Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who is running for governor of South Carolina, told a GOP primary opponent to drop out of the race on Tuesday as voters across the state head to the polls.Mace called Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette a disgrace to “women everywhere” and to South Carolina, citing an incident between two rival supporters the day before.On Monday, a volunteer with Evette’s finance committee allegedly assaulted a Mace supporter, as seen in a video shared by Mace’s campaign. The man, identified as Blake Kirsch, was arrested and charged with assault and third-degree battery in Greer.
In her social media posts on the incident, Mace claimed Kirsch was a campaign staffer for the lieutenant governor. Evette’s campaign disputed the congresswoman’s statement, saying Kirsch was simply a volunteer and not directly connected to the campaign.
“Our team is deeply disappointed that this occurred,” an Evette spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. “We support free speech and do not in any way condone violence. He is not, and has never been, employed by the campaign.”
Kirsch is no longer a member of the all-volunteer finance committee. Evette’s campaign confirmed that he voluntarily resigned from the committee following the incident and that he has never been paid by the campaign.
