In a surprising turn of events, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a Republican, has expressed her continued support for former President Donald Trump and is being considered as a possible vice presidential pick for the 2024 election. This endorsement comes as Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, joins the list of South Carolina Republicans backing Trump over former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.
Mace, who made headlines last year as one of the eight Republicans who voted to oust Kevin McCarthy as House speaker, stated that she is backing Trump over Haley, despite living in the same congressional district as Haley and receiving her support in the 2022 election against a Trump-backed challenger. Mace emphasized the need for unity behind the Republican nominee, stating, “I don’t see eye to eye perfectly with any candidate. And until now, I’ve stayed out of it. But the time has come to unite behind our nominee.”
Mace had initially stayed out of the 2024 Republican primary race when Haley and Senator Tim Scott, both fellow South Carolinians, entered the race. However, Scott recently endorsed Trump over Haley in a powerful speech in New Hampshire. Trump was also joined on stage by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster and other senior statewide officials, further solidifying his support in the state.
Haley, appearing on Monday morning, highlighted her previous victories in South Carolina and expressed confidence in her upcoming performance in the primaries. With Florida Governor Ron DeSantis exiting the race on Sunday, Haley remains the main GOP candidate to challenge Trump. Although New Hampshire is set to vote on Tuesday, South Carolina’s primary is still a month away, and the state’s Republican leadership has largely already aligned itself with Trump.
Mace’s endorsement brings Trump’s total number of endorsements from South Carolina’s Republican U.S. House members to four out of six. Rep. Ralph Norman is backing Haley, and Rep. Jeff Duncan has chosen not to endorse before the primary. It is worth noting that just two years ago, Mace and Haley were opponents in a congressional primary that tested Trump’s influence in South Carolina.
The relationship between Mace and Trump has had its ups and downs. After the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, Mace publicly criticized Trump for his role in the events, stating that his accomplishments in office were tarnished by those few hours. In response, Trump called Mace “an absolutely terrible candidate” and sought interest from other Republicans to run against her. However, when Mace ran for her first term in 2020, Trump endorsed her, and when she faced a primary challenge in 2022, she had his “Complete and Total Endorsement.”
While Mace and Haley had previously been aligned and received support from each other, their relationship reportedly soured when Mace’s name was mentioned as a potential running mate for Trump. Mace has now made it clear that she believes Trump is the better option for the 2024 election, stating, “Donald Trump’s record in his first term should tell every American how vital it is he be returned to office.”
This endorsement by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the backing of Trump by Rep. Nancy Mace highlight the complex dynamics within the Republican Party as the 2024 campaign trail unfolds. With the primaries approaching, it remains to be seen how these endorsements will impact the race and the overall direction of the party.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
