Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has hit on a new way to generate clout for her run for governor: introduce a bill prohibiting naturalized citizens from holding elected office — but she may have forgotten one important detail.
"If you were not born in America, you should not hold power in our government. End of story," Mace posted to X on Wednesday, clarifying her legislation.
Naturalized citizens are ineligible for the presidency, but can run for any office below that provided they have held citizenship for a minimum amount of time; for example, anyone who has been a citizen for over nine years is eligible to run for U.S. Senate.
However, Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) had a simple reminder for Mace when asked about the legislation: it's not just Democrats who elect naturalized citizens to office.
"What do you make of this bill from Nancy Mace — this xenophobic 'born in the USA' bill?" asked Meidas Touch's Pablo Manriquez.
"Nancy Mace is a racist, unstable individual who should not be taken seriously," Ramirez replied. "I find it fascinating that she is coming after members on the Democratic side, and I think she forgot that she has a number of Republicans who were also not born here. I would be interested to know what Carlos Giménez and others think about it" — referring to a Florida GOP lawmaker who was born in Cuba.
Mace is running in a crowded primary for governor of South Carolina — to the chagrin of some of President Donald Trump's loyalists, who have found her to be an unreliable loose cannon on some issues.