Fired Navy Admiral Nancy Lacore Advances to Democratic Runoff in South Carolina House Race

The Nancy Lacore runoff is now set, as the former Navy admiral has secured a spot in the Democratic primary runoff for South Carolina’s First Congressional District, according to The Associated Press. Her advance marks a notable moment for a political newcomer whose path to this point has been anything but ordinary.

Lacore won’t be moving forward alone. She’ll face Mac Deford, a Coast Guard veteran who previously served as general counsel for the town of Hilton Head Island, in a runoff scheduled for June 23.

A Steep Climb Awaits the Winner

Whoever emerges from the runoff faces a formidable challenge this fall. The goal is to flip a seat currently held by Republican Representative Nancy Mace, who opted to run for governor rather than seek re-election. That bid for governor was unsuccessful, leaving the seat open.

The math, however, is daunting. The coastal district was redrawn in 2021 specifically to lean more reliably Republican, and the results have borne that out. Mace won re-election by double-digit margins in each of her past two campaigns, underscoring just how difficult it will be for a Democrat to capture the district.

An Unusually High Profile

Despite being new to politics, Lacore brings a level of visibility that most first-time candidates lack, and the circumstances behind that profile are striking.

Last August, after 35 years of service in the Navy, she was fired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. According to Lacore, she was given no explanation for the dismissal. The timing drew attention because it coincided with a period in which Hegseth was removing military officials who had produced intelligence assessments that reportedly angered President Trump.

That backstory has helped elevate Lacore’s standing and given her campaign a narrative that resonates beyond the district’s boundaries.

A Fundraising Powerhouse

From the moment she entered the race, Lacore has demonstrated impressive fundraising strength, a key asset for any candidate hoping to compete in a tough district. Her financial momentum has been notable:

• She raised $500,000 within her first two weeks as a candidate
• By late May, her total had climbed past $1.4 million, according to federal campaign finance records

Those numbers signal that her campaign has tapped into genuine enthusiasm and that she’ll have the resources to mount a serious effort, both in the runoff and potentially in the general election.

National Support Behind Her Bid

Lacore’s campaign isn’t operating in isolation. She is one of 12 House candidates across the country this cycle who have earned the backing of the Bench, an organization led by veteran Democratic strategists.

The group focuses on recruiting and advising candidates in a range of races, including both traditional battleground districts and contests considered harder to win. Lacore’s inclusion suggests that national Democratic strategists see something worth investing in, even in a district drawn to favor Republicans.

What Comes Next

The immediate focus now shifts to the June 23 runoff between Lacore and Deford, where Democratic voters will decide who carries the party’s banner into the fall. Both candidates bring military backgrounds to the contest, but Lacore’s national profile and fundraising edge make her a prominent figure heading into the final stretch of the primary.

Should she win the nomination, the larger battle would still lie ahead in a district engineered to be Republican-friendly. For now, though, her advance keeps alive a campaign that has already drawn attention well beyond South Carolina’s coast, setting up a runoff worth watching closely.