Rep. Nancy Mace announced Monday she will not run for the South Carolina U.S. Senate seat held by the late Lindsey Graham.
Mace said in a video announcement, "I'm not running for the U.S. Senate, not because I'm backing down from a fight, but because the one I'm already in matters right now."
Mace said she was staying to focus on what she called "unfinished business" in the House.
In the video she said, "the laws meant to protect me and other women failed us, and I won't stop until that changes."
Mace added, "Serving South Carolina has been the honor of my life, and I will continue to voice our values everywhere I can; I'm even going to shit post from time to time, because someone has to call out the dumbasses."
Her decision follows a fifth-place primary finish in her run for governor earlier this year.
Two people familiar with her thinking said she began exploring the viability of a potential bid just hours after Graham's death became public, but decided against a second statewide bid in as many months.
The move effectively guarantees she will not be serving in elected office once her term ends early next year.
Sen. Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham's sister who was appointed to serve out the remainder of his term shortly after his death, announced Monday she is running for a full term and has secured President Donald Trump's endorsement; GOP Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman have announced bids as well. The filing window for the special primary election opens Tuesday and closes one week later, the election will be held Aug. 11, with a runoff for the top two candidates if no one wins 50% of the vote Aug. 25, and whoever wins the special GOP primary will be the heavy favorite to secure a full term in November.