Primary Election Results in South Carolina
On Tuesday evening, Jenny Honeycutt, a business owner, and state Rep. Mark Smith both came out on top in a competitive Republican primary aimed at filling the seat left vacant by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who is retiring.
Since no candidate secured over 50% of the votes, the primary will proceed to a runoff scheduled for June 23.
The vacancy arose when Mace, a conservative figure, announced her intention to run for governor of South Carolina.
During her tenure in Congress, Mace gained significant attention, notably as one of eight Republicans who sided with Democrats to vote for the removal of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023. She advocated for legislation on cybersecurity and called for a vote on unveiling documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s case earlier this year.
Mace has expressed her desire to continue her political work at the state level, stating, “South Carolina needs a governor who will expose the truth and turn the tide,” during her inaugural address.
The congressional district (SC 01) has been solidly Republican for most of the last four decades, having been controlled by Republicans since 1981, aside from a brief period when Democrat Joe Cunningham held the seat from 2019 to 2021.
Most recently, Mace was reelected in 2024, defeating her Democratic opponent, businesswoman Michelle Moore, with a vote of 58.2% to 41.6%.
Honeycutt, who runs a law firm aimed at helping clients navigate regulations, presents himself as a political outsider focused on pro-family values. He emphasizes key issues like law and order, as well as financial stability, on his campaign website. By the end of May, Honeycutt had raised just over $345,600 according to FEC records.
Mark Smith, another small business owner, operates a funeral service before his election to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2020. His bio highlights his efforts in cutting taxes and backing local law enforcement. So far, Smith’s campaign has attracted about $750,700 in contributions, as reported by the FEC.
The third candidate, Jay Byers, raised $220,600. He has a political history dating back to 2011, having served on the Dorchester County Legislature for four consecutive terms while also starting several businesses, such as Good Faith Caregivers.
Interestingly, Mace has yet to endorse a candidate in the race to succeed her.
