Nancy Lacore, a three-star Navy rear admiral who was fired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in 2024, advances to a runoff in South Carolina’s closely watched Democratic primary for the seat currently held by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace. Lacore, who served about 35 years in the Navy and was chief of the Navy Reserve when she was removed last year, is projected to face Mac Deford, a veteran, after both candidates won their initial round of voting. Multiple outlets report that Lacore and Deford emerged from a multi-candidate field that also included other Democrats in the contest.
The district covers South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District and includes parts of the southeast coast. The New York Times notes that the district was redrawn in 2021 to lean more Republican, which could make the eventual general election challenging for any Democratic nominee. Mace is not seeking re-election to the House seat; she ran for governor instead. Fox News and The Hill both describe the runoff as a step toward determining the Democratic nominee for Mace’s vacated seat.
