South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace is set to confront a challenge from her former chief of staff in the upcoming primary elections for the state’s First Congressional District. Dan Hanlon, who recently left Mace’s office, officially filed his statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission on Friday.
The rift between Hanlon and Mace dates back to October when Mace sided with seven fellow Republicans and all Democrats in voting to remove former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
McCarthy, during a subsequent press conference, referenced Hanlon, disputing Mace’s allegations that he failed to keep his promises.
Former Chief of Staff for South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace Declares Candidacy Against Former Employer (Credits: The Hill)
In response, McCarthy stated, “So, I call [Mace’s] chief of staff [Hanlon] … I said, ‘Can you please tell me, I don’t understand? Where have I not kept my word?’ Chief of staff said, ‘You have kept your word 100%.’ Her chief of staff told all of us we have kept every single one of our words. And he said he’s told her that, too.”
During the press conference, McCarthy also offered Hanlon a job if Mace decided to terminate his employment. Following these events, reports suggest that Mace began “icing out” Hanlon and developed a sense of mistrust after learning about McCarthy’s remarks.
Hanlon, who served in the Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget for four years before joining Mace’s staff in 2021, has chosen to challenge Mace for her congressional seat. Notably, he is one of six former Mace staffers who have recently resigned, with several former staffers reportedly advising him on his campaign.
Allegations of a “toxic” work environment within Mace’s office have emerged, as reported by the Washington Examiner. Sources claim that the congresswoman frequently made inappropriate comments about her personal life to subordinates. Despite these developments, Mace’s office has not provided a response to requests for comment from media outlets.
