Key facts
- Nancy Lacore won the Democratic primary for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District.
- Jenny Honeycutt won the Republican primary for the same seat.
- The incumbent, Rep. Nancy Mace, lost her bid for governor.
- Lacore is a former Navy admiral removed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- Honeycutt is a member of the Charleston County Council.
- Lacore's campaign has a financial advantage over Honeycutt's.
Democrats and Republicans have projected winners in their respective primary runoffs for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, setting the stage for a November general election contest between former Navy Admiral Nancy Lacore and Charleston County Councilwoman Jenny Honeycutt. Lacore, who served over three decades in the Navy before being removed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last year, defeated U.S. Coast Guard veteran Mac Deford. Honeycutt, a council member since 2018, won against state Rep. Mark Smith. The race is to succeed incumbent Rep. Nancy Mace, who recently fell short in her bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Mace has represented the district, which spans South Carolina's southeast coast, since January 2021. The Cook Political Report recently moved the seat's rating from solidly to likely Republican, though Honeycutt is considered the favorite in the conservative-leaning district. On the campaign trail, Lacore has highlighted her military service and criticized the political establishment, with a platform focused on reducing housing costs, improving veteran healthcare and education, and coastal protection. Honeycutt, the GOP nominee, has emphasized the need for fiscal restraint in Congress, stating that "Families balance their budgets. Congress should too." Her campaign also addresses the cost of living and border security. Financially, Lacore's campaign holds an advantage heading into the general election, reporting over $279,000 on hand as of June 3, compared to Honeycutt's just over $48,000.