Runoff Set In South Carolina GOP Primary To Replace Nancy Mace
Jenny Honeycutt and state Rep. Mark Smith advanced to a June 23, 2026 Republican runoff in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District to replace Rep. Nancy Mace.[1]
Honeycutt led the primary with 14,803 votes (22.1%), and Smith had 12,058 votes (18.0%) out of roughly 67,034 ballots cast across the field. The primary included 11 candidates on the ballot, former Gov. Mark Sanford had dropped out earlier, and Mace lost her Republican primary bid for governor the same night.[1]
On August 4, 2025, Rep. Nancy Mace launched her Republican primary campaign for South Carolina governor at The Citadel in Charleston. She officially filed for governor on March 23, 2026, leaving the 1st District without an incumbent. Republicans redrew the district after Mace's 2020 win to make it safer for the party, and she won re-election there in 2022 and 2024 by double digits.[1]
Honeycutt ran on preserving the Lowcountry's character and backing former President Trump's agenda, while Smith emphasized abortion restrictions, tax cuts, tougher immigration enforcement and support for law enforcement.[1] The district is rated Solid Republican with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+6, and it voted for Donald Trump by about 13 points in 2024.
The mainstream summary does not mention the significant detail that the primary was contested by 11 candidates, which may have influenced the vote distribution and the dynamics leading to the runoff. This crowded field, including notable figures like former Gov. Mark Sanford, reflects a broader competitive landscape that could affect voter turnout and preferences in the runoff. The summary also overlooks the implications of Nancy Mace's decision to vacate her seat in pursuit of the governorship, a move that has reshaped the electoral landscape and left the district open for new candidates to vie for influence in a solidly Republican area. Political scientist Daniel Butler's research suggests that Trump's dominance in Republican primaries could mean that candidates like Honeycutt, who align closely with his agenda, may have an advantage due to the composition of the electorate, which has been skewed by past primary dynamics. This context adds depth to understanding the motivations and strategies of the candidates, particularly in a district rated Solid Republican with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+6, where Trump secured a significant victory in 2024 by about 13 points.[2][3]
Show source details & analysis (2 sources)
📊 Relevant Data
In the June 9, 2026 Republican primary for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, Jenny Costa Honeycutt received 14,803 votes (22.1%) and Mark Smith received 12,058 votes (18.0%), with approximately 67,034 total votes cast across all candidates.
South Carolina House District 1 Primary Results 2026 — NBC News
Cook Political Report rates South Carolina's 1st Congressional District as Solid Republican with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+6; the district voted for Trump by 13 points in 2024.
South Carolina SC-01 House 2026 — Cook Political Report
📌 Key Facts
- Charleston City Council member Jenny Honeycutt and state representative Mark Smith advanced to a June 23, 2026 Republican runoff in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District.
- The Republican primary field included 11 candidates on the ballot, and former Gov. Mark Sanford had dropped out earlier.
- Republicans had redrawn the district after Nancy Mace’s 2020 win to make it safer for the party, and Mace subsequently won re-election in 2022 and 2024 by double digits.
- Nancy Mace lost her Republican primary bid for governor on June 9, 2026 — the same night as the House primary that produced the runoff.
- Jenny Honeycutt's campaign emphasized preserving the Lowcountry’s character and supporting President Trump’s agenda, while Mark Smith emphasized abortion restrictions, tax cuts, stronger immigration enforcement and support for law enforcement.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- The New York Times confirms that Charleston City Council member Jenny Honeycutt and state representative Mark Smith advanced to a June 23, 2026 Republican runoff in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District.
- The article notes the GOP primary field had 11 candidates on the ballot, with former Gov. Mark Sanford having dropped out earlier.
- It reiterates that the district was redrawn by Republicans after Mace’s 2020 win to be safer for the GOP, with Mace then winning in 2022 and 2024 by double digits.
- The piece specifies that Nancy Mace lost her Republican primary bid for governor earlier on June 9, 2026, the same night as the House primary.
- It emphasizes Jenny Honeycutt’s campaign focus on preserving the Lowcountry’s character and supporting President Trump’s agenda, and Mark Smith’s emphasis on abortion restrictions, tax cuts, immigration enforcement and support for law enforcement.