Commentary by Andy Brack | Newly-elected members of Congress have been in Washington all week for a crash course on what comes with being the new kid on the block.
What’s particularly vexing is balancing the nation’s pressing, urgent zeal for change, as evidenced by voters’ overwhelming repudiation of the often cruel Trump agenda, with the fact that new members won’t have any real power until Jan. 3, 2027. In other words, they’re caught until then between a blue wave (give us change) and a hard place (telling people to be patient). And that can be frustrating for the people who sweated while knocking on doors, answering phones and urging their neighbors to vote.
Retired Navy Adm. Nancy Lacore, the Mount Pleasant Democrat narrowly elected to fill the First Congressional District seat of outgoing U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., says she understands that conflict.
In a short interview during orientation, she said she reminds herself that change won’t come overnight.
“One election isn’t going to fix everything that’s broken in Washington,” she said. “This transition period is a critical time to begin thinking about who I can work with and how to solve the Lowcountry’s most pressing problems so I can hit the ground running when I get to Congress.
“I’ve been proactively meeting with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to discuss where we can work together to bring down costs back home as soon as the new Congress starts. I’ve started the process of setting up offices across the district so my team is as accessible as possible to everyone in every county in the First District. It will require patience and compromise, but nothing will get in the way of my mission of making life safer, easier and more affordable for the Lowcountry.”
Here are more excerpts of the discussion:
Statehouse Report: What are people saying about your victory? Are you learning anything from their reactions?
Lacore: “I’m hearing the same thing I heard at every stop along the campaign trail from Republicans, Democrats and independents alike: our people are tired of the political theater in Washington and excited at the prospect of a true servant leader who will actually fight for them, even when the fight gets tough.
“There is real hope coursing through South Carolina right now. I’ve spent months listening to families of all backgrounds about how they’ve been hurt by the corruption and political games that have made life harder at home, and now, how hopeful they are after this election that something may actually change for the better. Hearing that from the community I call home serves as powerful inspiration to keep showing up, leading by listening and to never abandon the mission to serve.
ShR: How do you define accountability – especially in light of how you were treated after 35 years of service in the Navy?
Lacore: “I learned in the Navy that accountable leadership means putting service above self-interest and answering transparently for decisions that affect the lives of the people we serve. That’s how I operated in the military, and how I will continue operating in Congress.
“I believe that it’s time to hold this administration responsible for its corruption and policies that have raised prices for our families, especially the war in Iran. We need clear answers about how the war is impacting our service members and what it is actually costing taxpayers.
“I didn’t enter this race because of one person. I ran to continue my selfless service to this country. That means pursuing the accountability necessary to take our service men and women out of harm’s way, end the corruption in Washington, and stop this war that’s made life more expensive for families at home.”
ShR: What’s the biggest takeaway for you, personally, from the election?
Lacore: “Over the course of my campaign, I heard from so many people who trusted me with their personal stories: the parent struggling to make ends meet, the young person who couldn’t afford to buy their first home, the senior worried about their health care, the family concerned about the future of the beautiful place we call home.
“Every single one of those stories, and the weight of the trust it took to share them with me, will come with me to Congress. And every single one will be a constant reminder of why I ran: to put the Lowcountry’s needs back at the center of the conversation in Washington.
ShR: What’s been the most fun AND what’s been the most challenging since the election?
Lacore: “After the election’s over, the round-the-clock work doesn’t stop. Now is when members-elect begin the process of setting up the infrastructure we need to actually deliver on the promises we made on the campaign trail.
“It’s been a challenging undertaking to learn about all the rules and norms that come along with being a member of Congress, but rewarding to finally have the capacity to completely shift my thinking from campaigning to delivering on my camping promises. Running for Congress was never about me. I’m a problem-solver and I will fully commit myself to doing just that. I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to be the Lowcountry’s voice for change in Congress.”
Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report and the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com.
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