OMM Newsroom
Democratic candidate Nancy Lacore, a retired U.S. Navy vice admiral and former chief of the Navy Reserve, has won South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District. She defeated Republican candidate Jenny Costa Honeycutt, AnewZ reported.
The victory, recorded on October 5, 2026, marked a Democratic win in a district considered a traditional Republican stronghold. The result helped the party expand its gains in the midterm elections and regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Congressional seat left vacant after gubernatorial bid
The seat became vacant after Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace left Congress to campaign for governor of South Carolina. Her gubernatorial campaign was unsuccessful, giving Democrats an opportunity to compete in a district previously considered safely Republican.
Lacore served in the military for decades before entering politics. She rose to become the 16th chief of the Navy Reserve, overseeing reserve personnel, operational readiness and support for service members’ missions.
Her military career ended in 2025 when U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed her from her post as part of sweeping leadership changes. The decision drew national attention at the time and became a significant part of Lacore’s public profile as she entered politics.
Democrats make gains in several Republican districts
Lacore’s victory is expected to strengthen the Democrats, who will take control of the House of Representatives when the new Congress begins. In the midterm elections, Democratic candidates improved their results in several districts and states where Republicans had previously held an advantage.
Several incumbent Republicans lost their seats, while Democratic candidates secured significant victories in competitive gubernatorial and congressional races. Political analysts say the South Carolina result points to changing voter preferences in some areas, particularly among voters who had previously supported Republicans reliably.
When Lacore takes office, she will join a Democratic caucus that has gained control of the House and increased its political activity in Washington. Her military background and the district’s traditionally conservative voting patterns could make the win one of the election cycle’s symbolic successes. The result also points to increased competition in some districts once considered safe for Republicans ahead of the next presidential election cycle.
