Nancy Lacore, ex‑Navy admiral dismissed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, reached a Democratic primary runoff for South Carolina’s First Congressional District.

A runoff opponent is Mac Deford, a Coast Guard veteran and former town counsel. Whoever wins faces Representative Nancy Mace, who flipped to a gubernatorial run and left a seat that has doubled‑digit Republican margins since the 2021 redistricting.

Lacore’s campaign has mobilized $1.4 million in early fundraising, backing from the Bench group, and a profile boosted by her military dismissal. The battle signals a rare Democratic challenge in a newly conservative district.

The outcome will test whether a high‑profile newcomer can overcome structural partisan shifts and the legacy of a long‑standing Republican incumbent.