Race for Mace’s seat heats up ahead of runoff, Democratic candidates won’t debate
Tensions are high as Lowcountry Democratic candidate Nancy Lacore turns down public debates ahead of the fast-approaching June 23 primary runoff.
She and Mac Deford are running for the Democratic nomination to replace U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who declined to run for reelection in a failed bid for governor.
Lacore, the favorite Democrat on primary night by more than seven percentage points, will not participate in two debates previously scheduled by the Beaufort Democratic Party, Live 5 and WSAV, according to a campaign statement.
“As we enter the final stage of the runoff Nancy is focused on taking her message directly to voters,” Lacore’s campaign said. “She will not provide a free platform for her opponent to continue to spread misinformation.”
Deford, a local attorney, has taken to social media in recent days to question the source of Lacore’s campaign funds, highlighting donations from Democratic super PAC The Bench as proof of his opponent’s establishment-backing from “AI data center billionaires,” as one June 13 Facebook post read.
Lacore accused Deford’s rhetoric of mirroring “Republican talking points” in a campaign statement, and called the attacks “dishonest.” She says not debating is more about not giving Deford a chance to go on the public attack.
Deford’s claims do not appear unfounded.
The Bench, in combination with super PAC Majority Democrats, has raised more than $8 million for candidates across the country, with its largest donors being hedge fund power couple Stephen and Susan Mandel, as reported by CBS News in an April exclusive.
The Bench donated more than $4,500 to Lacore’s campaign ahead of the primary, and the Mandels personally contributed $14,000 before the pre-primary reporting period closed June 3, according to FEC data.
The organization, which is also supporting other competitive candidates such as rising Texas hopeful James Talarico, was investigated by independent outlet The Lever for its close financial ties to Majority Democrats, and its monetary opposition of progressive Democratic candidates.
South Carolina’s 1st Congressional district includes all or parts of six counties, including Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester and Jasper. It went blue in 2018 with the election of local lawyer Joe Cunningham, but has been staunchly Republican since, with Donald Trump carrying by 13 points in 2024. Democrats are hoping to change that in November.
Deford, a local attorney and Coast Guard veteran, is running on a message of government accountability and pragmatism.
His campaign has promised solutions over pageantry, particularly in regard to health care costs and general affordability.
While representing local governments in Mount Pleasant and Hilton Head Island, Deford litigated for the preservation of Gullah Geechee communities and environmental protections for coastal areas.
Lacore is a former Navy admiral and retired chief of the Navy Reserve who has centered her campaign on a few key issues, including bipartisan leadership, protecting the Lowcountry’s coastline and lowering housing costs.
She was dismissed from her position without explanation by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in August 2025, and moved to Mount Pleasant in October, reported News From the States. She has emphasized her record of service at the federal level.
Republican candidates Jenny Costa Honeycutt and State Rep. Mark Smith have had a relatively civil race in comparison, but will go head-to-head in a debate June 17 at 7 p.m. via Live 5 WCSC.
Race against the clock
The primary race, which at its most included 19 candidates, was a crowded one, and the battle continues to land nominations for a high-profile November election.
Early voting will span Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 to 5 p.m., but will not open Friday due to the Juneteenth federal holiday, giving the four runoff candidates little time to appeal to voters and donors.
Costa Honeycutt, a Charleston County councilwoman, had the least amount of money on hand of any candidate ahead of the primary, with $48,000, while Lacore led the pack with more than $400,000. Deford reported more than $140,000 on hand ahead of the primary, according to FEC data.
With strong support from her home county on election night, Costa Honeycutt finished the night with a 3-point edge over Smith in the primary race.
She has campaigned on a platform of prioritizing local needs, advocating for conservative stances on abortion and LGBTQ+ issues and opposing immigration. Costa Honeycutt is a fiscal conservative, and says she will combat financial waste in government programs.
Costa Honeycutt has been less forward with her support of President Donald Trump than Smith, who said he would have “President Trump’s back” in an Aug. 21 launch video, but a recent Facebook post praised the president’s actions in Venezuela after the assassination of alleged gang leader Niño Guerrero.
Smith has stated his campaign will dedicate $200,000 to voter outreach ahead of the runoff. He ended the preprimary filing period with more than $210,000 on hand, according to FEC data.
Smith is a Bamberg native who has emphasized his experience as a state lawmaker and business owner since entering the race in August 2025, shortly after Mace officially started running for governor.
A staunch Trump supporter, his campaign is centered on traditional conservative issues, backing the president’s policy decisions and supporting tax cuts. He served on the Mount Pleasant town council before being elected to the Statehouse.