Nancy Lacore, a three-star Navy admiral who was dismissed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last year, is projected to face veteran Mac Deford in a runoff election for the Democratic nomination in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ. The runoff is set for June 23.
Lacore and Deford emerged from a crowded field of Democrats vying for the seat currently held by Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican who is running for governor. The district stretches along the state’s southeastern coast. The GOP primary is also expected to head to a runoff.
Lacore served more than three decades in the Navy, rising from pilot to vice admiral and serving as chief of the Navy Reserve for over a year. Hegseth removed her and dozens of other military leaders in August 2024, a move she has said marked the end of her military career. “I never put the uniform on again,” she said when launching her campaign in January.
She has secured endorsements from several veterans’ political groups, including VoteVets and Veterans for Responsible Leadership. EMILYs List, which backs Democratic women who support abortion rights, has also endorsed her.
Deford, a former local government attorney and U.S. Coast Guard veteran, has the backing of former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and the South Carolina AFL-CIO. The race has drawn national attention as Democrats seek to flip a seat that the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates as solidly Republican.
The winner of the November general election will succeed Mace, who is running for governor. The GOP primary for the seat is also expected to head to a runoff, with several candidates vying for the nomination. The district has been a Republican stronghold, but Democrats see an opportunity with Mace’s departure.
Lacore’s campaign has focused on her military service and her dismissal by the Trump administration, framing it as a symbol of the need for change. Deford has emphasized his local government experience and his work as a Coast Guard veteran, positioning himself as a pragmatic candidate.
Political analysts note that the district’s Republican lean makes it a tough challenge for any Democrat. However, the primary runoff will test the candidates’ ability to mobilize voters and build a coalition ahead of the general election.
