Election Day: Rep. Nancy Mace declared winner of South Carolina 1st Congressional District
(UPDATE, 9:20 P.M.)– The Associated Press declared Rep. Nancy Mace the winner over Democratic challenger Michael B. Moore at 9:19 p.m. in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District.
Mace was declared the winner with 58.3% of the vote while Moore claimed 41.7% of the vote with 83% of the vote counted.
(UPDATE, 8:45 P.M.)– Rep. Nancy Mace, with 55 percent of the vote counted, holds a comfortable margin over Democrat challenger Michael B. Moore– 57.3% of the vote to 42.7%.
At her watch party, Mace claimed victory shortly after 8:50 p.m., though the Associated Press hadn't officially called the race.
ORIGINAL STORY
After efforts to strike down South Carolina's 1st Congressional District redrawn lines failed, Republican incumbent Nancy Mace holds a distinct advantage over her challenger, Democratic newcomer Michael B. Moore.
Moore, who has been campaigning for 643 days, said it has been a long-fought battle to try and regain Democratic control of the widespread district. A businessman and descendant of Robert Smalls, a five-time congressman and Civil War hero, Moore is making his first bid for Congress a meaningful one. But it is uncertain if he will have enough draw to unseat Mace, a known commodity throughout the 1st Congressional District and two-term incumbent.
"I think people are optimistic about what is going on nationally," Moore said. "They feel Kamala Harris, things are feeling good, so that has been a lot of energy from that that's come to our campaign, and we certainly felt that and just feeling good and not taking for granted but feeling optimistic about the outcomes."
This marks Mace's third run for office. Both candidates claim to be the biggest advocates for women's rights, yet they differ dramatically on immigration issues. Mace has pushed immigration to the forefront, publicly speaking against the Charleston County Sheriff's Office and its stance on ICE.
In contrast, Moore has said climate change is at the top of his concerns for Lowcountry voters and views immigration as a distraction.
"It's about honesty and the truth," Mace said. "I'm running against a guy who lied consistently about my policies, lied about my values, and lied about who he is to Lowcountry voters. It's not okay to lie even when you disagree with a guy."
Mace and Moore present two contrasting visions for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District.
"Women's issues abortion is on the ballot this year," Mace said. "You will not find a more powerful voice, a stronger voice on women's rights everywhere in the country."
For Moore, he continued to push the stark contrast between him and the incumbent.
"There is a clear choice contrast both at the national and Congressional level in my politic," Moore said. "There are a lot of people who care about women's reproductive freedom is important to you I'm the only one you can trust who says one thing and does that thing."
This seat represents meaningful change to get the Lowcountry's economy running in the right direction. Mace will lean on her record while Moore has stressed his track record as a businessman. Polls close at 7 p.m., and results will be counted in the hours that follow.
Mace flipped the seat back to Republicans in 2020 after a stunning upset of incumbent Democratic Rep. Joe Cunningham. She fought off a GOP challenger endorsed by former President Donald Trump in 2022 and breezed to a surprisingly easy win — this time with Trump's backing — in the 2024 Republican primary without a runoff.
