BEDMINSTER, NJ – South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace has abruptly canceled her appearance at a New Jersey event hosted by the Authentic Leadership for America (ALFA) PAC after it was portrayed as an endorsement of gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli.
Mace, a prominent advocate for women’s rights and a vocal survivor of sexual assault took to X late Friday to clarify her position, distancing herself from Ciattarelli and accusing the New Jersey pro-Ciattarelli press of spreading “totally fake news.”
The event, scheduled to honor Mace with the ALFA PAC’s inaugural “ALFA Female” award, was organized by former News12 reporter and U.S. Senate candidate Alex Zdan.
It turns out it was just a ruse to get a national headliner at the event on false pretenses to paint the picture of Ciattarelli as being ‘endorsed’ by Mace. Ciattarelli has come under fire as being one of just 7 New Jersey Republicans to vote in favor of the Democrats’ transgender rights bill that allowed biological men to play in women’s sports.
The new PAC, formed in 2024, endorsed Ciattarelli— a former New Jersey assemblyman and the 2021 GOP nominee for governor—last month.
The gathering was intended to bolster Ciattarelli’s current campaign, a fact that Mace’s team claims was not fully disclosed when she initially agreed to attend.
“We aren’t endorsing and pulled out of the event,” Mace posted on X. “We agreed to attend an event to accept an award and then someone decided to plant a story in the press we were endorsing this guy. Totally Fake news. We’re out.”
In a separate post, she added a pointed critique of transgender policies, stating, “Tr*ns rights = disguised misogyny,” aligning with her outspoken opposition to transgender women participating in women’s sports and using women’s bathrooms.
Mace’s decision to withdraw highlights a clash of values with Ciattarelli, who has faced criticism from conservative circles for his past support of transgender-friendly legislation.
As one of seven New Jersey Republicans who voted in favor of allowing transgender individuals to amend their sex on birth certificates, Ciattarelli’s record has been blamed by some for contributing to what they call “transgender lunacy” in the state.
This stance stands in stark contrast to Mace’s advocacy for protecting women’s spaces, a cause she has championed as both a legislator and a survivor of sexual assault.
In a statement to reporters, Sydney Long, Mace’s press secretary, elaborated on the cancellation: “What was initially described as an awards ceremony has since evolved into a fundraiser for a candidate we do not – and have never – endorsed. As a matter of policy, we do not engage in primary endorsements in other states.”
Long emphasized that Mace’s team was blindsided by the event’s shift in focus, prompting her withdrawal.
Mace, who made history as the first woman to graduate from The Citadel Military College of South Carolina, has built a reputation as a fierce defender of women’s rights. Her recent legislative efforts, including a resolution to ban transgender women from using women’s restrooms in the U.S. Capitol, have drawn both praise and controversy.