South Carolina's 1st District 'in play' for 2026 midterms, says Democrats

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sees the open seat as competitive, with a bevy of candidates from both parties vying for the Lowcountry district.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has declared South Carolina's 1st Congressional District as "in play" for the 2026 midterm elections. The seat is currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who opted to run for governor instead of reelection, leaving the district open. The DCCC sees the district as competitive, with a number of Democratic and Republican candidates already announcing bids for the seat.

Why it matters

South Carolina's 1st District has historically leaned Republican, but the DCCC believes the open seat provides an opportunity for Democrats to flip the district. The race could be a key battleground in determining control of the House of Representatives in 2026.

The details

Several Democrats, including Mac Deford, Mayra Rivera-Vázquez, Nancy Lacore and Max Diaz, have already announced campaigns for the 1st District seat. On the Republican side, a bevy of candidates including State Rep. Smith, Logan Cunningham, Jay Byars, Charleston County Councilmember Jenny Costa Honeycutt, and others are vying for the party's nomination. The official filing deadline is March 30, and the primary election will be held on June 9, with the general election on November 3.

  • The official filing deadline for the race is March 30, 2026.
  • The primary election will occur on June 9, 2026.
  • The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

The players

Nancy Mace

The current Republican U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, who has opted to run for governor instead of seeking reelection.

Suzan DelBene

The chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which has declared the 1st District "in play" for the 2026 midterms.

Mac Deford

A Democrat running for the 1st District seat, who says South Carolinians are "looking for change" and that any path to victory requires "earning the trust of people across party lines."

Nancy Lacore

A Democratic candidate for the 1st District seat, who says the DCCC's designation shows "voters are ready to see a change in Congress."

Jenny Costa Honeycutt

A Charleston County Councilmember who is one of several Republicans running for the 1st District seat.

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What they’re saying

“House Republicans, including Nancy Mace, have seen the writing on the wall and are abandoning their House seats in droves. As Republicans continue to push their failing agenda that leaves everyday South Carolinians behind, Democrats are going to deliver real leadership to the Lowcountry this November.”

— Suzan DelBene, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair (abcnews4.com)

“South Carolinians are clearly looking for change. Voters here are independent-minded, pragmatic, and focused on results. Any serious path to victory in this district requires earning the trust of people across party lines.”

— Mac Deford, Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in South Carolina's 1st District (abcnews4.com)

“I meet voters every day who no longer recognize the Republican Party. The DCCC knows that we can win the seat and bring some much needed trust and integrity to Washington at a time when it's needed most.”

— Nancy Lacore, Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in South Carolina's 1st District (abcnews4.com)

What’s next

The official filing deadline for the race is March 30, 2026, and the number of candidates in the field is subject to change until then. The primary election will occur on June 9, 2026, and the general election will be held on November 3, 2026.

The takeaway

The 1st Congressional District in South Carolina has historically leaned Republican, but the open seat and the DCCC's designation of the district as "in play" suggest it could be a competitive battleground in the 2026 midterm elections. Both parties are fielding a number of candidates, and the race could have significant implications for the balance of power in the House of Representatives.