Nancy Lacore, a former vice admiral fired by U.S. Pete Hegseth in August 2025, narrowly won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in South Carolina’s first congressional district, Nettavisen reported. Capitalizing on local concern regarding Pentagon leadership, Lacore flipped the seat from Republican control after securing a victory over rival Jenny Costa Honeycutt.
The race in South Carolina’s first district remained intensely competitive as election officials processed the final ballots. Nettavisen noted that a mere 3,300 votes separated the two candidates, with Lacore ultimately finishing just 1.01 percentage points ahead of Honeycutt. Because the margin exceeded the threshold required by state law for an automatic recount, the victory stood, handing Democrats a crucial pickup in a district Donald Trump carried by roughly 13 percentage points in 2024, according to Nettavisen.
Lacore’s path to Capitol Hill stems directly from a sweeping purge inside the Pentagon. Following a 35-year military career that culminated in her May 2024 promotion to vice admiral and chief of the Navy Reserve, she was dismissed by Hegseth without receiving a formal explanation, Nettavisen reported. That unceremonious exit transformed the former commander—who oversaw roughly 60,000 reservists—into one of the defense secretary’s most vocal critics, as detailed by Nettavisen.
From the Pentagon to Capitol Hill
During her campaign, Lacore made her termination and the broader upheaval within military leadership central pillars of her platform. She routinely denounced Hegseth on the campaign trail, branding him the worst defense secretary in the nation’s history and accusing him of inflicting deep institutional damage by removing top-tier commanders, according to Nettavisen.
That message struck a chord in a district with deep military roots. Voters expressed growing unease over the intersection of partisan politics and religion within the armed forces, concerns that Lacore amplified by arguing that such ideological blending erodes the foundational strength of the military, Nettavisen reported. Her criticism extends beyond mere rhetoric; she has openly argued that Hegseth should face impeachment.
Democratic strategist John Moffett observed to USA Today prior to the election weekend that there is a distinct irony in Hegseth helping create one of the strongest congressional candidates South Carolina has seen in years.
| Metric / Detail | Candidate Data |
|---|---|
| District | South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District |
| Winning Margin | 1.01 percentage points |
| Vote Differential | ~3,300 votes (Lacore: 161,878; Honeycutt: 158,570) |
| Prior District Representation | Republican (held by Nancy Mace since 2020) |
Mounting Pressure on Defense Leadership
Lacore enters Congress just as scrutiny surrounding Pete Hegseth unfolds. Hegseth recently dismissed Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia of planning and strategy at the Pentagon, adding another high-profile name to a growing roster of ousted defense officials.
The legislative branch is already moving to address the turmoil. Nettavisen noted that outgoing Representative Thomas Massie has introduced eight articles of impeachment against the defense secretary, utilizing a privileged legislative procedure that mandates consideration in the House. A formal vote is anticipated shortly after lawmakers return to Washington, setting the stage for Lacore to immediately confront her former boss from the legislative benches.
