Part of: Staff Turnover in Nancy Mace's Office · 2026 Governor Campaign
Nancy Mace's senior adviser resigns, urges voters to 'scratch her from list' in SC governor's race
Austin McCubbin, a longtime political strategist and senior adviser on Nancy Mace's South Carolina gubernatorial campaign, resigned in December 2025 and publicly urged voters to reject her candidacy. McCubbin characterized Mace as having become 'a proxy for Rand Paul's 2028 presidential campaign' due to funding from Paul-affiliated groups, framing his departure as a principled objection to outside influence over her campaign. The resignation marked a significant internal fracture as Mace sought Donald Trump's endorsement in the 2026 governor's race.
Nick Reynolds ·
"scratch her from [the] list", Austin McCubbin, former Mace senior adviser
Post and Courier reporter Nick Reynolds reported on December 1, 2025 that Austin McCubbin, who had worked as a political strategist for Mace over an extended period, resigned from her gubernatorial campaign and issued a public statement actively opposing her candidacy. McCubbin's stated reason was that Mace had become financially and politically aligned with Senator Rand Paul's orbit through Paul-affiliated funding, which he said made her a vehicle for Paul's own 2028 presidential ambitions rather than a genuine South Carolina-first candidate.
The resignation was a notable blow to Mace's 2026 governor's run, coming as she was working to secure a Trump endorsement. It extended what the Post and Courier and FITSNews have framed as a pattern of senior departures that has drawn ongoing press scrutiny.
Related coverage
Read next
- June 10, 2026 · Dispatch
National Review post-mortem: 'How Nancy Mace Self-Immolated'
National Review, a conservative flagship, ran a scathing post-mortem on Nancy Mace's fifth-place primary finish, arguing the collapse was self-inflicted by a politician who 'would say and do just about anything for attention.' The critique is notable for coming from her own ideological side.
June 10, 2026 · DispatchAfter Mace's gubernatorial primary loss: what comes next?
The Post and Courier reports on Nancy Mace's fifth-place finish in the South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primary and what it means for her political future. The piece notes that Mace gave up her 1st District House seat to run for governor and has said she does not plan to seek reelection to Congress, leaving open questions about her next move.
March 2, 2026 · DispatchUS Rep. Nancy Mace accused of misusing taxpayer funds to cover her DC housing and meals
Caitlin Byrd reported the Office of Congressional Conduct found 'substantial reason to believe' Mace improperly claimed nearly $9,500 in excess housing reimbursements tied to her $1.6 million Capitol Hill townhouse, also billing over $9,400 for food. Mace refused to cooperate with the OCC probe; her lawyer called the report 'fundamentally flawed.'