South Carolina elects a Republican who voted to impeach Trump.

After a furious backlash over his vote to impeach former US President Donald Trump, a Republican congressman has lost his bid to keep his seat.

Tom Rice, a five-term incumbent in South Carolina, was defeated in a primary election by Trump-backed state legislator Russell Fry.

Nancy Mace, another Republican in the state who had criticized Mr Trump, easily won her vote.

Ms Mace later paid a visit to Trump Tower in a show of support.

On Tuesday, congressional elections were held in Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Texas.

Mr Rice had been a steadfast Trump supporter until the US Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, when he became a critic.

Trump calls the Capitol riot investigation a “Kangaroo Court.”

In the Senate, Mr. Trump was acquitted of the political charge. A Democratic-led congressional investigation into the Capitol riot is currently holding public hearings, accusing the former president of plotting a coup.

Mr Rice acknowledged that his impeachment vote could end his political career, but he insisted that he was acting on his conscience. He was defeated by more than 25 points on Tuesday night.

The ten Republicans who voted to impeach Mr. Trump have had varying degrees of success. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger have become outspoken Trump critics, and they currently serve on the US House of Representatives committee investigating the Capitol riot. Mr. Kinzinger is among those who will not seek re-election. Others are fighting for political survival.

Ms Mace did not vote to impeach Mr Trump, but she did earn his ire by condemning him for the Capitol riot and voting to certify President Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.

She attempted to make amends by filming a video outside Trump Tower in New York City this year to remind her constituents that she was one of the former president’s earliest supporters.

Mr. Trump endorsed her opponent, Katie Arrington, a former state legislator. Ms Mace, on the other hand, easily exceeded the 50% vote threshold required to avoid a run-off election.

Mr Trump, who celebrated his 76th birthday on Tuesday, had asked supporters to give him two birthday presents by defeating Mr Rice and Ms Mace.