Moore and Deford Battle for Democratic Congressional Nod in Charleston

Mount Pleasant Democrats, Michael B. Moore and Mac Deford, are reportedly voicing strong reasons why they believe they can retake the First Congressional District seat currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace. The district, six years ago, was flipped by local lawyer Joe Cunningham when it became open, but was swiftly reclaimed in 2020 by Mace by a slight margin. In 2022, a GOP-led gerrymandering of the district provided Mace with a stronger foothold, however, in 2023, a federal panel declared the redrawn lines as an unconstitutional gerrymandering. As a result, voters are currently in anticipation of hearing the ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Candidates Speak Out

Both, Deford and Moore, projected confidence about the chance for a Democrat to retake the seat. Mac Deford emphasized the necessity of a two-fold strategy to win – making connections with Democratic voters, especially those in underserved communities, and rallying bipartisan support. Deford stressed the moderate political landscape of the Lowcountry, dismissing Mace’s claim of it being ‘Trump country’. He cited his garnered support from Democrats, independents, and Republicans, including previous Mace supporters.

Michael B. Moore pointed out that the First Congressional District remains a swing district. According to him, Mace has been weakened in recent times, and the ongoing GOP primary has become chaotic. Moore expressed confidence in his campaign resonating with voters and vouched for standing up for working families, safeguarding reproductive freedom, and strengthening democracy.

Candidates’ Priorities

Moore, a former business executive and the founding head of the International African American Museum, is running his campaign on building upon his ancestors’ public service legacy, prioritizing people over politics, and defending American democracy. He underlined his focus on strengthening the economy, securing reproductive freedom, and making proactive policies to address climate change.

Deford, a local government lawyer and veteran, cited his commitment to public service as his readiness for the job. He talked of his grandmother’s death through illegal abortion pre-Roe v. Wade, underlining his commitment to reproductive freedom. He also emphasized addressing wage disparities, affordable housing, and senior citizens’ financial security. Lastly, he advocated for a Green America – investing in renewable energy, committing to clean water, and reducing pollution.

Dynamics of the Race

The filing for the seat opens on March 16 and will end on April 1. Mac Deford and Michael B. Moore will be competing against each other in the Democratic primary scheduled for June 11. The same day GOP primary is expected to have Mace face off against at least two Republicans — Dan Hanlon of Hilton Head Island, and former gubernatorial candidate Catherine Templeton of Mount Pleasant. The latest federal campaign reporting data as of Dec 31, 2023, revealed active fundraising operations for three candidates – Handlon and Templeton announced their candidacies this year, and reporting is not yet due. As per the reported data, Deford raised just over $150,000 and has $25,574 on hand. Mace raised $1.5 million and has $1.1 million on hand, while Moore raised just over $460,000 with $105,637 on hand.