[2] Macauley was the unsuccessful running mate to the Ulster Unionist Party's Harold McKee at the 2014 Newry, Mourne and Down Council election.
[3] She was later co-opted onto the council for The Mournes District in June 2016, following McKee's election to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
[10][11] On 23 May 2022, Macauley was appointed chairwoman of the Ulster Unionist Party, succeeding Danny Kennedy.
Outlining her ambitions, she said: "My focus will be on growth, attracting new party members and females in particular.
"[12] She was defeated at the 2023 local elections, which saw the total number of UUP representatives in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Authority fall from to 10 to 6.