Nancy Lacore, a three-star admiral and former chief of the Navy Reserves, is the latest Democratic candidate to enter the race for South Carolina‘s 1st Congressional District in the 2026 midterm elections.
Lacore announced her bid on Tuesday for the seat held by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) since 2020. Mace is vacating her position to run for governor of the Palmetto State.
The retired admiral’s entry into the race follows her removal in a high-profile leadership purge headed by War Secretary Pete Hegseth in August 2025.
Lacore was removed as the 16th chief of the Navy Reserve on Aug. 22, exactly one year after taking command of the 59,000-person force.
Her dismissal came alongside several other senior military leaders in what the administration described as a “meritocracy drive,” though critics labeled it a political purge.
Notable leaders removed alongside Lacore included Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, Defense Intelligence Agency director, and Rear Adm. Jamie Sands, commander of Naval Special Warfare Command.
“I’ve served my whole life — and I’m not done yet,” Lacore said on her campaign website.
Her website outlines her campaign platform as people-first, focusing on affordability, expanding economic opportunity, and honoring commitments to service members.
She has positioned her candidacy as a responsibility to the next generation of South Carolinians.
Lacore joins a crowded Democratic primary field that includes former Hilton Head General Counsel Mac Deford and FedEx courier Robert Beers. Other candidates include aircraft mechanic Max Diaz, former South Carolina Democratic Party Vice Chairwoman Mayra Rivera-Vazquez, businessman Ben Frasier, and waiter Matt Fulmer.
On the other side of the aisle, Republican candidates, such as Charleston County Councilwoman Jenny Costa Honeycutt and physician Sam McCown, are vying for the nomination to succeed Mace.
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Lacore previously served as the commandant of Naval District Washington and held command roles at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, and in Kabul, Afghanistan.
She is betting that her record of military leadership will resonate with voters in a district that has a deep-rooted connection to the armed forces.