SouthernWorldwide.com – Nancy Lacore, a retired Navy vice admiral, and Mac Deford, a local attorney, have advanced to a runoff election in the Democratic primary for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District. This seat was vacated by Representative Nancy Mace, who is now running for governor.
The primary election on Tuesday did not yield a candidate with over 50% of the vote, necessitating a runoff. This second round of voting is scheduled for June 23.
The eventual Democratic nominee will face the challenge of becoming only the second Democrat to represent South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District in over four decades. The district has historically been a Republican stronghold.
The vacancy arose when Mace, a prominent conservative, announced her bid for the governorship of South Carolina.
During her tenure in Congress, Mace has been recognized for her willingness to diverge from her party on significant issues. She was among the eight Republicans who voted to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023. Additionally, she was one of four GOP lawmakers who pushed for the release of the Epstein Files earlier this year.
Mace has expressed her intention to continue her approach as a political independent at the state level.
“South Carolina needs a governor who will drag the truth into sunlight and flip the tables,” Mace stated during her gubernatorial campaign announcement.
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South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District has predominantly been held by Republicans for the past 40 years. The only exception in recent history was Representative Joe Cunningham, a Democrat, who held the seat from 2019 to 2021.
Mace secured her last re-election in 2024, defeating Democratic challenger Michael Moore with 58.2% of the vote compared to Moore’s 41.6%.
To potentially win the seat for the Democrats, Lacore has positioned herself as a candidate focused on public service rather than traditional politics.
Lacore’s distinguished military career included service as a Navy pilot, culminating in her promotion to vice admiral. She was dismissed from her post, a decision she has described as “without cause.” Her removal occurred during the Trump administration’s efforts to reform the Department of Defense and coincided with the dismissal of other high-ranking officials, such as Lt. Gen. Kennedy Kruse and Rear Adm. Milton Sands.
All three officials were relieved of their duties on August 22, 2025.
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“For 35 years, I served in the United States Navy with the belief that service, honor and integrity matter; that these are the qualities of true leaders,” Lacore shared in a campaign video. “But it’s not what our political leaders believe today.”
According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records, Lacore had raised $1.4 million as of late May.
Mac Deford, on his part, has presented himself to voters as a pragmatic candidate. His campaign website highlights his experience as Associate General Counsel for the Town of Mount Pleasant, where he provided guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic, assisted with a housing initiative, and navigated federal funding through FEMA.
“This isn’t a political stop for me. This is home and I want to serve as your next representative in Washington,” Deford stated in a campaign video.
FEC records indicate that Deford had raised $547,800.
