Navy admiral fired by Hegseth advances in South Carolina Democratic House primary
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Nancy Lacore, a three-star navy rear-admiral fired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last year, advanced to a Democratic runoff for South Carolina’s first congressional district.
- Lacore will face Mac Deford, a US Coast Guard veteran, in the 23 June runoff for the Democratic nomination; the seat is currently held by Republican Nancy Mace, who is not seeking re-election.
- Lacore, backed by veterans’ groups and Emily’s List, has raised over $1.4 million and is supported by the Democratic strategy group Bench, though the district is challenging for Democrats.
- Lacore’s firing was part of Hegseth’s broader purge of senior military officials perceived as politically misaligned, alongside the removal of diversity and inclusion programs in the military.
- Hegseth has justified these actions by criticizing previous promotion practices based on race and gender, emphasizing his goal to install what he calls “the right people” to advance his policies.