Nancy Lacore claims victory in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District
Retired Rear Admiral Nancy Lacore won South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, flipping a region that previously trended heavily Republican. According to reporting from WCSC, Lacore’s campaign confirmed that Republican candidate Jenny Costa Honeycutt contacted her to concede the race following Tuesday night’s election.
While the official call has not yet been made and the final tally is still being processed, Lowcountry politics have changed. As of Wednesday morning, with 98.9% of the votes counted, Lacore holds a 1.1% lead over Costa Honeycutt. If this margin remains stable, it will exceed the threshold required for a recount, effectively finalizing the transition of power.
The victory also contributes to a trend observed across the country on Tuesday, where Democrats appear to have secured a House majority and a large majority in the Senate.
A transition from military leadership to the House of Representatives
Lacore’s path to Congress is rooted in her military background and her recent experiences within the federal administration. Her campaign began in the months following her removal from her military position by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, a prominent figure in the current Trump administration. She has framed her candidacy as a move away from “political theater” and toward hands-on legislative work.
During her tenure as Chief of the Navy Reserve, Lacore worked with both sides of the aisle to secure necessary appropriations. She has signaled that this bipartisan approach will be a cornerstone of her time in Washington.
“You have to meet in the middle. I believe we’ll be able to do that. That is how I’ve operated in my entire career. I’ve already worked with Congress. I’ve already worked with both Republicans and Democrats to get the appropriations that we needed for the Navy Reserve when I was Chief of the Navy Reserve. I’ll just continue that type of dialogue with everybody.”
The seat Lacore will occupy has been held by Congresswoman Nancy Mace. In a gesture of professional courtesy, Mace issued a statement on Wednesday morning congratulating the Congresswoman-elect and expressing her commitment to a smooth transition. Mace emphasized that her office remains dedicated to constituent services during the handover, stating that serving South Carolinians remains her first priority.
The changing demographics of the House
Following Tuesday’s vote, the number of women serving in the House is expected to surpass 100. For Lacore, the gender makeup of Congress is a secondary concern to the functional ability to deliver results for her district.
Lacore has stated her intention to work with anyone—regardless of party or background—to address local issues and “clean up Congress.” Her victory, as part of a larger national trend, places Democrats in a position of significant power, though she acknowledged that the President will maintain veto authority.
The finality of the result depends on whether the current 1.1% margin holds.
