Nancy Lacore

Nancy Lacore is the Democratic nominee for South Carolina's 1st District, an open seat. A retired U.S. Navy vice admiral, she served as a helicopter pilot and later as Chief of Navy Reserve. She says she is running on lowering costs, banning member stock trading and supporting veterans and military families.[1][2][3]

Lacore was born in Albany, New York, according to Wikipedia. She graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1990 with a bachelor's degree and was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps; she also holds a master's degree from San Diego State University.[2][1] She was designated a Naval Aviator in 1993 and flew helicopters, including with Helicopter Combat Support Squadrons 8 (Norfolk, Virginia) and 3 (San Diego), and affiliated with the Navy Reserve in 2000. She describes a 35-year Navy career that began as a helicopter pilot.[2][1] As a reservist she mobilized to Kabul, Afghanistan, as chief of Key Leader Engagement at International Security Assistance Force headquarters (2011-2012), and in 2017 to Djibouti, where she served as commanding officer of Camp Lemonnier. She was promoted to rear admiral (lower half) in 2018 and rear admiral in 2021, and served as commandant of Naval District Washington from 2022 to 2024.[2][1][4]

In May 2024 Lacore was nominated for promotion to vice admiral and assignment as the 16th Chief of Navy Reserve, a position in which, by her account, she led nearly 60,000 sailors; the SC Daily Gazette put the figure at about 59,000.[2][1][4] Wikipedia reports she was relieved of her duties on August 22, 2025. In her Ballotpedia survey she says Pete Hegseth removed her from her three-star position without explanation in 2025, and that she decided to continue her service in Congress. The Gazette reported that she retired in December 2025 after 35 years in the Navy, and that she and her husband moved to Mount Pleasant in October 2025.[2][1][4] She announced her candidacy in January 2026, in what the Gazette described as her first run for elected office. She finished first in the June 9 Democratic primary with 36.5% and won the June 23 runoff over Mac Deford with 52.1%.[2][3][1][4][5] Lacore volunteered with and joined the board of Wounded Wear, a nonprofit supporting families of service members killed or seriously injured. She says she and her husband, who also served in the Navy, raised six children.[2][1]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.