A fired Navy admiral claims wrongful dismissal by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and now launches a Democrat bid to flip a solid Trump district in South Carolina.
Story Snapshot
- Retired three-star Admiral Nancy Lacore, ousted in August 2025 amid Hegseth’s Pentagon purge, announces run for SC-1 on January 20, 2026.
- Lacore frames her firing as “without cause,” positioning herself as a victim to rally veterans and Democrats in the right-leaning Charleston-area district.
- Immediate endorsements from EMILYs List and The Bench boost her in a crowded primary against the GOP field, led by proven conservatives.
- District opened by Rep. Nancy Mace’s gubernatorial bid; Trump won SC-1 decisively in 2020 and 2024, making a Democrat flip a long shot.
Hegseth’s Leadership Purge Targets Pentagon Inefficiencies
Pete Hegseth removed Admiral Nancy Lacore as chief of the 60,000-person Navy Reserve in August last year. This action was part of a broader purge that dismissed Rear Adm. Milton Sands of Naval Special Warfare Command and Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse of the Defense Intelligence Agency.
The Pentagon offered no public reason, countering Lacore’s claim of dismissal without cause. Such reforms align with Trump’s mandate to eliminate inefficiencies and disloyalty in military leadership, echoing past shakeups like the 2018-2019 officer firings under Defense Secretary Mattis.
Navy admiral Nancy Lacore removed by Pete Hegseth announces run for Congress https://t.co/sre50WK1q5
— The Hill (@thehill) January 21, 2026
Lacore’s 35-Year Career Meets Political Backlash
Nancy Lacore served 35 years in the Navy, rising from helicopter pilot to three-star admiral overseeing the Navy Reserve. On January 20, she announced her Democrat candidacy for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District via X post and campaign video.
Lacore stated, “After decades of service… I was removed from my position without cause. I still have more to give… and I am not done serving.”
She joins a crowded Democrat primary, including Coast Guard veteran Mac Deford, who lost the 2024 primary, while facing no direct response from Hegseth or the Department of Defense on her allegations.
SC-1 District Leans Red Amid Mace’s Exit
South Carolina’s 1st District, encompassing Charleston and coastal Lowcountry, remains solidly Republican after Trump’s victories in 2020 and 2024. Incumbent Rep. Nancy Mace vacated the seat for her gubernatorial run, opening it for the June 2026 primaries.
GOP contenders include retired Air Force Lt. Col. Alex Pelbath, pilot of the final Kabul evacuation flight, alongside Mark McCown, Wes Reo, and Annie Smith.
Democrats view SC-1 as flippable like Joe Cunningham’s 2018 wave win, but current dynamics favor conservatives protecting President Trump’s agenda.
EMILYs List and The Bench quickly endorsed Lacore, with The Bench claiming, “Nancy is the only candidate in a position to win.” These pro-choice groups aim to build coalitions in tough districts.
Lacore appeals to veterans by highlighting her service, yet her narrative boosts Democrat attacks on Trump’s military policies. Conservatives see Hegseth’s moves as essential for a lean, mission-focused force, free from woke distractions that plagued the Biden era.
Democrat Veteran Recruitment Signals Midterm Push
Lacore’s bid mirrors other Democrat military veterans like Space Force Col. Bree Fram, discharged over transgender policy enforcement. This pattern energizes left-wing recruitment targeting suburban GOP seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. Short-term, it tests SC-1 flip viability and amplifies purge backlash. Long-term advances could fuel debates on military politicization and retention.
Veterans and military families in the district weigh steady conservative leadership against opportunist claims, prioritizing reforms that strengthen national defense over personal grievances.
Left-leaning outlets portray Lacore as a baseless firing victim, while right-leaning coverage frames the purge as necessary policy enforcement. No polling has been conducted yet in this early stage.
Conservatives must rally behind proven patriots like Pelbath to hold the line in Trump-won territory, countering Democrat waves rooted in distorted narratives of military reform.
Sources:
Navy admiral removed by Hegseth announces run for Congress – ABC News
Fired under Trump, former military officers launch Democratic bids for Congress – Fox News
