Jenny Costa Honeycutt holds a clear edge in the SC-01 open-seat race because the coastal district retains a Republican tilt after redistricting and prior cycles, with forecasters rating it Likely or Lean Republican. Honeycutt, a Charleston County councilwoman and local attorney, secured the GOP nomination in the June runoff and benefits from strong name recognition plus outside spending by Republican-aligned groups. Nancy Lacore, a retired Navy vice admiral who moved to the area in 2025, won the Democratic nomination but trails in available polling and faces structural headwinds despite House Majority PAC’s $2.1 million ad buy and the DCCC’s Red to Blue designation. The Oct. 7 debate and early voting starting Oct. 19 provide the final windows for either campaign to shift momentum before the Nov. 3 general election.