Jenny Costa Honeycutt, Nancy Lacore square off in SC-01 debate days before early voting

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WTOC) - Two candidates running for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District squared off in Charleston just days before early voting opens across the state.

Republican nominee Jenny Costa Honeycutt and Democratic nominee Nancy Lacore met for debate at WCSC, WTOC’s sister station in Charleston, in one of the final times voters could hear where they stand on key issues before heading to the polls.

The district stretches from Beaufort County to North Charleston, and someone new will represent it in Washington, D.C.

Both candidates had to make it through runoff elections in their respective parties to make it to this point.

Honeycutt throughout her campaign has put an emphasis on attacking government spending, economic growth and public safety.

Lacore has put an emphasis on bipartisan leadership, protecting the Lowcountry’s coastline and lowering housing costs.

“We need a leader who has experience who knows how to handle the federal processes and can deliver for the local governments that they serve. I have done that in office,” Honeycutt said.

“If you don’t understand the hardship, you don’t understand the urgency to fix it. I know how to listen. I know how to lead, and I know how to deliver results,” Lacore said.

Both women took jabs at one another during the debate.

“She rated Trump’s handling of the economy as an eight out of 10 because the stock market is doing well. Well, who cares about the stock market if you can’t afford prescriptions or groceries?” Lacore said.

“My opponent’s solution for all these problems is to raise your taxes, taxes on seniors on workers and on families that won’t work and we know it in the Lowcountry,” Honeycutt said.

The candidates also fielded questions from voters, presented by a panel that included WTOC’s Mike Cihla and Shea Schrader.

On how they would aim to lower the cost of living for families without raising the national debt:

“With respect to gas prices, we could certainly suspend the federal gas tax to provide temporary relief but if we want long-term solutions, we’re gonna have to look at long-term fiscal responsibility,” Honeycutt said.

“The easiest things that we can do right away first of all are to appeal these tariffs that have been applied with hatchet like precision. We also need to end this war,” Lacore said.

On how they would increase support for military families and veterans in the Lowcountry and beyond:

“I will be able to do a lot of good for this district to make sure that our bases stay open, makes sure the Naval Hospital stays open, and looks to expand our veterans care particularly down in Beaufort,” Lacore said.

“We have to make sure that veterans have better transition. We have to make sure that veterans have access to jobs when they transition into civilian life, and that their military experience is taken to account and value,” Honeycutt said.

And other questions regarding A.I., immigration, Flock cameras, and infrastructure just to name a few.

WATCH THE FULL DEBATE HERE.

In the end, both feel they did enough and have done enough to win in November to represent the Lowcountry in Washington D.C.

“With both of us there’s some clear contrast I mean my opponent just moved here last year and doesn’t know much about the Lowcountry and so I think it’s important for voters to hear that,” Honeycutt said.

“Like I know how to lead I know how to listen. I know how to deliver results and I have a plan to deliver results for the Lowcountry where I think it’s pretty clear that my opponent has a plan to protect data centers,” Lacore said.

Early voting opens across the Palmetto State on October 19th and will stay open until October 31st ahead of the November 3rd election.

Questions about polling places or early voting locations can be found here.