The retired three-star admiral, removed from her Navy leadership position earlier this year, holds a narrow lead in a closely contested congressional race that could shift a Republican-held seat to Democrats.

SOUTH CAROLINA — November 4, 2026 — Retired U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore is on the verge of a significant political victory in South Carolina, where she is projected by Decision Desk HQ to win a congressional seat previously held by Republicans.

Lacore, a Democrat who served 35 years in the military before being removed from her leadership position by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in August, holds a narrow lead over Republican Jenny Costa Honeycutt in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District.

As of Wednesday morning, approximately 99% of votes had been counted, with Lacore leading by roughly 3,350 votes, or about one percentage point.

Although Decision Desk HQ projected her victory, the Associated Press had not officially called the race as of 8:50 a.m. ET.

The close margin has raised questions about whether a recount will be required before the results are certified.

Former Navy Leader Moves Toward Congressional Victory

Lacore's potential victory represents a major transition from military leadership to elected office.

During her 35-year Navy career, she completed two deployments and eventually rose to the rank of vice admiral.

As chief of the Navy Reserve, she oversaw more than 60,000 sailors, holding one of the service's most senior leadership positions.

Her military career ended earlier this year after Hegseth removed her from the position.

Months later, Lacore entered a competitive congressional race in a district that had long favored Republican candidates.

Her apparent success has attracted attention because of both her military background and the district's recent voting history.

If her victory is confirmed, her campaign says she would become the highest-ranking former military officer serving in the 120th Congress.

A Close Race Could Trigger a Recount

The election remains subject to final vote counting and certification.

South Carolina election rules require an automatic recount when the difference between the leading candidate and another candidate is 1% or less of the total votes cast for that office.

With Lacore's initial lead hovering around that threshold, the possibility of a recount became an important consideration.

However, her campaign issued a statement Wednesday morning indicating that additional results from Dorchester County had increased her lead beyond the automatic recount threshold.

The campaign expressed confidence that the updated totals would confirm her victory without requiring a recount.

Official results must still be certified by election authorities.

According to the South Carolina State Election Commission, county-level certification takes place following the election, with additional certification procedures conducted at the state level.

Until those processes are complete, the final outcome remains subject to official confirmation.

Lacore Claims Victory and Calls for Practical Leadership

Despite the close results, Lacore addressed supporters Tuesday evening with confidence about the outcome.

Her campaign focused heavily on economic concerns affecting families across South Carolina's Lowcountry region.

Among her priorities were rising housing costs, health care expenses and financial stability.

Lacore also emphasized her willingness to work across party lines.

In her remarks, she criticized political conflict in Washington and called for a more practical approach to governing.

Her campaign presented the election as an opportunity for voters to choose a representative focused on constituent services and measurable results.

Following updated vote totals Wednesday, Lacore said voters from different political backgrounds had supported her campaign.

She also highlighted the district's previous support for Donald Trump, who carried it by approximately 13 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election, according to the campaign's statement.

Republican-Held District Faces Political Shift

South Carolina's 1st Congressional District was previously represented by Republican Nancy Mace.

Mace won reelection in 2024 with 58.2% of the vote, demonstrating the district's Republican advantage at the time.

However, she later left the congressional race to pursue the Republican nomination for governor.

Her gubernatorial campaign ended after she finished fifth in the party's primary.

Republican Alan Wilson subsequently won the governor's race against Democrat Jermaine Johnson by approximately four percentage points, according to the supplied report.

Meanwhile, the congressional contest between Lacore and Honeycutt developed into one of South Carolina's closely watched races.

The narrow margin illustrates how competitive the district became during the 2026 election cycle.

South Carolina Sees Other Notable Election Results

Lacore's projected victory was not the only significant development in South Carolina's elections.

In another closely watched contest, Democrat Annie Andrew defeated Republican Darline Graham by approximately five percentage points, according to the original report.

Graham was the sister of former U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who died earlier in 2026.

The result drew attention because of South Carolina's longstanding Republican voting patterns in statewide elections.

Together, the races highlighted differences in voter behavior across the state's political contests.

However, each election involved distinct candidates, issues and local circumstances.

Record Number of Veterans Run for Congress

Lacore was among a record number of military veterans who pursued federal office during the 2026 election cycle.

According to veterans' advocacy organization With Honor, 752 veterans registered as candidates for the U.S. House and Senate.

The organization described the figure as the highest recorded since it began tracking veteran candidacies in 2018.

The large number of candidates reflects continued interest among former service members in participating in national politics.

Lacore's candidacy attracted particular attention because of her senior military rank and extensive leadership experience.

As election results continued to be counted nationwide, the final number of veterans entering Congress had not yet been determined.

Democrats Secure Control of Congress

The broader 2026 midterm elections also brought significant changes to the balance of power in Washington.

According to the supplied report, Democrats secured control of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate.

That shift would create a different legislative environment for President Donald Trump during the remaining two years of his presidency.

With opposition-party majorities in Congress, negotiations over federal spending, legislation and administration priorities could become more complicated.

Lacore's projected victory in a previously Republican-held district would contribute to that broader change in congressional representation.

Nancy Lacore Election: Key Details

CategoryReported informationCandidateNancy LacorePolitical partyDemocraticCongressional districtSouth Carolina's 1st DistrictRepublican opponentJenny Costa HoneycuttMilitary backgroundRetired U.S. Navy vice admiralYears of military service35Former positionChief of the Navy ReservePersonnel overseenMore than 60,000 sailorsRemoval from positionAugust 2026Reported leadApproximately 3,350 votesVotes countedApproximately 99% as of Wednesday morningProjectionDecision Desk HQ projected Lacore's victoryAP race callNot called as of 8:50 a.m. ET WednesdayRecount thresholdMargin of 1% or lessFinal statusAwaiting official certification

Final Thoughts: A Military Career Followed by a Political Breakthrough

Nancy Lacore's projected congressional victory marks a potentially significant new chapter in her public service career.

After spending 35 years in the U.S. Navy and rising to one of its highest leadership positions, she is now positioned to represent South Carolina's 1st Congressional District.

Her narrow lead over Jenny Costa Honeycutt has drawn attention to the district's changing electoral landscape and the possibility of a Democratic gain in a previously Republican-held seat.

However, the final outcome depends on the completion of vote counting and certification procedures.

If confirmed, Lacore's victory would represent a notable transition from senior military leadership to Congress, while adding another veteran voice to the nation's legislative branch.

Her campaign has emphasized economic concerns, cooperation across party lines and a commitment to public service as she prepares for the possibility of taking office.

Editor's note: This article is a rewritten English-language adaptation of Katherine Plummer's Military.com report on the November 2026 elections. Vote totals, projections and certification status reflect the supplied report and have not been independently updated.