An official from Rep. Nancy Mace’s gubernatorial campaign in South Carolina announced his resignation on Monday, expressing concerns over her alignment with Trump-critical Republicans, including Sen. Rand Paul and Rep. Thomas Massie. J. Austin McCubbin, who has previously supported Trump and Mace in various campaigns, stated his departure was motivated by loyalty to the President, claiming that Mace had “turned her back on MAGA.”
McCubbin criticized Mace for allegedly seeking a personal connection to fund a significant donation to Protect Freedom PAC, a group aligned with Paul that has previously supported her campaign. The PAC reportedly spent $456,000 on campaign advertising in South Carolina, which has intensified the scrutiny on Mace’s choices.
The campaign’s tensions are set against a backdrop of escalating divisions within the party, particularly regarding foreign policy and the controversial Epstein files. The fallout from such issues has already caused rifts between the President and several of his allies in Congress. Mace was one of a few Republicans who backed an effort to force the administration to release the Epstein files, despite a phone call from the President urging her to reconsider her stance.
In a statement responding to McCubbin’s resignation, Mace’s campaign dismissed his claims, stating that he had not contributed financially to the campaign and failed to fulfill any commitments. The campaign pointed out that when they declined to meet his demand for $10,000 a month for services, he promptly left.
As Mace pursues Trump’s endorsement for her gubernatorial bid, she remains aware of the precarious position many Republican lawmakers find themselves in amid rising tensions with the President’s White House. The situation reflects a broader uncertainty within the Republican Party, with some members reportedly contemplating resignation due to perceived mistreatment and fractures in the party’s unity. As the political landscape evolves, Mace hopes to differentiate herself and gain support from Trump, possibly avoiding the fate of fellow Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who faces an uncertain future after her public disagreements with the President.