Rep. Nancy Mace beat back a Republican primary challenge in South Carolina's low-country district from a Republican rival, Katie Arrington, who had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

SOUTH CAROLINA PROVIDES NEXT TEST OF TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT POWER

Arrington conceded to Mace late Tuesday night after it was clear the incumbent would win more than 50% of the vote and avoid a runoff. The Mace-Arrington Republican primary for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District was defined by Trump and Mace's criticism of the former president over Jan. 6, in addition to her decision to certify the 2020 Electoral College results.

At the same time, Mace sought to undermine Arrington's general election electability argument. In 2018, Arrington beat Rep. Mark Sanford in the Republican primary after Trump turned against Sanford, a former South Carolina governor who was then in his second House stint. Arrington went on to lose in the 2018 Democratic wave to Joe Cunningham. But in the conservative district, Cunningham only lasted a single, two-year term, losing to Mace in 2020.

This year, Mace's negative ads also focused on Arrington's tax voting record and her 2021 security clearance suspension over allegations she disclosed classified information while she was chief information security officer in Trump’s Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. Arrington denies any wrongdoing at the Pentagon.

Arrington countered by comparing Mace to liberal Democrats, such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), over what she called her rival's pro-gay, pro-marijuana, and pro-animal rights policy positions. Arrington, too, leveraged Mace's outreach to Democratic constituents and her out-of-state support against her, contending she had "read the room wrong" regarding the district's politics. Critics assert the 1st District was redrawn after the 2020 census to be slightly more conservative.

Sparse polling failed to provide clarity concerning the Mace-Arrington race prior to June 14. A Winning for Women Action Fund survey found Mace had a 20-percentage-point advantage over Arrington at the end of last month. Trafalgar Group research released shortly afterward suggested a closer contest, with Mace ahead but below 50%.

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The winner will now turn her attention to Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in preparation for the fall fight. House Republicans only need to net five seats to regain control of the chamber in November.