Nancy
Lacore
Retired Navy Vice Admiral and former Chief of Navy Reserve running as Democrat for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District
- sources
- 19
- positions
- 11
- endorsements
- 31
Background
Nancy Lacore is a retired U.S. Navy Vice Admiral and Democratic candidate for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District in the November 2026 general election. Born in Albany, New York, she served in the Navy for 35 years, beginning her career as a helicopter pilot before joining the Navy Reserve and working for a decade as a defense contractor. 1319
Lacore's senior military commands included Commandant of Naval District Washington (2022–2024) and Chief of Navy Reserve (2024–2025), in which she served as the 16th person to hold that title. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the College of the Holy Cross and a Master of Arts from San Diego State University, and attended the Air Command and Staff College and the National Defense University's Joint Forces Staff College. 1319
She and her husband reside in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Her campaign notes that after serving in Afghanistan she launched a nonprofit, though the organization is not named in available campaign materials. 13
Lacore announced her candidacy in January 2026, raising over $250,000 in the first 24 hours and reaching 10,000 donors within 10 days. She is challenging for the seat previously held by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, who is not seeking reelection to the House. 14151611
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 1, South Carolina
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Democratic candidate for U.S. House, South Carolina's 1st Congressional District
- Website
- nancyforcongress.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Date unknownendorsementLacore added to DCCC Red to Blue program
In August 2026, Lacore was added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Red to Blue program, signaling party investment in the race.
SC-01 House race 2026 | Smarter.Vote · Oct 4, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 7debateLacore and Honeycutt hold first general-election debate at WCBD
Lacore and Honeycutt debated at WCBD's studio. They agreed on a gas-tax suspension, AI guardrails, local data-center control, and a ban on congressional stock trading. They clashed on the Iran war, inflation, healthcare, abortion, and immigration. Lacore called the Iran conflict a 'war of choice,' citing personal military experience, and called for reversing Medicaid cuts and Medicare drug-price negotiation. Honeycutt criticized Lacore for moving to the district to run; Lacore said her Pentagon experience would benefit the Lowcountry.
Lacore, Honeycutt debate for SC's 1st Congressional District · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 4newsSen. Mark Kelly joins Lacore to kick off canvassing
Senator Mark Kelly joined Nancy Lacore to kick off canvassing in the district, according to AP live political coverage.
The Latest: Trump campaigns in Alabama ahead of the midterm ... · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 2pollPoll: Honeycutt leads Lacore 46%–40% among likely voters
A poll fielded October 1 and released October 2, sponsored by Thank You For Your Attention To This Matter PAC and conducted by co/efficient, surveyed 837 likely voters. It found Honeycutt at 46%, Lacore at 40%, Bill Reeside at 4%, and 9% undecided (MoE ±3.37 pts). The sponsor was not presented as nonpartisan.
Post · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 29endorsementNew Dems Action Fund endorses Lacore as part of red-to-blue slate
The New Dems Action Fund announced an endorsement of Nancy Lacore as part of a group of candidates in key red-to-blue seats.
New Dems Endorse Seven More Candidates in Key Red-to ... · Sep 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 22newsLacore campaign launches healthcare-focused ad
Lacore's campaign announced a new ad targeting high healthcare costs and what the campaign described as corruption in the healthcare system. These characterizations reflect the campaign's framing.
Adm. Nancy Lacore Targets High Healthcare Costs & Corruption in New Ad — Nancy Lacore for Congress · Sep 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 22filingLacore confirmed on general-election ballot for November 3
The general-election candidate list recorded by Project Curia showed Lacore on the November 3 ballot for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District.
Nancy Lacore, South Carolina House, District 1 candidate · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 23newsLacore wins Democratic primary runoff over Mac Deford
Nancy Lacore won the Democratic primary runoff against Mac Deford, 52.1% to 47.9%, securing the Democratic nomination for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District.
Rewatch the SC-01 debate here - AOL · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Russell Smith otherFormer Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy; listed on campaign endorsement page without a date. nancylacore.com
- Michael O. Williams officialJames Island town councilmember; listed on campaign endorsement page without a date. nancylacore.com
- Kaye Koonce officialDNC member, Charleston County; listed on campaign endorsement page without a date. nancylacore.com
- Linda Ketner otherFormer Democratic nominee; listed on campaign endorsement page without a date. nancylacore.com
- Jan Anderson otherFormer Isle of Palms councilmember; listed on campaign endorsement page without a date. nancylacore.com
- Waring Howe otherFormer Charleston County Democratic Party chair and DNC member; listed on campaign endorsement page without a date. nancylacore.com
- Lloyd 'Fig' Newton otherRetired Air Force general; listed on campaign endorsement page without a date. nancylacore.com
- Tom King otherRetired Army brigadier general; listed on campaign endorsement page without a date. nancylacore.com
- Tracy L. Hunt otherFormer Navy Reserve Force Master Chief; listed on campaign endorsement page without a date. nancylacore.com
- Kathryn Whitaker officialMount Pleasant councilmember; listed on campaign endorsement page without a date. nancylacore.com
- Julia Drayton-Crumblin officialJames Island town councilmember; listed on campaign endorsement page without a date. nancylacore.com
- Elizabeth Colbert-Busch otherFormer Democratic nominee; listed on campaign endorsement page without a date. nancylacore.com
- Ginny Deerin otherFormer Charleston mayoral candidate; listed on campaign endorsement page without a date. nancylacore.com
- Michael B. Moore other2024 Democratic nominee; listed on campaign endorsement page without a date. nancylacore.com
- Carlos Del Toro otherFormer Secretary of the Navy; listed on campaign endorsement page without a date. nancylacore.com
- Jimmy Story otherFormer U.S. ambassador to Venezuela; listed on campaign endorsement page without a date. nancylacore.com
- South Carolina Education Association (SCEA) organizationEndorsement reported in August 2026, citing Lacore's August 28 social-media post; source is a secondary research compilation, not the association's own announcement. democratfacts.org · Aug 28, 2026
- Billy Keyserling officialFormer Beaufort mayor; named in June 15 campaign announcement. nancylacore.com · Jun 15, 2026
- Leon Stavrinakis officialSouth Carolina state representative; named in June 12 campaign announcement. nancylacore.com · Jun 12, 2026
- Spencer Wetmore officialSouth Carolina state representative; named in June 11 campaign announcement. nancylacore.com · Jun 11, 2026
- Charleston City Paper newspaperCampaign's May 29 announcement said the paper had publicly recommended Lacore earlier that week; full date of the paper's recommendation not established. nancylacore.com · May 29, 2026
- Randy Hughes officialSouth Carolina Democratic Party executive committeeman for Berkeley County; named in May 29 campaign announcement. nancylacore.com · May 29, 2026
- Peter Tecklenburg officialCharleston County auditor; named in May 29 campaign announcement. nancylacore.com · May 29, 2026
- Colleen Condon officialFormer Charleston County Council member and Democratic Party chair; named in May 29 campaign announcement. nancylacore.com · May 29, 2026
- New Politics organizationAnnounced endorsement on May 5, 2026, per New Politics' own statement. newpolitics.org · May 5, 2026
- JA Moore officialSouth Carolina state representative; named in April 14 campaign announcement. nancylacore.com · Apr 14, 2026
- John Tecklenburg officialFormer Charleston mayor; named in April 14 campaign announcement. nancylacore.com · Apr 14, 2026
- Will Haynie officialMount Pleasant mayor; described by the Post and Courier as crossing party lines. nancylacore.com · Apr 8, 2026
- The Bench organizationAnnounced endorsement on January 28, 2026, per campaign's January 29 announcement. nancylacore.com · Jan 28, 2026
- EMILYs List organizationAnnounced endorsement on January 28, 2026, per campaign's January 29 announcement. nancylacore.com · Jan 28, 2026
- VoteVets organizationAnnounced endorsement on January 28, 2026, per campaign's January 29 announcement. nancylacore.com · Jan 28, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $2.28M
- Spent
- $1.87M
- Cash on hand
- $412K
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6SC01359(opens in a new tab)
Sources 19
- [1] In 1st District race, GOP and Dem nominees split on affordability ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [2] NEW POLITICS ENDORSES NANCY LACORE FOR CONGRESS IN ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [3] Recap: Jenny Costa Honeycutt, Nancy Lacore face off in 1st Congressional District debate(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [4] Lacore, Honeycutt debate for SC's 1st Congressional District(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [5] Nancy Lacore, South Carolina House, District 1 candidate(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [6] Rewatch the SC-01 debate here - AOL(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [7] SC-01 House race 2026 | Smarter.Vote(opens in a new tab) Oct 4, 2026
- [8] Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [9] Issues & Priorities | Nancy Lacore for Congress (SC-01)(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [10] Post(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [11] The Latest: Trump campaigns in Alabama ahead of the midterm ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [12] New Dems Endorse Seven More Candidates in Key Red-to ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 29, 2026
- [13] Adm. Nancy Lacore Targets High Healthcare Costs & Corruption in New Ad — Nancy Lacore for Congress(opens in a new tab) Sep 22, 2026
- [14] NANCY LACORE RESEARCH BOOK South Carolina’s First ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 13, 2026
- [15] Admiral Nancy Lacore Releases New Wave of Lowcountry ...(opens in a new tab) May 29, 2026
- [16] Lowcountry Leaders Endorse Rear Admiral Nancy Lacore for SC-01(opens in a new tab) Apr 14, 2026
- [17] Media(opens in a new tab) Apr 8, 2026
- [18] Nancy Lacore Raises Grassroots Momentum with 10k Donors in 10 ...(opens in a new tab) Jan 29, 2026
- [19] Navy veteran Nancy Lacore announces bid for Congress in South Carolina's 1st District(opens in a new tab) Jan 20, 2026