Jenny Costa Honeycutt Wins GOP Runoff To Succeed Rep. Nancy Mace
Jenny Costa Honeycutt won the Republican runoff on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, to succeed Rep. Nancy Mace in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District.[1] Her victory hands the GOP its nominee in the coastal Lowcountry seat and sets up a general election contest in November.[2]
Honeycutt defeated state Rep. Mark Smith, receiving 21,793 votes (53.9%) to Smith's 18,622 (46.1%) out of 40,415 ballots cast. The New York Times reported that Honeycutt's final result matched earlier vote tallies and emphasized her profile as a local Charleston-area Republican.[1]
On August 4, 2025, Rep. Nancy Mace announced a run for governor and she formally filed for the gubernatorial race on March 23, 2026, choosing not to seek reelection to the House. Charleston County Councilwoman Jenny Costa Honeycutt filed to run for the open 1st District seat on March 17, 2026, and ten Republicans entered the June 9 primary, sending Honeycutt and Mark Smith to the June 23 runoff. The June 9 primary recorded roughly 67,000 total votes across all candidates.
The mainstream summary does not mention the broader context of voter engagement in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, where the June 9 primary recorded approximately 67,000 total votes across all candidates. This indicates a significant level of participation that could influence the general election dynamics, as the district's population was around 797,468 as of 2024, suggesting that many eligible voters did not participate in the primary process.[3]
Additionally, while the mainstream coverage frames Honeycutt's victory as a straightforward win for the GOP, it overlooks the implications of the rise of populist conservatism within the party. Research indicates that Trump-aligned candidates, like Honeycutt, are benefiting from a base of highly engaged supporters who dominate GOP primaries, potentially sidelining more moderate voices. This structural shift could have lasting effects on the party's representation in Congress.[4]
Show source details & analysis (2 sources)
📊 Relevant Data
The Republican runoff election on June 23, 2026, recorded 40,415 total votes, with Jenny Costa Honeycutt receiving 21,793 votes (53.9%) and Mark Smith receiving 18,622 votes (46.1%).
South Carolina First Congressional District Runoff 2026: Live Election Results — The New York Times
South Carolina's 1st Congressional District had a population of approximately 797,468 as of 2024.
South Carolina's 1st congressional district — Wikipedia
The June 9, 2026, Republican primary in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District recorded approximately 67,000 total votes across all candidates.
South Carolina's 1st Congressional District — Ballotpedia
📌 Key Facts
- Jenny Costa Honeycutt won the Republican runoff on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, to succeed Rep. Nancy Mace in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District (Jenny Costa Honeycutt).
- The New York Times reported that Honeycutt's victory matched earlier vote tallies (New York Times).
- Coverage presents Honeycutt as a local Charleston-area Republican, emphasizing her regional profile in the contest (local Charleston-area Republican).
- The seat was opened by Rep. Nancy Mace's gubernatorial bid, and the runoff was framed as a key test of GOP efforts to hold the Lowcountry (Nancy Mace's gubernatorial bid).
- The article situates the runoff result within broader South Carolina GOP dynamics (South Carolina GOP dynamics).
- National Republicans view Honeycutt as well positioned for the November general election (national Republicans).
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- The New York Times article confirms Jenny Costa Honeycutt's victory in the June 23, 2026 Republican runoff for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, matching earlier vote tallies.
- It emphasizes Honeycutt's profile to readers as a local Charleston-area Republican and frames the race as a key test of GOP efforts to hold the Lowcountry seat opened by Rep. Nancy Mace's gubernatorial bid.
- The article situates the runoff result within broader South Carolina GOP dynamics and notes that national Republicans view Honeycutt as well positioned for the November general election.