A Charleston City Council member and a state representative advanced to a runoff Tuesday in the Republican primary to replace Representative Nancy Mace, according to The Associated Press. Ms. Mace is an outspoken member of Congress from South Carolina’s First Congressional District who lost her bid for governor earlier in the evening.
The race has proceeded largely under the national radar, with a chaotic and sprawling field of primary candidates vying for what has recently been a safely Republican seat.
During her campaign, Jenny Honeycutt, who in addition to her public office is a lawyer representing construction firms, said she was committed to “preserving the character of the Lowcountry for future generations” and supporting President Trump’s agenda.
Ms. Honeycutt will face Mark Smith, the owner of a funeral home and state representative, who ran on his record of supporting conservative legislation such as abortion restrictions and promised to cut taxes, fight illegal immigration and support law enforcement.
The district, which includes the city of Charleston and hugs the southern coast of the state, briefly became something of a battleground. But Ms. Mace clawed it back from a Democratic incumbent in the 2020 election. The next year, Republicans redrew the boundaries to make it easier for Republicans to hold it. Ms. Mace won the intervening elections in 2022 and 2024 by double digits.
Ms. Honeycutt and Mr. Smith topped a field of 11 candidates on the ballot. One of them, former Gov. Mark Sanford, had earlier dropped out of the race. The winner of their runoff will face one of two Democrats who also advanced to a runoff: Nancy Lacore, a Navy admiral fired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, or Mac Deford, a Coast Guard veteran who was previously the general counsel for the town of Hilton Head Island.
Both runoffs will take place June 23.
www.nytimes.com