Austin McCubbin, a seasoned advisor to Republican Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina, announced his resignation from her 2026 gubernatorial campaign.
His decision, shared on his verified X account, was driven by his unwavering loyalty to President Donald Trump. McCubbin expressed his discontent with Mace's political alignment, stating, "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. I have notified her and her team that I am resigning because of this."
As reported by the Daily Caller, McCubbin accused Mace of leveraging his association with Team Trump to her advantage, without fulfilling her financial commitments to him. "My name has been used publicly, while going back on her word to pay me, to trade on my Team Trump status and to work on her behalf with the White House, and I am 100% breaking with her campaign out of loyalty to the President," he declared. McCubbin also alleged that Mace has aligned herself with the Rand Paul-affiliated Protect Freedom PAC, a move he claims was made without his prior knowledge.
McCubbin's statement further detailed his concerns, noting that Mace had previously parted ways with her General Consultant due to his criticism of President Trump's Iran strike and his support for Thomas Massie. He highlighted that the Protect Freedom PAC, linked to Rand Paul, had begun financially supporting Mace's campaign without his awareness.
"When I talked to Nancy last Wednesday, it became clear she has fully embraced the Rand Paul PAC. She told me she is directing a personal friend to fund a 7-figure check to Rands PAC. She distanced herself, and now shes fully embracing the Rand Paul + Thomas Massie wing for money. Nancy Mace is wittingly or unwittingly a proxy for Rand Pauls 2028 presidential campaign," McCubbin asserted.
McCubbin, who previously managed Mace's 2022 congressional campaign, shared these revelations following Mace's decision to maintain her support for a discharge petition aimed at releasing the Epstein files. This petition, championed by Republican Representative Thomas Massie and Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, garnered significant support within the House, enabling a vote without the need for committee or leadership approval, as reported by WCIV.
Additionally, Republican Senator Rand Paul had previously diverged from his party to support an amendment by Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, calling for the Department of Justice to release all unclassified files, according to The Hill.
In light of McCubbin's resignation, he informed the Post and Courier that Trump's team is aware of his departure. Mace, who officially entered the South Carolina gubernatorial race in August 2025, has faced scrutiny over McCubbin's exit.
A spokesperson for Mace reiterated her longstanding support for President Trump, stating, "Nancy Mace has stood with President Trump since Day One. Mr. McCubbin said it himself: Nancy Mace will be the most pro-Trump and America First Governor in the country."
The unfolding political dynamics within the Republican Party highlight the ongoing tension between traditional conservative values and the emerging influence of libertarian-leaning factions. As Mace navigates her gubernatorial campaign, her alignment with different wings of the party will undoubtedly shape her political trajectory and influence her standing among conservative voters.
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