The GOP primary showdown in SC-01

On Monday, May 23, three Republicans vying to represent South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District took the stage at Burke High School. Within moments of the start of the debate, the primary field was narrowed from three candidates to two: In response to the first question, candidate Lynz Piper-Loomis took off her microphone and endorsed Republican Katie Arrington over current U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace. This week, senior politics reporter Caitlin Byrd breaks down that dramatic debate and explains why this race in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District is the most closely-watched Republican Congressional primary in the state. To understand this primary contest between Mace and Arrington, it’s important to understand the congressional races in SC-01 in 2018, when Arrington won the Republican primary but lost in the general election, and 2020, when Mace won the seat back from Democrat Joe Cunningham. More coverage: Fact-checking the GOP primary debate for SC’s 1st Congressional District 1 candidate abruptly quits, leaving US Rep. Nancy Mace and Katie Arrington to fight it out SC Republican Katie Arrington reportedly urged fellow candidate to drop out of GOP race Showdown in SC-01: Can the Trump factor help Katie Arrington overcome Nancy Mace? Why Katie Arrington really lost her SC congressional race to Democrat Joe Cunningham Understand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. Are there any stories you'd like to hear on the show? Contact us at [email protected]. This episode was hosted and edited by Emily Williams and featured reporter Caitlin Byrd.