Trump’s Military Enemy Announces Run?
A former senior Navy official who was removed during a major Pentagon leadership shake-up is now stepping into electoral politics, announcing a run for Congress in South Carolina.
Nancy Lacore, a three-star admiral and former chief of the U.S. Navy Reserve, confirmed this week that she is seeking a seat in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District. Lacore, who served more than three decades in uniform after starting her career as a Navy pilot, said her dismissal from the Defense Department last year came without explanation.
In a video posted on social media, Lacore said she was fired alongside dozens of other senior military leaders during last summer’s overhaul at the Pentagon. She said the day she was removed was also the last day she wore her uniform, marking the end of a long military career.
Despite that setback, Lacore said she feels compelled to take action as economic pressures, national security concerns, and political division continue to affect American families.
“I can’t stand by while Americans—and South Carolinians—are struggling,” she said in her announcement.
Lacore has registered to run as a Democrat, but her message focused less on party politics and more on criticism of Washington as a whole. She argued that elected officials in Congress have become disconnected from voters and too focused on partisan battles rather than constitutional responsibilities.
“Our leaders in Congress are not working for us,” Lacore said. “They’ve lost the courage to act and to serve the people they represent.”
Her firing came during a broader Pentagon restructuring overseen by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, which included the removal of multiple senior officers. The Defense Department has declined to comment on Lacore’s claim that she was dismissed without cause.
Lacore is running for the seat currently held by Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican who is pursuing a run for governor and is not seeking reelection. The deadline for candidates to file is March 30, with primary elections scheduled for June 9.
The Democratic field also includes Coast Guard veteran Mac Deford, who previously lost the party’s primary in the district. On the Republican side, the race is expected to draw a crowded field, including physician Sam McCown and retired Air Force Colonel Alex Pelbath.
Despite the growing list of candidates, political analysts continue to view the district as a stronghold for Republicans. The Cook Political Report currently rates South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District as solidly Republican.
