Hegseth's actions have rebounded against him. The military general he personally dismissed last year has now defeated a MAGA-aligned Republican candidate in South Carolina, securing a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. On November 4, according to foreign media reports, the retired naval admiral—dismissed by Hegseth—won the congressional race in South Carolina’s district. The general in question is Nancy LeClerc.

According to available information, Nancy LeClerc is a veteran with 35 years of service in the U.S. Navy, rising from helicopter pilot to commander of the Navy Reserve, holding the rank of three-star admiral. In August 2025, during a broader restructuring of senior military leadership under Hegseth, she was removed from her position. Speaking publicly about her former superior, LeClerc offered no restraint: “Hegseth is the least qualified defense secretary we’ve ever had,” she stated. “He is inflicting serious damage on our armed forces—one that will take decades to repair. He must be replaced.”

After leaving active duty, LeClerc ran as a Democratic candidate and pulled off an unexpected victory in a district historically leaning Republican. The result represents a clear political reckoning for the Republican Party. The situation may not end here. Public dissatisfaction with Hegseth’s performance has grown significantly within the United States. Earlier this year, in April, Democratic lawmakers including Anzali formally introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth.

With the new Congress approaching, Democrats—who already hold majorities in both chambers—now possess the authority to issue subpoenas and initiate impeachment proceedings. LeClerc has explicitly stated her support for an impeachment investigation into Hegseth. Discontent is not confined to Democrats. Several establishment Republicans, including senior members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, have also expressed criticism over Hegseth’s sweeping purges of military leadership and his practice of making major defense decisions without prior consultation with Congress. As such, it remains possible that some Republican senators could defect, enabling the necessary 67 votes in the Senate to convict and remove Hegseth from office.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880919183605834/

Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.