echoed similar views on foreign policy, opposing the recently passed $60 billion aid package to Ukraine, while expressing solid support for Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict.