A surprising opinion piece is making waves in Washington this week. Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace of South Carolina, a known conservative voice, wrote an essay for The New York Times that’s raising eyebrows — especially among her fellow Republicans. In her piece, Mace praised former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as “a more effective House speaker than any Republican this century.” That’s a bold claim coming from someone who says she agrees with Pelosi “on essentially nothing.”
So what’s really going on here? Is Mace flipping sides? Is she trying to score political points with the media? Or is there something deeper behind her words?
Let’s break it down.
Nancy Mace is preparing to leave Congress. She’s not running for re-election to the House. Instead, she’s aiming for the governor’s mansion in South Carolina. As she steps away from Washington, she’s reflecting on her time in Congress — and she’s not holding back.
In her guest essay titled “What’s the Point of Congress?” Mace says the House of Representatives has become a place where party leaders control everything. She claims that instead of solving problems, Congress wastes time fighting and protecting power. She believes this system makes it hard for normal lawmakers to get anything done.
But here’s where things get interesting: Mace points to Nancy Pelosi — a Democrat who’s been the target of Republican criticism for decades — as an example of someone who actually got results.
According to Mace, Pelosi understood that majorities in Congress don’t last forever. She says that when Democrats had the majority, Pelosi didn’t waste time — she pushed through her party’s most progressive ideas. Whether it was health care, climate policy, or big spending bills, Pelosi delivered for her side.
Mace says Republicans do the opposite. When they’re in charge, they get scared of losing power and water down their agenda. Instead of keeping promises to voters, they try to play it safe — and end up doing almost nothing, Mace argues.
“She was ruthless, but she got things done,” Mace wrote about Pelosi.
Now, that doesn’t mean Mace agrees with Pelosi’s politics. In fact, she says clearly that she doesn’t. But what she’s saying is that Pelosi — like her or not — knew how to lead. And Mace is warning that if Republicans don’t learn to lead with purpose, they could lose everything in the next election.
She points out that right now, Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House — a rare moment of power. But, she warns, if they don’t pass real laws to secure the border, lower costs, fix health care, and restore law and order, then voters will turn on them. And, in her words, “we will deserve it.”
Mace isn’t the only Republican voicing this kind of opinion. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, another high-profile conservative, also gave Pelosi some credit in a recent CNN interview. Greene said she was “very impressed” at Pelosi’s ability to push her party’s agenda. Greene added, “I wish we could get things done for our party like Nancy Pelosi was able to deliver for her party.”
Now, this doesn’t mean the GOP is suddenly turning blue. These Republicans are not praising Pelosi’s liberal policies — they’re criticizing their own party’s lack of action. They’re frustrated that when Republicans win power, they don’t use it.
So is the viral claim true? Did Nancy Mace really say Pelosi was the most effective House Speaker of the century?
Yes. She did. But context matters.
Mace isn’t praising Pelosi’s ideas. She’s warning her own party that unless they start acting boldly and keep their promises, they’re going to lose the trust of the American people — and maybe their jobs.
It’s a message that’s sure to stir debate. But it’s also a reminder: in politics, it’s not just about who you beat. It’s about what you do when you win.