{"id":2545201,"date":"2026-01-20T15:50:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T20:50:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-navy-official-fired-by-hegseth-running-for-maces-seat-in-south-carolina\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T15:50:51","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T20:50:51","slug":"top-navy-official-fired-by-hegseth-running-for-maces-seat-in-south-carolina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-navy-official-fired-by-hegseth-running-for-maces-seat-in-south-carolina\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Navy official fired by Hegseth running for Mace&#8217;s seat in South Carolina"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftop-navy-official-fired-by-hegseth-running-for-maces-seat-in-south-carolina%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2545201&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A retired three-star admiral, Nancy Lacore announced a Democratic bid for South Carolina&#8217;s 1st Congressional District, seeking the seat being vacated by Rep. Nancy Mace, who is running for governor. Lacore served as the 16th chief of the Navy Reserve and was dismissed in August 2025 during a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >high-profile leadership shake-<\/a>up led by War Secretary Pete Hegseth &#8211; an action the management called a &#8220;meritocracy drive,&#8221; while critics called it a political purge. She emphasizes her naval leadership,managing a $20 billion enterprise and commands in locations including Naval District Washington,Camp Lemonnier,and Kabul,as qualifications to represent the coastal district around Charleston. Her platform bills itself as people-first, focusing on affordability, expanding economic opportunity, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-honors-americas-fallen-heroes-in-memorial-day-address\/\" title=\"Biden pays tribute to fallen heroes on Memorial Day.\">supporting service members<\/a>; she says, &#8220;I&#8217;ve served my whole life &#8211; and I&#8217;m not done yet.&#8221; lacore joins a crowded Democratic primary and will face Republican contenders for the open seat.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Top Navy official fired by Hegseth running for Mace&rsquo;s seat in South Carolina<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2479041\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Nancy Lacore, a three-star admiral and former chief of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-defense\/\">Navy<\/a> Reserves, is the latest Democratic candidate to enter the race for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/south-carolina\/\">South Carolina<\/a>&lsquo;s 1st Congressional District in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/midterm-elections\/\">2026 midterm elections<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Lacore announced her bid on Tuesday for the seat held by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) since 2020. Mace is vacating her position to run for governor of the Palmetto State.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4425472\/roy-cooper-successfully-lobbied-by-anti-ice-group-dark-money-ties\/\">Roy Cooper vetoed legislation following pressure campaign from anti-ICE group with dark money ties<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4425626\/michael-whatley-north-carolina-senate-campaign-sees-support-tank-poll\/\">Michael Whatley&#8217;s North Carolina senate campaign sees support tank: Poll<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4425255\/julia-letlow-trump-launches-senate-challenge-bill-cassidy\/\">Julia Letlow, endorsed by Trump, launches Senate challenge to Bill Cassidy<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The retired admiral&rsquo;s entry into the race follows her removal in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2025\/08\/22\/hegseth-fires-head-of-defense-intelligence-agency\/\">high-profile leadership purge <\/a>headed by War Secretary Pete Hegseth in August 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Lacore was removed as the 16th chief of the Navy Reserve on Aug. 22, exactly one year after taking command of the 59,000-person force.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Her dismissal came alongside several other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/plan-to-rename-confederate-base-names-moves-forward\/\" title=\"Plan To Rename Confederate Base Names Moves Forward\">senior military leaders<\/a> in what the administration described as a &ldquo;meritocracy drive,&rdquo; though critics labeled it a political purge.<\/p>\n<p>Notable leaders removed alongside Lacore included Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, Defense Intelligence Agency director, and Rear Adm. Jamie Sands, commander of Naval Special Warfare Command.<\/p>\n<p id=\"h-despite-her-dismissal-lacore-noted-her-naval-background-and-leading-a-20-billion-enterprise-navigating-the-department-of-defense-bureaucracy-has-prepared-her-to-represent-the-coastal-district-which-includes-much-of-charleston-nbsp\">Despite her dismissal, Lacore noted that her naval background, leading a $20 billion enterprise, and navigating the War Department bureaucracy have prepared her to represent the coastal district, which includes much of Charleston.<\/p>\n<p id=\"h-i-ve-served-my-whole-life-and-i-m-not-done-yet-lacore-said-on-her-campaign-website\">&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve served my whole life &mdash; and I&rsquo;m not done yet,&rdquo; Lacore said on her campaign website.<\/p>\n<p>Her <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nancylacore.com\/\">website<\/a> outlines her campaign platform as people-first, focusing on affordability, expanding economic opportunity, and honoring commitments to service members.<\/p>\n<p>She has positioned her candidacy as a responsibility to the next generation of South Carolinians.<\/p>\n<p>Lacore joins a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/2026_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_South_Carolina\">crowded Democratic primary<\/a> field that includes former Hilton Head General Counsel Mac Deford and FedEx courier Robert Beers. Other candidates include aircraft mechanic Max Diaz, former South Carolina Democratic Party Vice Chairwoman Mayra Rivera-Vazquez, businessman Ben Frasier, and waiter Matt Fulmer.<\/p>\n<p>On the other side of the aisle, Republican candidates, such as Charleston County Councilwoman Jenny Costa Honeycutt and physician Sam McCown, are vying for the nomination to succeed Mace.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4424381\/boomer-texas-millennial-candidates-battle-ages\/\"><strong>OK BOOMER: TEXAS MILLENNIAL CANDIDATES WELCOME BATTLE OF THE AGES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Lacore previously served as the commandant of Naval District Washington and held command roles at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, and in Kabul, Afghanistan.<\/p>\n<p>She is betting that her record of military leadership will resonate with voters in a district that has a deep-rooted connection to the armed forces.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fired Navy admiral Lacore runs for Mace&#8217;s seat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2545202,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25230858169435.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[45173,35392,71518],"class_list":["post-2545201","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-hegseth","tag-nancy-mace","tag-navy-official"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25230858169435.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2545201","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2545201"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2545201\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2545205,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2545201\/revisions\/2545205"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2545202"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2545201"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2545201"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2545201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}