SC’s Mace, Rice join Democrats in US House to protect same-sex marriage

Two of South Carolina’s Republican U.S. representatives bucked their party and supported a bill that would codify federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriage.

In the 267-157 vote on the bill Tuesday, U.S. Reps. Nancy Mace, R-Daniel Island, and Tom Rice, R-Myrtle Beach, joined House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, and all other House Democrats and supported the Respect of Marriage Act. South Carolina’s four other House members — Republicans William Timmons, Joe Wilson, Ralph Norman and Jeff Duncan — voted against the bill.

Mace and Rice were two of 47 Republicans to vote for the bill, which now heads to the Senate.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he will not vote for the bill. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C. did not immediately respond for comment.

Mace, the Lowcountry congresswoman, released a statement after the voting ended.

“I always have and always will support the right of any American to marry. This vote is no different. I believe any two people, regardless of the color of their skin or gender or orientation or otherwise, should be free to enter into marriage together,” Mace said. “If gay couples want to be as happily or miserably married as straight couples, more power to them.”

She added to the statement on Twitter, joking “Trust me, I’ve tried it more than once.”

Mace recently got engaged to Charleston software entrepreneur Patrick Bryant.

Rice in June lost in the primary election against state Rep. Russell Fry, R-Horry, which will bring his tenure in Congress to a conclusion at the end of the year. Rice voted to impeach former President Donald Trump, who later endorsed Fry in the primary.

Rice did not immediately respond for comment.

The bill would codify the 2015 Supreme Court ruling of Obergefell v. Hodges, which legally protects same-sex marriage, and the 1967 ruling on Loving v. Virginia, which protects interracial marriages. The bill also would repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act that defines marriage as between a man and woman, which was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in the Obergefellcase.

The legislation’s passage comes after House Democrats feared for another major reversal of Supreme Court precedent, akin to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

In the ruling for Dobbs v. Jackson —which sent the decision about whether abortion is legal back to each state — Justice Clarence Thomas signaled in a concurring opinion that other precedents should be revisited.

Before Tuesday’s vote, Clyburn defended same-sex marriage.

“In a concurrent opinion ripping away women’s right to choose, Justice Thomas outlined next steps — including ending marriage equality,” the House majority whip tweeted. “Today, House Democrats will pass the Respect for Marriage Act to enshrine marriage equality in federal law and stop state efforts to curb this right.”

He added on Twitter after the vote.

“House Democrats will not let unelected, right-wing justices weaken Americans’ constitutional right to marriage equality.”