Fired Navy Leader challenges Pentagon chief in South Carolina

Hegseth has become a prominent figure representing President Donald Trump’s controversial war in the Middle East, a conflict that has become a central issue in the midterm elections. Democrats have amplified their attacks on Hegseth, citing controversies including his use of a secure messaging app for military operations, a failed attempt to livestream an execution, and concerns about his focus on troops’ physical attributes, as well as his creation of an Office of Religious Affairs reporting directly to him.

Lacore has highlighted her own experience, describing how her career was cut short during a Pentagon personnel purge that critics allege disproportionately impacted women and Black senior military officers. This narrative has resonated with voters in the heavily Republican district, which Trump carried by a 13-percentage-point margin in 2024.

“People are just concerned about the injection of politics and religion into the military,” Lacore stated. “People who know the military know there is no place for either of those. It weakens the fabric that makes our military strong.”

Recent polls indicate a close race between Lacore and Republican nominee Jenny Honeycutt, with forecasters at The Cook Political Report recently shifting their prediction to “toss up.”

Political strategist Jeffrey Liszt noted that Hegseth’s controversies and his association with a struggling war effort make him a vulnerable target. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has vowed to remove Hegseth from his position if Democrats gain control, while former President Barack Obama has publicly criticized Hegseth’s focus on appearances.

Trump and Hegseth have struggled to counter these criticisms, with Trump recently defending Hegseth and promising a swift end to the Iran war, a statement he has repeated for nearly eight months. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell emphasized the team’s focus on “Peace Through Strength.”

Lacore’s district, encompassing coastal areas from Beaufort to Charleston, was previously considered a Republican stronghold. The retiring Republican incumbent, Nancy Mace, lost the Republican primary after a falling out with Trump over the release of Jeffrey Epstein files.

Democratic strategist John Moffett believes Lacore has a chance to win, stating, “If anybody can do it, then certainly Nancy Lacore can.”

Lacore intends to vote for Hegseth’s impeachment if elected, stating, “I certainly think he’s deserving.” Representative Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth on September 15, alleging constitutional violations related to the Iran war. House Speaker Mike Johnson avoided a vote by adjourning Congress early.