Gingrich endorses Mace’s primary opponent

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) on Tuesday announced he’s endorsing Rep. Nancy Mace’s (R-S.C.) primary challenger in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District. 

Gingrich is backing former South Carolina state agency official Catherine Templeton, who’s running against Mace for the Republican nomination. 

“I’m honored to endorse Catherine Templeton for Congress,” Gingrich said in a statement shared by Templeton’s campaign.  

“Catherine has a conservative record that is serious and consistent. Catherine will make you proud because she’s tough on securing the border, she’s pro-life and pro-gun, and she’s actually done something – creating good-paying American jobs as the founder of US Brick,” he added. “Catherine will be a leader for the America First agenda in President Trump’s second term and she will make South Carolina proud.” 

Templeton in her own statement said she was “proud” to have Gingrich’s backing. 

“With 10,000 illegal immigrants a day crossing our border, we need a leader laser-focused on protecting our country,” she said. “The Lowcountry deserves a consistent conservative who will prioritize standing up for our values over whatever it takes to get on TV. Speaker Gingrich achieved serious results by standing up to the DC Establishment. I am proud that he knows I will do the same.” 

Templeton is the first major Republican to officially declare a primary challenge against Mace. Mace’s former chief of staff, Daniel Hanlon, has also filed paperwork to run in the 1st Congressional District, but he has yet to officially announce a bid. 

Mace surprised Republicans after she was among eight Republicans who joined Democrats last fall to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). McCarthy has stepped up his criticism of her in recent months, saying earlier this month while in the Capitol “No one will stay working for her.”  

“You can’t have somebody who just flips and flops based upon what TV station she gets put on. You want someone who’s willing to work, and so I hope she gets that kind of help.” 

Mace has meanwhile knocked McCarthy as a “loser” and argued “He put our majority at risk. He lied to the American people.” 

Mace has already survived one competitive primary, beating a Trump-backed opponent in her primary during the 2022 midterms.

The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the seat as “likely Republican.”