Live from the Manchester Evening News hustings

Hello,

There was tension, ideological clashes and a big laugh when one man was brave enough to cite Margaret Thatcher as a political hero in the former Wigan mining town.

As I send this email, the Manchester Evening News has just finished hosting a hustings for the Makerfield by-election candidates at the wonderful Winstanley College.

Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green, Conservative and Reform UK candidates were quizzed on everything from women’s rights to greenbelt development. Everything from hyperlocal issues such as the Bickershaw tip fire to national topics like immigration came up during 60 minutes of, sometimes tense, discussion.

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And they didn’t have an easy ride thanks to the very good questions posed by members of our audience. But it was perhaps the opening question from our editor and moderator Sarah Lester that produced the most interesting responses.

She asked the candidates about the horrific events in Belfast yesterday – and the violence on the streets that followed. Labour’s Andy Burnham said: “It’s never the answer to violence like this to then produce more violence on the streets. Violence that attacks people’s homes or public transport.

“Politicians and their words have consequences, and we’ve got to move back from a society where we’re stoking up further problems with violence leading to more violence on our streets.

Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon said: “Violence is not the answer. But people have got the right to have their voices heard.” He went to to say there “weren’t that many stabbings” in Wigan 20 years ago and suggested knife crime is “becoming normalised”. And he said “a real strict immigration policy” is needed.

“People who want to come in the country, by all means, come in the country, contribute, that’s fine you’re welcome to come here. Anyone who comes in illegally, this incident wouldn’t have happened if we had a firm grip on illegal immigration,” he said.

The candidates were also asked how they would manage immigration effectively whilst ensuring public services can meet demand. Mr Kenyon said Reform supports “net negative immigration” and said migrants who want to work for the NHS are “welcome to come”.

“If we’ve got the demand, the need, by all means come,” he said. “But as we’ve seen over the last few years, the floodgates have opened, the more people you have in the country, the more housing you’re going to need.

“It puts a massive strain on infrastructure like hospitals, doctors, dentists, schools, roads, and so on. So, at the minute, the population has grown massively.

“So, I do think we need to have net negative, start with removing people who shouldn’t be here, keep the ones who we want here, it’s as simple as that.”

Mr Burnham took issue with his rival’s phrasing, though he agreed that immigration is “a huge concern on the doorsteps” in Makerfield. He insisted the way to deal with it is “with care and control rather than rhetoric and division”.

“I’ll pick up on the floodgates comment,” he said. “Who was in charge of the immigration system when we saw net migration at the highest levels I think we’ve ever seen in recent times? Two prominent members of Reform – Suella Braverman and Robert Jenrick.

“So I think there needs to be some reflection here from all parties. There’s progress. Small boat crossings are down 40 per cent this year compared to last year. Net migration is down 80 per cent.

“Those are good foundations now to get the system back in a place where the public have confidence.” He added: “Let’s remember people here working here who contribute to our society, contribute to our economy, contribute to our NHS. Let’s get this whole issue back in proper balance.”

It was a sparky performance from the two front runners in this race. But there were clashes throughout the afternoon.

Mr Kenyon accused Burnham of being a “cardboard cut out” who will be at the other end of the country if he is elected. “You may as well vote for his PA as that’s who you’ll be speaking to,” he said. He promised to meet constituents regularly – including holding a surgery at the college – if he was elected.

Mr Burnham shunned the label and said “it’s always been this place where my heart is”. “The more power you’ve got to help people, the more this constituency would become the most powerful in the land,” he said.

In the midst of a campaign where Mr Kenyon in particular has been scrutinised over his attitude to women, it was a question from a WASPI woman that prompted him to clarify his thinking.

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He insisted that Reform would protect women’s rights. “Every single one of them rights, pregnant, the lot, are all going to be protected when you talk about women’s protection,” he said, in a moment that garnered audible laughter from some in the audience.

This is just a flavour of the conversations today and there will be comprehensive coverage on the Manchester Evening News website throughout the evening. You can read all our coverage of the Makerfield by-election here.

And you can read about all 14 candidates standing in the byelection here. As I send this newsletter out, our video gurus are working hard to get hustings uploaded for your perusal. You can watch the full thing on our Youtube channel here later today.

The missing candidate

Since Rebecca Shepherd was announced as Restore Britain’s candidate for Makerfield, the Manchester Evening News has been requesting an interview, just as we have with all the other polling candidates.

We also invited Ms Shepherd to the hustings. She was not in attendance this afternoon.

Tips from the kids

We were lucky enough to hold our hustings at the wonderful Winstanley College – an esteemed institution that names Richard Ashcroft and Shaun Briscoe among its alumni.

And we were ably assisted in the filming of the event by students from Winstanley TV – part of the college’s media department.

At least one candidate, the Green Party’s Sarah Wakefield, spent quite a long time at the college chatting to students beforehand. She mentioned that she was asked better questions by the students than those posed to her by journalists. Duly noted and a win for any budding hacks in the audience today.

Ask a daft question…

It’s the question that strikes fear into the hearts of many a politician – what’s your favourite Greater Manchester band? In fairness, it’s not as easy to answer as you might think.

When we asked Robery Kenyon ahead of the hustings, he fired off eight. “It’s tough one,” he said.

“You’ve got Oasis, The Smiths, Happy Mondays, Blossoms, Courteeners, Joy Division, New Order, The Verve.” Forced to pick one he said: “It’s got to be Oasis.”

Green Sarah Wakefield told us simply: “It would have to be James.” While Tory Michael Winstanley went local and picked The Verve.

Andy Burnham was more confident, firmly confirming Oasis as his favourite. While Lib Dem Jake Austin said The Smiths, naming The Queen Is Dead as one of his all time greatest albums. “I love their sound, I love their vibe,” he said.

Maggie, Leslie, Caroline

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It was a much more manageable question posed at the end of today’s event by our editor Sarah Lester. ‘Who is your political hero?’ she asked the candidates.

Jake Austin’s answer was niche – he cited Leslie Knope, the local government official from the hit TV show Parks and Recreation.

“Winston Churchill”, said Reform’s Rob Kenyon with certainty. “On the brink of being invaded by the Germans he kept us on the right track and turned things around for us,” he said.

“Caroline Lucas” came the answer from Green candidate Sarah Wakefield. “It takes bravery to stand up in a room where you’re the only person amongst 600 to say ‘we need to do things better’. And she built coalitions, she built friendships across party divides because that’s how we get stuff done in this country,” she said.

Burnham cited both Gordon Brown and Neil Kinnock as inspirations before landing on Nye Bevan. “We need to get back to a time when politicians have the courage to stand before the country and say, ‘here is a massive idea that will change things for the better for everybody, that includes everybody’,” he said.

But it was Conservative candidate Michael Winstanley who garnered the biggest reaction when he revealed – in a surprise to absolutely nobody – that his political hero was Mrs Thatcher.

“She turned this country round like no other politician, and gave us the vision to stand on that world stage,” he said. There were some ‘boos’ and a few laughs among the audience of Wiganers – let’s not forget this is a former mining town. But you can’t say Mr Winstanley hasn’t stuck to his guns.

Who are the candidates?

I’ve spent the last few weeks talking to the polling candidates in the Makerfield by-election. We’ve got a full rundown of who is standing for which party here.

And you can read my interview with Labour’s Andy Burnham, Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon, Lib Dem Jake Austin, Tory Michael Winstanley and Green Sarah Wakefield by clicking on each of these links.

Dolly looms

As the remaining few M.E.N journalists filed our copy from a room at Winstanley College this evening, there was a rather surprising moment. Just after 5pm the unmistakable opening chords of Dolly Parton’s ‘Working 9 to 5’ suddenly started blasting from some very powerful speakers.

The familiar ditty overpowered our riveting conversations about politics and the tap tapping of our keyboards. College staff will say the interruption was a mistake linked to a neighbouring dance class. But we think it might have been a subtle hint from our very patient hosts to get the heck out.

Weather etc

Thursday: Heavy rain. 18C.

Roads: A58 Gerard Street Westbound, Ashton-in-Makerfield closed due to roadworks from A5062 Wigan Road to A58 / A49 (Kings Arms traffic lights) until November 22.

No through traffic allowed due to emergency repairs and roadworks on A6010 Alan Turing Way Northbound from A635 Ashton Old Road to Wilson Street until June 16.

A diet rich in vitamin C doesn’t just boost the immune system, it may also help keep the brain healthy in old age.

That’s according to a Japanese study of more than 2,000 older adults that found those with lower levels of vitamin C in their blood plasma had a lower volume of gray matter in their brains.

Because gray matter is responsible for processing information and controlling movement, low levels can lead to cognitive decline and memory issues.

Previous research has uncovered associations between diets higher in vitamin C, found in oranges and bell peppers, and lower risk of cognitive impairment in older adults.

But few studies have looked directly at vitamin C levels in blood plasma and potential associations with brain structure and connectivity within brain networks.

“Our study demonstrates that higher plasma vitamin C levels are associated with better preserved structural connectivity of the default mode network (DMN), a key brain network involved in cognitive function. This finding generates the exciting hypothesis that a diet rich in vitamin C might play a supportive role in maintaining brain health and mitigating age-related cognitive decline in older adults,” Dr Tomohiro Shintaku at Hirosaki University, Japan said.

“It truly highlights the potential impact of our everyday dietary habits on our brain structures.”

For the study, published in the journal PLOS One, researchers at Hirosaki University, Japan analysed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and plasma vitamin C levels of 2,044 Japanese adults over the age of 64.

They measured each participant’s gray and white brain matter and evaluated connectivity in the default mode network, which is associated with attention and autobiographical memory.

After accounting for factors such as age, activity levels and education level, researchers found that participants with lower plasma vitamin C levels tended to have lower gray matter volume, as well as lower connectivity within the default mode network.

These findings suggest vitamin C could support cognitive function and counteract cognitive decline. But the findings only showed an association between vitamin C levels and brain health and not cause and effect.

“Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, and we understand people are always looking for ways to reduce their risk of the condition,” Dr Richard Oakley, Associate Director of Research and Innovation at Alzheimer’s Society told the Independent.

He added: “This study does add to evidence linking nutritional intake with brain health, but it did not look at dementia symptoms or whether people involved in the study went on to develop dementia. As it looked at people at one point in time, it is difficult to know whether Vitamin C caused the brain differences or whether other factors, such as overall diet or health played a role.

“The Lancet Commission, which was part funded by Alzheimer’s Society, found nearly half of dementia cases globally are linked to modifiable risk factors – things that can be changed either on an individual or societal level – and managing these risk factors could potentially reduce dementia risk. This includes eating a healthy and balanced diet, including fruit and vegetables, which is also one part of supporting overall brain health.”

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is consulting on new rules

Millions of pension savers could be afforded greater protection under a new Government crackdown. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced plans to tighten regulations surrounding pension transfers as ministers look to prevent increasingly sophisticated scams targeting retirement savings.

Under the proposed measures, transfers into certain pension schemes could be automatically blocked where there are warning signs indicating savers are at risk of being defrauded. The move comes amid mounting concern over the exploitation of Small Self-Administered Schemes (SSAS), a type of occupational pension arrangement typically used by small businesses but which has been hijacked by fraudsters.

Government figures reveal that average losses linked to suspected SSAS pension scams have risen to £38,400 per victim. Ministers are consulting on a new safeguard that would trigger an immediate red flag where there is no discernible connection between a saver and the scheme they are looking to transfer their pension into.

The measure would enable trustees to halt transfers before funds leave a pension pot and potentially vanish altogether. Pensions Minister Torsten Bell said: “Pension scams can rip away not just people’s savings, but the retirement they are looking forward to. This Government is determined to stay one step ahead of criminals who seek to exploit savers.

“Too often we see fraudsters trying to trick workers into transferring their savings into bogus pensions. We are stepping in to automatically block transfers where the warning signs are flashing red.”

The DWP stated that pension scams continue to be amongst the most devastating types of financial fraud, with victims frequently losing their entire life savings and facing minimal chances of retrieving their money.

Simultaneously, ministers are also consulting on stripping away some of the red tape surrounding legitimate pension transfers following concerns that existing anti-scam regulations can delay genuine transactions.

The proposals represent part of a broader initiative to combat pension fraud, with the Government signalling that additional measures – including potential new legislation – may be introduced later this year.

Gaucho Rasmussen, executive director of enforcement and executive general counsel at The Pensions Regulator, stated: “Fraud wrecks lives – and tackling it demands strong, coordinated action. Through the Pension Scams Action Group, which TPR leads, we are working closely with the DWP, law enforcement, the pensions industry and other partners to identify emerging threats and stop fraudsters in their tracks.”

The consultation comes after a review of pension transfer regulations brought in during 2021, which granted pension schemes authority to halt or decline transfers where scam indicators are detected. Concerns within the industry have increased in recent years regarding the risk of fraudsters exploiting SSAS arrangements to convince savers to transfer retirement funds into high-risk or fraudulent investments.

The Government stated the latest proposals aim to enhance protections while making it simpler for people conducting legitimate pension transfers to access their funds without undue delays.

Trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60-minutes or revised as a result

Rail passengers face “major disruption” after a person was hit by a train. All lines between Stevenage and Peterborough are closed while emergency services are at the scene (June 10).

This is due to a person being hit by a train between Stevenage and Peterborough. National Rail has warned that this is expected to cause “major disruption”.

Disruption is expected until at least 2pm. Trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 60-minutes or revised.

Operators such as Grand Central, Hull Trains, LNER and Thameslink have been affected. Passengers have been advised to allow extra time for their journeys. Rail replacement buses have been requested to run.

A spokesperson for National Rail said: “The emergency services are dealing with an incident where a person has been hit by a train between Stevenage and Peterborough.

“To allow them to complete their work safely, all lines are closed. This is expected to cause major disruption until early this afternoon.”

The young girl was dangling from a ledge above a busy London high street as onlookers watched in fear as a police officer and member of the public carried out a rescue operation

The terrifying moment a toddler dangles from a ledge in London has been caught on camera, as horrified onlookers were forced to watch on below.

The footage shows a young girl cling to a window ledge above a busy high street shop before losing grip.

The youngster is dangling above a pawnbrokers shop on Ilford High Road in East London, as a crowd gather to watch the tense moments.

People helplessly watch from the streets as the girl holds on as tight as she can.

At one point a worried woman emerges from a lower window, shouting up to the child as a police officer and man are carrying out the rescue effort.

A topless man, in grey tracksuit bottoms positions himself directly underneath the girl, who is stood alongside an officer who has rushed to the scene.

Both men are stood on the roof in the moment when the young girl’s grip finally gives way.

Gasps are heard from the crowd at this heart dropping moment as the child plunges from the ledge.

However, the member of the public manages to catch the girl as they are both stabilised by the police officer.

The crowd then echoes a sense of relief, with cheers and words of support. The girl was then passed back through the lower window from which the woman had emerged.

Both the man and the police officer then embrace as the crowd applauds them.

The Met Police said officers were called to the scene shortly after 3.20pm on Tuesday following reports of concerns for a child’s safety.

A Met Police spokesperson said: “Officers were called to Ilford High Road at 15:23hrs on Tuesday, June 9, following concerns for the safety of a child climbing onto a window ledge.

“The girl was bought to safety by 15:32hrs by an attending officer and member of the public.

“They did not receive any injuries.”

She was brought to safety in just nine minutes.

NEW YORK (AP) — Scientists have unearthed communities of marine life — including jellyfish, tubeworms and brittle stars — thriving on a millions-year-old whale graveyard.

These graveyards form when whale carcasses fall to the sea floor, becoming a sustaining snack for nearby critters. This one, located up to 23,000 feet (7 kilometers) below the surface of the southeastern Indian Ocean, spans the largest area and is so far the deepest and oldest found.

A whale’s sheer size and the unique chemistry of its bones are the keys to forming these unique underwater neighborhoods, said Xikun Song, a biologist with the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering.

“At the same time, the very nature of the deep ocean makes these sites exceptionally difficult for scientists to locate,” Song, who was involved with the latest find, wrote in an email.

Researchers explored the remains during multiple deep-sea submersible trips in 2023, collecting samples and mapping the extent of the necropolis. They found five carcass sites and fossils, including skulls belonging to beaked and baleen whales. The oldest bones date back 5.3 million years.

Feeding and living on the carcasses were myriad creatures, large and small, including sea cucumbers, squat lobsters and saltwater clams. Many of them are likely species that have never been documented, according to findings published Wednesday in the journal Nature.

“The potential number of specimens is just astounding,” said paleontologist Stephen Godfrey with the Calvert Marine Museum in Maryland, who wasn’t involved in the research.

Many factors likely conspired to preserve the bones for millions of years, according to the study authors. They’re dense enough to outlast attacks from bone-eating worms, and located deep enough in the ocean to avoid getting buried by dust and loose particles. The bones also were coated with a light layer of minerals from the surrounding seawater, which may have prevented them from degrading.

Why did so many whales die here? Maybe they were already living in the area and died of natural causes. A few could have perished from exhaustion or illness caused by deep-sea diving. The area’s shape, akin to the letter V, could also have funneled the remains to their resting spot, the authors wrote.

Such discoveries are important because they clue scientists into the vibrant communities that find a way even in remote, hard-to-reach environments.

Studying the whale graveyards “is important for understanding how life can adapt to such extreme conditions, not only due to the lack of light and oxygen but also to the incredibly high pressure,” said study co-author and paleontologist Giovanni Bianucci with the University of Pisa in Italy in an email.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Residents have voiced frustration over delays, traffic and communication from Cambridge Water

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Cambridgeshire Live readers have expressed their fusturation over a burst water main and subsequent road closure, voicing concerns about delays, congestion, and poor communication.

A ruptured water main in Cambridge has forced a road to close for emergency repairs. The burst pipe on Queen Edith’s Way was initially reported to Cambridge Water on the evening of Friday, 5 June, when it appeared as a sizeable puddle.

Throughout the weekend, the leak grew significantly worse. Residents subsequently highlighted concerns about a “potentially serious traffic incident risk” due to the “major rupture” flooding into the middle of the carriageway. The road has remained shut since Saturday, 6 June.

Cambridge Water has stated that repair work was “delayed due to difficulties accessing a valve”. The repair is now underway, but to complete the work, the road is expected to stay closed for the coming week.

One reader, Amyalan1958, comments: “Could not access a valve surely after all the billions you have made, Cambridge water you should have had a few in stock just in case!”

Whynot2 says: “If the valve that they are trying to access was sitting on a shelf, the repair would be nearly done, but the valve is either under the water or under a ton or two of debris or both.”

Freddly writes: “My advice to Cambridge Water is to take their time over this repair. Most of the journeys on Queen Edith’s Way are Deliveroo cars ferrying milkshakes, plus the odd trout-pouter taking the daughter to school in the princess carriage. Hopefully, the traffic on Cherry Hinton Road will be heavy enough to make a few drivers think twice about their journey.”

Rhodabike says: “As a result of the closure, motorists should be aware that traffic has been heavier than usual along Fulbourn Road and Cherry Hinton Road. Yes, this is exactly what happens when you close roads: other roads inevitably suffer from displaced traffic, and cars don’t evaporate. This reality is entirely contrary to what the anti-car campaigners keep telling us.”

Over on our Facebook page, Delbert B comments: “At least that bit will get a new tarmac coat for Christmas.”

Koce P writes: “Some unavoidable new tarmac coming, the only way to get any resurfacing done recently.”

Dale L says: “Even without road closures for maintenance, Cambridge traffic is often congested. Road closures only exacerbate the situation in the surrounding area.”

Vincent P adds: “The water main that busted on Queen Edith Road happened on Saturday. The water company didn’t start work until Monday, three days if they started on Saturday, it would’ve been opened on Monday.”

Craig S writes: “Now that the elections have passed and the usual crowd are in control, normal behaviour resumes. Closing roads is the ultimate goal, and this helps serve it.”

Raymond C asks: “Why don’t you tell us in advance which road is closed so we can go round, or doesn’t that suit your plans to mess up any chance of people moving in cars and vans?”

Graham B mentions: “All fenced off for safety and not a workman in sight. Typically, it will probably be fenced off for days before a workman will be seen. Just keep inconveniencing motorists.”

Darren S says: “The water company will leave the leak for 2 weeks, wasting water, then just add the concrete to the customer’s bill.”

Are you surprised at how long it will take to fix the burst water pipe? Comment below or HERE to have your say.

Taylor Swift made a high-profile appearance at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night, attending Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.

The iconic arena has recently garnered significant attention as a potential venue for her much-anticipated wedding to Travis Kelce.

Swift was seated courtside, sporting a blue T-shirt emblazoned with “Stevie Knicks” in orange lettering. She was accompanied by singers Este and Alana Haim, who also showcased Knicks-themed attire, wearing shirts that read “Knickole Kidman” and “Knickleback,” respectively.

Less than a year after their engagement announcement last August, reports regarding Swift and Kelce’s impending nuptials have intensified.

TMZ and Page Six recently started insisting Swift and Kelce will marry at the Garden in early July, despite their close connections to everywhere from Kansas City, Missouri, and Nashville, Tennessee, to Cleveland and Rhode Island.

Swift and the Haim sisters were among several celebrities in the house, including regulars like Ben Stiller and Spike Lee. Swift and Kelce attended Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Knicks and Cavaliers, not far from where the Kansas City Chiefs tight end is from in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

This is the latest sporting event for Swift, who along with Kelce also attended a game during the NHL’s Stanley Cup Final a year ago in Sunrise, Florida.

The Madison Square Garden wedding reports remain unconfirmed, and a spokesperson for Swift has not responded to The Associated Press’ requests for comment about the wedding plans. The arena’s calendar of upcoming events lists nothing from June 29-July 6.

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Swift first performed at Madison Square Garden in 2009, during her “Fearless” tour, and she celebrated her 30th birthday at the arena 10 years later as part of iHeartRadio’s “Jingle Ball.” She has since graduated to larger venues when she swings through the New York area; her Eras tour shows were just across the river at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Kane’s status as captain, talisman and main marksman is illustrated very simply by his all-time record of 79 goals in 114 England games.

And yet, at 32, he continues to add strings to his bow in a fashion that now makes him the complete player.

In Orlando, there was further evidence that Tuchel has effectively given Kane a roving commission to link, create and score – all tasks he performs superbly.

In the first half, there was even the sight of Kane picking the ball up in England’s own penalty area as they played out from the back, linking comfortably with his defenders.

And then, as half-time approached, he produced a stunning pass with the inside of his right foot from a deep position, taking out four Costa Rica defenders to find Anthony Gordon, who thought he had won a penalty only for the decision to be overturned after a video assistant referee review.

Tuchel’s willingness to allow Kane to roam freely, as he does for Bayern Munich, adds an intriguing layer to the German’s strategy.

It is clear that Kane possesses the natural game intelligence – described as “uncoachable” by former England striker Chris Sutton – to not only create but also still arrive with perfect timing in attacking positions.

Kane’s range of passing and vision enables him to find runners like Gordon or Saka, as well as Bellingham and Rogers when they make their trademark surges.

It may just give Tuchel and England an X-factor if they drive deep into the World Cup and have to unlock superior opposition.

No wonder Tuchel is reluctant to leave Kane out, even for a friendly, so central is he to his plans.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — After a decade of roiling South Carolina and national politics, Rep. Nancy Mace finished a distant fifth in her state’s Republican primary for governor, leaving an uncertain future for one of the nation’s unabashed politicians.

Her campaign mirrored her whipsaw career. Mace courted the support of President Donald Trump after harshly criticizing him over the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. She emphasized her fights with other Republicans to release files from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

In the final days before Tuesday’s primary, she called for a law to prevent anyone not born in the U.S. from holding political office or serving as a judge. She suggested that Rom Reddy, another candidate for governor, wasn’t qualified because he was a naturalized citizen whose mother was from India and father from Italy.

“I didn’t come out of a slum in India,” Mace said during an appearance in Greenville County this month. “I am born and made here in America.”

By the end of her campaign, she was only making sporadic public appearances. She struggled to raise money and had no presence on television. Mace mostly communicated through social media — a place she has used to her advantage since first being elected to the South Carolina House in 2017.

Mace didn’t give an indication of her next plans in her concession speech Tuesday night, although she posted Wednesday on social media that she was “headed back to the private sector” at the end of her current House term. She is backing Alan Wilson in the runoff for governor, even though just last year she accused Wilson of protecting child sex abuse defendants.

“When children needed him to act, Wilson looked the other way,” she said.

Wilson will face Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in the runoff on June 23. Evette received Trump’s endorsement, spurring Mace to lash out on social media.

“Pamela Evette is NOT ENDORSED by DONALD TRUMP,” Mace wrote, incorrectly. “Do not believe her LIES.” Mace posted an AI-generated image of herself posing with Trump.

Where does Mace stand with Trump?

Mace’s history with Trump goes back a decade, and, like many Republicans, it’s had its ups and downs.

She worked as a field director on Trump’s 2016 campaign, and he endorsed her first congressional run in 2020, albeit after she won the Republican nomination.

But their rapport fractured as soon as Mace got to Washington. After the freshman House member sought to hold Trump accountable for Jan. 6 and said his “entire legacy” had been “wiped out,” he labeled Mace as “crazy” and solicited primary challengers to take her on. Trump endorsed and campaigned for one of them, but Mace — with future Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita as her media consultant — won anyway, and Trump went on to support her general election bid.

As Trump sought to return to the White House in 2024, Mace didn’t endorse him over former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley until a day before the New Hampshire primary.

Mace lauded Trump during a primetime Republican National Convention speech and, after winning her own reelection, branded herself as “Trump in high heels” during the early days of her gubernatorial campaign.

But another fracture was on the horizon. This spring, while angling for Trump’s endorsement, Mace was among several Republicans who joined congressional Democrats to force the Justice Department to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump went on to back Evette, saying she had “never wavered” in her support of him. Evette had endorsed Trump early in the 2024 campaign.

Four congressional Republicans were part of the initial group pushing for a discharge petition forcing the files’ release. Mace and Rep. Thomas Massie lost their races, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene resigned in January.

In a lengthy statement posted after her Tuesday loss, Mace said she had “taken on the rich and powerful in both parties” and “voted to release the Epstein files and lost some support for that.”

From Waffle House to The Citadel to Congress

Mace dropped out of high school and worked as a server at the Waffle House before getting her diploma. She later attended The Citadel and became the first woman to graduate from the state’s military academy. And in recent years, she talked about the importance of defending victims of sexual assault and shared stories of being raped as a teen.

After her political career began in the South Carolina House, Mace got wide praise from Republicans in 2020 for winning back a U.S. House seat around Charleston that had flipped to Democrats for one term.

“For those folks that are out there today that maybe weren’t with us yesterday, I’m asking for a chance — a chance to prove to you that I will be a compassionate leader, a good listener, an independent thinker,” Mace said then.

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Kinnard reported from Washington. Bill Barrow contributed from Atlanta.