Nancy Mace Shocks GOP: Pelosi Outperformed Every Republican Speaker

Paul Riverbank, 12/10/2025Nancy Mace praises Pelosi’s effectiveness, sparking GOP debate on leadership and party direction.

But—worth noting—Mace wasn’t endorsing Pelosi’s agenda. She pointed to results, not policies. In her words, Pelosi consistently delivered for her party, even when her priorities were politically treacherous. “No majority is permanent,” Mace wrote, giving a candid assessment you don’t often hear from those in power. Her argument: Democrats, impatient with the impermanence of congressional control, tend to work aggressively and make full use of their window. Republicans, in contrast, seem to play it safer—opting for incremental wins, anxious about missteps that could cost them the gavel.

Mace’s essay didn’t just create a few eye rolls in GOP circles—it forced tough conversations behind closed doors. Some shrugged her words off as theatrics, but a chunk of the caucus nodded along, if quietly. It’s no secret that Republicans, especially in this narrowly divided House, struggle to pass sweeping reforms. Instead, party leadership spends much of its energy holding together a fractious coalition. “We get the majority,” Mace observed, “then become petrified of losing it.” The suggestion? Now might be the moment for the party to take bigger swings, even if that means hard debates in public view.

Beyond the headline-grabbing Pelosi praise, Mace took a scalpel to her own party’s inner workings. She describes an institution where power is funneled to a select few, while most members find their influence sharply curtailed. “It’s not just about ideology—sometimes it’s about who actually gets to speak, who gets to shape what happens on the floor,” she argued. The criticism wasn’t only institutional. Mace pointedly brought gender into the discussion: “Women will never be taken seriously until leadership decides to take us seriously, and I’m no longer holding my breath.” For years, GOP women have secured prominent titles, but frequently the real decisions, she insinuated, happen elsewhere—often out of reach.

It’s striking that Marjorie Taylor Greene, often on a different page than Mace, echoed a similar thought. Greene told CNN she admired Pelosi’s “ability to get things done.” For Republicans, open praise for Pelosi is almost unheard of—but as in sports, there can be grudging respect for an opponent’s discipline and strategy, even among rivals.

Meanwhile, the day-to-day environment in the House feels tense, at times bordering on dysfunctional. Retirements are ticking up, and on the heels of each debate, more members express frustration about a sense of being sidelined. Rep. Elise Stefanik, for instance, has become increasingly public about bills she wants to see advance. As for Speaker Mike Johnson, his approach has been to emphasize party unity and highlight legislative wins—lowering costs here, promoting “America First” ideas there. His message, posted in bold: “When Republicans stay unified, we can achieve ANYTHING!” But those watching closely see the challenge: unity is elusive, especially as ideological and strategic rifts deepen. Outside political groups, sensing opportunity or instability, are pouring resources into the mix, hoping to strengthen their factions.

To be sure, Mace’s essay did more than grab headlines; it exposed a Republican Party wrestling with real anxieties. The desire to lead is complicated by questions about how to lead—and, crucially, whose voice carries. The subtext to much of Mace’s writing is a warning: fail to deliver in meaningful ways—on border security, affordability, health care, public safety—and voters will return the favor at the ballot box. “And we will deserve it,” she concluded—a simple line with heavy implications.

Standing back, what Mace added to the discourse is less about Pelosi and more about growth and reckoning within the GOP. The path forward will demand more open debate, sharper self-reflection, and, very likely, some uncomfortable conversations in the months ahead. This is where candid voices—unafraid to ruffle feathers—could prove vital. For all the partisanship that pervades Congress, sometimes what breaks through is the willingness to say what others are thinking, even at political risk. In this moment, Mace’s challenge to her party could be exactly the embrace of honest, if messy, conversation that’s long overdue.

Nancy Mace, the South Carolina Republican known for occasional bluntness, didn’t tiptoe around her message this time. Hours before she’d formally declared her bid for governor, Mace fired off an opinion piece that was hard to ignore. Those who expected her to take easy jabs at Democrats likely did a double take—she openly called Nancy Pelosi “a more effective House speaker than any Republican this century.” Coming from someone rarely seen agreeing with Democrats, the remark rippled across Capitol Hill.But—worth noting—Mace wasn’t endorsing Pelosi’s agenda. She pointed to results, not policies. In her words, Pelosi consistently delivered for her party, even when her priorities were politically treacherous. “No majority is permanent,” Mace wrote, giving a candid assessment you don’t often hear from those in power. Her argument: Democrats, impatient with the impermanence of congressional control, tend to work aggressively and make full use of their window. Republicans, in contrast, seem to play it safer—opting for incremental wins, anxious about missteps that could cost them the gavel.Mace’s essay didn’t just create a few eye rolls in GOP circles—it forced tough conversations behind closed doors. Some shrugged her words off as theatrics, but a chunk of the caucus nodded along, if quietly. It’s no secret that Republicans, especially in this narrowly divided House, struggle to pass sweeping reforms. Instead, party leadership spends much of its energy holding together a fractious coalition. “We get the majority,” Mace observed, “then become petrified of losing it.” The suggestion? Now might be the moment for the party to take bigger swings, even if that means hard debates in public view.Beyond the headline-grabbing Pelosi praise, Mace took a scalpel to her own party’s inner workings. She describes an institution where power is funneled to a select few, while most members find their influence sharply curtailed. “It’s not just about ideology—sometimes it’s about who actually gets to speak, who gets to shape what happens on the floor,” she argued. The criticism wasn’t only institutional. Mace pointedly brought gender into the discussion: “Women will never be taken seriously until leadership decides to take us seriously, and I’m no longer holding my breath.” For years, GOP women have secured prominent titles, but frequently the real decisions, she insinuated, happen elsewhere—often out of reach.It’s striking that Marjorie Taylor Greene, often on a different page than Mace, echoed a similar thought. Greene told CNN she admired Pelosi’s “ability to get things done.” For Republicans, open praise for Pelosi is almost unheard of—but as in sports, there can be grudging respect for an opponent’s discipline and strategy, even among rivals.Meanwhile, the day-to-day environment in the House feels tense, at times bordering on dysfunctional. Retirements are ticking up, and on the heels of each debate, more members express frustration about a sense of being sidelined. Rep. Elise Stefanik, for instance, has become increasingly public about bills she wants to see advance. As for Speaker Mike Johnson, his approach has been to emphasize party unity and highlight legislative wins—lowering costs here, promoting “America First” ideas there. His message, posted in bold: “When Republicans stay unified, we can achieve ANYTHING!” But those watching closely see the challenge: unity is elusive, especially as ideological and strategic rifts deepen. Outside political groups, sensing opportunity or instability, are pouring resources into the mix, hoping to strengthen their factions.To be sure, Mace’s essay did more than grab headlines; it exposed a Republican Party wrestling with real anxieties. The desire to lead is complicated by questions about how to lead—and, crucially, whose voice carries. The subtext to much of Mace’s writing is a warning: fail to deliver in meaningful ways—on border security, affordability, health care, public safety—and voters will return the favor at the ballot box. “And we will deserve it,” she concluded—a simple line with heavy implications.Standing back, what Mace added to the discourse is less about Pelosi and more about growth and reckoning within the GOP. The path forward will demand more open debate, sharper self-reflection, and, very likely, some uncomfortable conversations in the months ahead. This is where candid voices—unafraid to ruffle feathers—could prove vital. For all the partisanship that pervades Congress, sometimes what breaks through is the willingness to say what others are thinking, even at political risk. In this moment, Mace’s challenge to her party could be exactly the embrace of honest, if messy, conversation that’s long overdue.