Nancy Lacore, a former three-star Navy rear admiral fired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, secured the Democratic nomination for South Carolina's 1st congressional district on Tuesday, defeating Coast Guard veteran Mac Deford in a runoff.
Lacore will face Republican nominee Jenny Costa Honeycutt in the November general election. The district's current representative, Republican Nancy Mace, did not seek re-election to run for governor.
A High-Profile Firing
Lacore was among several senior military officers removed by Hegseth as part of a broader purge of officials considered to have crossed the Trump administration or not aligning with Hegseth's vision for the armed services.
Strong Support and Fundraising
She has received endorsements from multiple veterans' groups and Emily's List, a group that supports Democratic candidates who support abortion rights. According to campaign finance records analyzed by The New York Times, she raised $500,000 in her first two weeks as a candidate and more than $1.4 million through late May.
She is also one of 12 House candidates backed by the Bench, a Democratic strategy group that advises candidates in districts considered difficult to win.