CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) 鈥 Donald Trump has picked up another endorsement from Nikki Haley's home state of South Carolina, with Rep. Nancy Mace backing the former president in this year's GOP presidential primary.
Mace had stayed out of the 2024 Republican primary as two fellow South Carolinians 鈥 former Gov. Haley and Sen. 鈥 entered the race last year. On Monday, a day ahead of the New Hampshire primary, Mace told The Associated Press that she was backing Trump over Haley, who lives in her congressional district and supported her in 2022 against a Trump-backed challenger.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 see eye to eye perfectly with any candidate. And until now I鈥檝e stayed out of it,鈥 Mace said. 鈥淏ut the time has come to unite behind our nominee.鈥
The South Carolina Republican's backing comes as Trump angles to bolster his dominance thus far in Republican balloting, following his record-setting win last week in the . Over the weekend, Trump was joined by as he campaigned in New Hampshire, seen as yet another blow from South Carolina against Haley.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis鈥 on Sunday leaves Haley as the main GOP candidate remaining to challenge Trump.
New Hampshire votes Tuesday, but South Carolina's primary is in a month, and the state's Republican leadership has largely already lined up behind Trump. Mace's endorsement means that Trump has secured five of the state's six Republican U.S. House members, with Reps. Russell Fry, Joe Wilson and William Timmons also behind him. Also on Monday, Rep. Jeff Duncan, South Carolina鈥檚 final unaffiliated Republican House member, said on X that Trump had his 鈥渇ull endorsement.鈥
Rep. Ralph Norman is backing Haley.
Just two years ago, Mace and Haley were aligned in a congressional primary that tested Trump's heft in South Carolina, where his own 2016 presidential primary win helped cement his nomination.
After on the U.S. Capitol, Mace 鈥 who had just been sworn in as a freshman lawmaker 鈥 went on TV to criticize Trump for his role in the day鈥檚 events, saying the president鈥檚 accomplishments in office 鈥渨ere wiped out in just a few short hours.鈥 Trump had been trying to after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden and in a rally encouraged his backers to , telling them they needed to
Trump responded by calling Mace 鈥渁n absolutely terrible candidate鈥 and soliciting 鈥渁ny interest from good and SMART America First Republican Patriots鈥 to run against a list of sitting House Republicans, including Mace, whom he endorsed for her first run in 2020 and who worked for his 2016 campaign.
When Katie Arrington, who unsuccessfully sought the seat in 2018, launched her 2022 bid against Mace, she had Trump鈥檚 During in South Carolina, Trump called Mace 鈥渃razy鈥 and 鈥渁 terrible person.鈥
Haley, meanwhile, stumped with Mace, as she had in 2020, helping raise money and appearing in a television ad on her behalf, calling her a 鈥渇ighter.鈥
But the two haven't spoken since last year, when Mace's name was floated as a possible running mate pick for Trump, should he win the GOP nomination.
On Monday, Mace said she felt Trump was the better option this year.
鈥淒onald Trump鈥檚 record in his first term should tell every America how vital it is he be returned to office,鈥 she said.
Asked about Mace鈥檚 endorsement, Haley said as she stumped Monday in New Hampshire that she was unbothered, reminding reporters that she had twice won her home state as governor. She also took a subtle swipe at Trump, who has not held as many campaign events in any of the early states as she has.
鈥淚 don't want the political class, I want the people of New Hampshire,鈥 she told reporters in Manchester. 鈥淎nd keep in mind 鈥 I won South Carolina twice. You only win South Carolina by working, by fighting for it, by earning their vote. ... You've got to show up.鈥
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Holly Ramer in Manchester, N.H., contributed.
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Meg Kinnard can be reached at
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