Mace becomes SC’s first Republican woman elected to Congress

U.S. House candidate Nancy Mace addresses supporters outside a Waffle House where the Republican once worked on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, in Ladson, S.C. Mace defeated Democratic U.S. House Rep. Joe Cunningham in South Carolina’s 1st District. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)

LADSON, S.C. (AP) – Nancy Mace has become the first Republican woman ever elected to Congress in South Carolina.

Her win in the 1st District over Democratic incumbent Joe Cunningham added to a red wave that swept over the already conservative state on Tuesday.

The win also makes Mace only the second woman of any party elected to serve a full U.S. House term in South Carolina.

She has served three years in the state House and secured her congressional nomination in winning a four-candidate Republican primary this summer.

The district runs from Charleston to Beaufort.