Nancy Mace Triumphs in Primary, Advances to General Election

U.S. Representative Nancy Mace defeated fellow Republican Catherine Templeton in the primary election, advancing to the November general election. Mace, representing South Carolina's moderate Republican district, triumphed with 57.7% of the vote. She will face Democrat Michael Moore in a district analysts describe as solidly Republican.

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 57.7% to 28.6% with 34% 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.

"We did it - You, Lowcountry voters did it! A thousand times over - THANK YOU!" Mace said in a post on the social media platform X. The two-term South Carolina congresswoman will now face Democrat Michael Moore for a House of Representatives seat that independent analysts describe as solidly Republican. Moore bested Mac Deford 55.3% to 44.7% for the Democratic nomination, with 80% of votes counted.

Voters also cast ballots on Tuesday in primary elections in Maine, Nevada and North Dakota, and in a House 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. Golden was uncontested in the state's Democratic primary. 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.

In Ohio, Republican state Senator Michael Rulli defeated Democrat Michael Kripchak in a special U.S. House election to serve out the remaining term of former Representative Bill Johnson, who left Congress in January to become president of Youngstown State University. Rulli won with 52.7% of the vote vs. Kripchak's 47.3%, with 76% of ballots cast, according to the Associated Press.

Johnson's remaining term will expire in early January. Rulli and Kripchak will square off again in the November general election for a full two-year congressional term. The congressional district is rated as solidly Republican by independent analysts. In North Dakota, U.S. Representative Kelly Armstrong defeated Lieutenant Governor Tammy Miller for the Republican nomination to replace Governor Doug Burgum, who is viewed as a possible Trump running mate.

The Associated Press called the race with 19% of the vote counted and Armstrong leading Miller 67.3% to 32.7%. Miller had been endorsed by Burgum. Armstrong will now face Democratic state Senator Merrill Piepkorn in November. Piepkorn ran uncontested for the Democratic nomination.

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