South Carolina 1st District
Nancy Mace (R) gave up the seat to run for governor. 3 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.DiscussJenny Costa Honeycutt
Republican · Charleston County councilwoman and attorney
ALiberty Score A100 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Honeycutt has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Honeycutt.
Raised $1,291,996 since January 2025: 70% from people, 25% from PACs and other committees, 4% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Nancy Lacore
Democrat · retired Navy vice admiral, former Navy Reserve chief
FLiberty Score F52 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Lacore has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Lacore.
Raised $4,865,630 since January 2025: 94% from people, 5% from PACs and other committees, 1% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Jenny Costa Honeycutt. Jenny Costa Honeycutt: A, 100 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count. Nancy Lacore: F, 52 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count.
Voting in South Carolina: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Jenny Costa Honeycutt, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Honeycutt, so the grade above comes from this list: what Honeycutt has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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In the October debate she said the US must finish the job and remove the threat of a nuclear Iran.
“And we have to get rid of the threat of a nuclear Iran.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing action to end Iran's nuclear threat is the with side of the Iran regime measure.
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She said she is pro-female sports and wants her daughter and similar athletes on an even playing field.
“I am pro-female sports, and I want to make sure that my daughter and athletes similar to her are on an even playing field.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping women's sport female is with liberty on equal rights.
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Her platform page says she is committed to keeping men out of women's sports.
“Jenny is committed to keeping men out of women's sports”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping women's sport female is with liberty on equal rights.
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She said she is fully in support of the military and that it needs to be military-ready, while also reviewing what it pays for.
“obviously, I am fully in support of our military, and we need to be military-ready”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing a ready, supported military is with liberty on defense.
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In the June runoff debate she said she does not support amnesty for people in the country illegally.
“I do not support amnesty.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Rejecting amnesty is with liberty on borders.
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Her platform page says she will ensure the border is secure and stop criminal illegal aliens from coming in.
“ensuring our border is secure”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Securing the border is with liberty on borders.
Nancy Lacore, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Lacore, so the grade above comes from this list: what Lacore has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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In a joint statement with another retired rear admiral about the extended deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln for operations against Iran, she calls the war ill-conceived and unnecessary.
“This ill-conceived and unnecessary war is having terrible consequences for our national security and taking a serious toll on our sailors, Marines, and military families.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Condemning American military action against Iran is against liberty on tyranny. The release names the operations against Iran as the subject of the joint statement.
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She calls for eliminating the tariffs she says raise costs and supports targeted trade enforcement instead of blanket tariffs.
“Support targeted trade enforcement instead of blanket tariffs.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing blanket tariffs is with liberty on free markets, the same for any candidate.
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She would offer all Americans a non-profit insurance option like Medicare.
“Offer all Americans a non-profit insurance option like Medicare, an insurance that prioritizes patients over profits.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
An optional public plan alongside private insurance is not health care for all run by the government, so it does not settle one side.
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On a newspaper questionnaire she said she would cut waste while keeping commitments to national defense, among other programs.
“I would support reducing waste, fraud and abuse throughout the federal government while maintaining commitments to Social Security, Medicare, veterans services and national defense.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Maintaining national defense funding rather than cutting it is with liberty on defense.
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She says Congress must be involved before war, without naming a budget.
“When Congress is not involved, we end up in another unconstitutional forever war that has done nothing but drive up costs for Americans and put our servicemen and women in harm’s way unnecessarily”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Her words name no country or funding level, so they do not settle one side.
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Her campaign names a path to citizenship in the heading of its immigration priority.
“Securing our Border and Providing Pathways to Citizenship”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A path to citizenship for people here illegally is against liberty on borders.
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She says the country can secure the border and enforce the law while upholding its values.
“We can secure the border, enforce the law, and uphold our values at the same time.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Securing the border and enforcing the law is with liberty on borders.
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She says ICE must follow due process, wear body cameras, display badges and leave faces uncovered.
“ICE officers must follow due process and should be required to wear body cameras, display badges and leave their faces uncovered.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
A demand for ICE accountability, not an end to ICE or to deportations, does not settle one side.
Also on the ballot
Bill Reeside (Libertarian).
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
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South Carolina 1st District
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