CHARLESTON, S.C. — Democrat Nancy Lacore holds a narrow lead in the race for the Charleston-area 1st Congressional District seat, but the contest with Republican Jenny Costa Honeycutt looks headed for a recount.
Full returns posted by the South Carolina Election Commission at about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday showed Lacore at 49.65% and Honeycutt at 48.64%, a gap of 3,308 votes. Libertarian Bill Reeside took 1.65%, or 5,346 votes. The count ran late after a technical problem in Dorchester County forced workers to scan more than 5,000 ballots a second time.
A mandatory recount follows if the final margin holds within 1%. Lacore, a retired Navy vice admiral, claimed victory before midnight and said she welcomed a recount. Honeycutt, who has served two terms on Charleston County Council, told supporters it was too early to call with so many ballots outstanding.
A Lacore win would flip the seat Republican Nancy Mace held for three terms before her unsuccessful run for governor. Outside groups from both parties poured more than $11.5 million into the race for the coastal seat, which covers much of the Tri-County area.
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Filed under: Charleston SC Politics News
