Inside the Tumultuous World of Congresswoman Nancy Mace
A damning exposé has cast a harsh spotlight on South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace, revealing a pattern of erratic and abusive behaviour described by former staffers. The revelations come at a critical juncture for Mace, who is battling to maintain her position as a leading candidate in the state's hotly contested Republican gubernatorial primary.
A Public Unravelling and Personal Vendettas
Throughout 2025, the first year of Donald Trump's second presidency, Nancy Mace's personal crises played out on a national stage. In a dramatic February 2025 speech on the House floor, Mace publicly accused her ex-fiancé, Patrick Bryant, of serious criminal acts, including physical assault and filming her without consent. Bryant vehemently denied all allegations.
Further controversy erupted in October 2025 at Charleston's airport, where, according to a police report, Mace berated and cursed at officers for allegedly failing to meet her upon arrival. These incidents drew rebukes from prominent South Carolina Republicans, including Senator Tim Scott, contributing to a noticeable erosion of her political support.
Former Staffers Paint a Picture of Fear and Abuse
A new profile in New York Magazine, entitled "Nancy Mace is Not Okay," cites multiple former staffers who describe a toxic and volatile work environment. One former top consultant to her gubernatorial campaign labelled her behaviour as both erratic and abusive.
"We were scared of her," one former staffer confessed to the magazine. "She would make staffers cry. She would threaten to fire them, take their money away, not give them raises, not to give them days off, religious days."
Another former aide detailed how Mace's early focus was on securing television appearances to build her personal brand, even as her conduct raised internal concerns. "Something's broken. The motherboard's fried. We're short-circuiting somewhere," the staffer remarked.
Allegations of Substance Abuse and Misuse of Staff
According to the former employees, Mace abused alcohol and marijuana during her time in office. Staff described her as "befuddled" during a 2022 trip to Europe, where she allegedly demanded a staffer be fired for releasing travel details to reporters—details Mace herself had previously disclosed to journalists.
"She would definitely do it excessively," a staffer present on the Europe trip stated regarding her substance use. "And again, not to say that most members don't or most staff don't, but it got to the point where it was an issue." Another claimed the office scheduler received calls at 2 a.m. to deliver bottles of tequila.
Staffers also alleged they were tasked with non-official duties, including housework and cleaning at Mace's Washington, D.C. townhouse and other properties she rented out as AirBnBs. The congresswoman is portrayed as increasingly consumed by personal vendettas, particularly her pursuit of Bryant, which they claim improperly used office resources.
A Fractured Alliance with Trump and a Faltering Campaign
Mace's once-strong alliance with former President Donald Trump has splintered. Known for a roller-coaster relationship with Trump, she criticised the January 6 riots but did not vote for impeachment, later becoming a vocal supporter. However, in 2025, she joined a discharge petition to demand the release of Epstein files, an act that severed her ties with the White House and aligned her with rebel Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Greene.
This is not the first rift; Trump endorsed against her in a 2022 primary, though she prevailed and later regained his endorsement by 2024. Now, accused of drifting again, her gubernatorial bid is struggling. A recent Trafalgar Group poll shows Mace in third place out of four leading contenders, with a slim margin separating the candidates and many voters still undecided. Trump has yet to endorse in the primary.
Denials and an Unconstitutional Future
Mace's office has fiercely denied all claims in the New York Magazine profile, labelling them "ridiculous" and criticising the author. In an interview, Mace outlined an unconventional plan for her future operations, stating, "I'll never have a chief of staff again. I'll never have a campaign manager. I run a pretty flat organization because I don't believe in gatekeepers."
Her bid for governor marks her first statewide campaign, testing her appeal beyond her congressional district amidst these damaging allegations and internal turmoil.
