A former three-star Navy admiral who was dismissed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last year is heading into a Democratic runoff in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ projections.
Nancy Lacore and fellow Democrat Mac Deford advanced from a crowded primary field and will now face off in a June 23 runoff to determine who will carry the party’s banner in the general election.
The seat, which runs along South Carolina’s southeastern coastline, is currently held by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, who is leaving the House after launching a gubernatorial bid. Republicans are also expected to hold a runoff in their own primary contest for the seat.
Lacore spent more than 30 years in the U.S. Navy, rising from a pilot to vice admiral and later serving as chief of the Navy Reserve. Her military career ended after she was among several senior officers removed by Hegseth in August.
She has since secured backing from several veterans-focused political organisations, including VoteVets and Veterans for Responsible Leadership, as well as EMILY’s List, which supports pro-choice Democratic women candidates.
When she entered the race in January, Lacore said she had fully stepped away from military service after her departure from the Pentagon, stating she “never put the uniform on again” following her removal.
Her opponent, Mac Deford, is a former local government attorney and U.S. Coast Guard veteran. He has received endorsements from former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and the South Carolina AFL-CIO.
Despite the competitive primary, analysts still view the district as strongly Republican-leaning, with the Cook Political Report rating it as safely in GOP control heading into the general election.
