US House Republican Mace defeats rival in South Carolina primary By Reuters

By David Morgan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Representative Nancy Mace overcame a primary election challenge from fellow Republican Catherine Templeton on Tuesday, advancing to a November general election showdown that she is likely to win.

Mace, who represents South Carolina’s most moderate Republican district, defeated Templeton 57.6% to 28.8% with 30% of the vote counted, according to the Associated Press, despite Templeton’s support from party heavyweights including former House Speakers Kevin McCarthy and Newt Gingrich.

The two-term South Carolina congresswoman will now face a Democratic opponent for a House of Representatives seat that independent analysts describe as solidly Republican. Michael Moore was leading Mac Deford 54.9% to 45.1% for the Democratic nomination, with 73% of votes counted.

Voters also cast ballots on Tuesday in primary elections in Maine, Nevada and North Dakota, and in a U.S. House of Representatives special election in Ohio.

Mace, 46, raised eyebrows among her constituents last year by joining Republican hardliners in a vote to oust McCarthy as the top Republican in Congress, a move that led to weeks of political chaos.

Donald Trump endorsed her in a district that he lost to former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley in the state’s presidential primary in February. He reiterated his support for Mace in a Monday tweet on social media.

Templeton, 53, a former member of Haley’s state administration, was backed by South Carolina Republican U.S. Representative Joe Wilson as well as McCarthy and Gingrich.

In Maine, Republican voters chose state Representative Austin Theriault to challenge Democratic U.S. Representative Jared Golden in the general election.

A former NASCAR stock car driver endorsed by Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, Theriault defeated Republican rival Michael Soboleski 67.1% to 32.9% with 21% of the vote in.

Golden was uncontested in the state’s Democratic primary.