A longtime political consultant for Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) reportedly abruptly resigned Monday, accusing the congresswoman — now a candidate for South Carolina governor — of betraying the MAGA movement and cozying up to the libertarian wing of the Republican Party aligned with Sens. Rand Paul and Thomas Massie.
Austin McCubbin, who helped run President Trump’s South Carolina political operation during the 2024 campaign and previously advised Mace, said on X that he could no longer support her candidacy.
“Nancy Mace has yet again decided to turn her back on MAGA to hug the political cactus that is the Rand Paul + Thomas Massie wing of the Party,” McCubbin wrote. He said he originally dismissed outside spending on her behalf by the Paul-affiliated Protect Freedom PAC as independent activity unrelated to her campaign.
But after speaking with Mace last week, McCubbin said it became clear she had fully embraced the PAC’s backing. “She told me she is directing a personal friend to fund a 7-figure check to Rand’s PAC,” he claimed. “She distanced herself, and now she’s fully embracing the Rand Paul + Thomas Massie wing for money.”
McCubbin said he warned Mace the shift could alienate Trump supporters, but she dismissed his concerns and accused him of “mansplaining.”
Mace’s campaign pushed back hard, portraying McCubbin as a disgruntled consultant looking for a payout.
“Mr. McCubbin didn’t raise a dime for the campaign or better yet, never even bothered showing up,” a spokesperson said. “When he demanded $10,000 a month for ‘services’ and was told no, he ran straight to X. Good luck with that.”
The campaign insisted Mace remains loyal to Trump. “Nancy Mace has stood with President Trump since Day ONE,” the spokesperson added, reminding reporters that McCubbin himself previously said Mace would be the “most pro-Trump and America First governor in the country.”
Mace is running in a crowded GOP primary to replace term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster. The field includes Attorney General Alan Wilson, Rep. Ralph Norman, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell. Whoever wins the Republican primary will be strongly favored in the general election. President Trump has not yet endorsed in the race.
Mace has developed a reputation for breaking with GOP leadership. She was one of the Republicans who voted to oust then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023, a move that sparked backlash within the party. More recently, she backed a discharge petition demanding the Justice Department release documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — a measure that passed both chambers after Trump signaled he supported it.
The consultant’s resignation adds new turbulence to Mace’s campaign as she attempts to balance appeal to Trump’s base while cultivating support from other corners of the Republican Party. Whether the fallout hurts her chances in the upcoming primary remains to be seen — especially if Trump decides to weigh in.
[READ MORE: White House Clarifies Second-Strike Controversy, Says Admiral — Not Hegseth — Issued Order on Venezuelan Vessel]
