South Carolina GOP Race Heads to Runoff After No Clear Winner

The South Carolina Republican primary for the seat left by Rep. Nancy Mace has moved to a runoff because no candidate secured more than half the votes. The contest will decide who fills the position after Mace announced she is running for governor, ending her congressional term. Two main contenders have emerged: Jenny Honeycutt, a business owner who runs a law firm that helps clients with regulations, and Mark Smith, a state legislator and former funeral home owner. Honeycutt focuses on family values, law‑and‑order issues, and the state’s finances. Smith emphasizes tax cuts and support for local police, having served in the South Carolina House since 2020.Both candidates have raised significant funds. Honeycutt’s campaign has gathered just over $345, 000, while Smith’s coffers hold about $750, 700. A third participant, Jay Byars, a county council member and entrepreneur, has collected $220, 600. Mace’s departure follows her 2024 re‑election win and her decision to seek the governorship. She has been known for breaking party lines, such as voting with Democrats to remove former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023 and pushing for earlier release of the Epstein Files. The district, largely Republican for decades, will now see a direct contest between Honeycutt and Smith on June 23. The outcome could shape the state’s political direction in the coming years.