{"id":1649,"date":"2026-06-16T18:07:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T18:07:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=1649"},"modified":"2026-06-16T18:07:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T18:07:12","slug":"race-for-maces-seat-heats-up-ahead-of-runoff-democratic-candidates-wont-debate-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=1649","title":{"rendered":"Race for Mace\u2019s seat heats up ahead of runoff, Democratic candidates won\u2019t debate"},"content":{"rendered":"<article><!-- --><!-- --><!-- WPS-5038 -- removed the script from WPS and added the placeholder for trinity player --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- CONTENT --><!--[--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Tensions are high as Lowcountry Democratic candidate Nancy Lacore turns down public debates ahead of the fast-approaching June 23 primary runoff.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=1648\">Race for Mace\u2019s seat heats up ahead of runoff, Democratic candidates won\u2019t debate<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs we enter the final stage of the runoff Nancy is focused on taking her message directly to voters,\u201d Lacore\u2019s campaign said. \u201cShe will not provide a free platform for her opponent to continue to spread misinformation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Deford, a local attorney, has taken to social media in recent days to question the source of Lacore\u2019s campaign funds, highlighting donations from Democratic super PAC T<u>he Bench<\/u> as proof of his opponent\u2019s establishment-backing from \u201cAI data center billionaires,\u201d as one June 13 Facebook post read.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Lacore accused Deford\u2019s rhetoric of mirroring \u201cRepublican talking points\u201d in a campaign statement, and called the attacks \u201cdishonest.\u201d She says not debating is more about not giving Deford a chance to go on the public attack.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Deford\u2019s claims do not appear unfounded.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>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 A<u>pril exclusive.<\/u><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>The Bench donated more than $4,500 to Lacore\u2019s campaign ahead of the primary, and the Mandels personally contributed $14,000 before the pre-primary reporting period closed June 3, according to F<u>EC data.<\/u><\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>The organization, which is also supporting other competitive candidates such as rising Texas hopeful James Talarico, was <u>investigated by independent outlet The Lever<\/u> for its close financial ties to Majority Democrats, and its monetary opposition of progressive Democratic candidates.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>South Carolina\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Deford, a local attorney and Coast Guard veteran, is running on a message of government accountability and pragmatism.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>His campaign has promised solutions over pageantry, particularly in regard to health care costs and general affordability.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=1646\">Deputies responded to suspected suicide but now search for a killer, SC cops say<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s coastline and lowering housing costs.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<h2>Race against the clock<\/h2>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Costa Honeycutt has been less forward with her support of President Donald Trump than Smith, who said he would have \u201cPresident Trump\u2019s back\u201d in an Aug. 21 launch video, but a recent Facebook post praised the president\u2019s actions in Venezuela after the assassination of alleged gang leader Ni\u00f1o Guerrero.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>A staunch Trump supporter, his campaign is centered on traditional conservative issues, backing the president\u2019s policy decisions and supporting tax cuts. He served on the Mount Pleasant town council before being elected to the Statehouse.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/usmovingexpertss.com\/?p=1645\">Deputies responded to suspected suicide but now search for a killer, SC cops say<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nancy Lacore declines debates ahead of the Lowcountry runoff, as Mac Deford targets her funding and candidates race to sway voters before early voting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1647,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interesting"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Race for Mace\u2019s seat heats up ahead of runoff, Democratic candidates won\u2019t debate - 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