Nancy Lacore, a retired Navy admiral who was fired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last year, advances to a runoff in the Democratic primary for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District. Multiple outlets report that Decision Desk HQ projects Lacore will face veteran Mac Deford after both candidates win their respective initial matchups. Lacore and Deford together defeat a slate of other Democratic contenders in the district’s primary field.
The seat is open because Representative Nancy Mace does not seek re-election to Congress; she ran instead for governor. The district was redrawn in 2021 in a way that multiple reports describe as more Republican, meaning the eventual Democratic nominee is expected to face a challenging general election.
Lacore is described across coverage as a three-star or retired vice admiral, and the runoff will determine who becomes the Democratic nominee to replace Mace in the fall election. The timing and outcome of that runoff will shape which candidate the Democratic Party puts forward in the district.
