Jenny Costa Honeycutt’s Developer Ties Scrutinized in Congressional Race

Jenny Costa Honeycutt, a Republican and owner of the law firm Costa Honeycutt LLC, is currently campaigning for a congressional seat in South Carolina’s 1st District. Her firm is known for representing major developers, including contractors and project owners, a background that has influenced her actions as a Charleston County councilor.

As Honeycutt enters the race against Democratic candidate Nancy Lacore, a retired Navy officer, affordable housing emerges as a pivotal issue. Honeycutt’s firm openly states its specialization in aiding “construction professionals,” showcasing her deep ties to the development sector.

In 2021, Honeycutt strongly resisted a move by the Charleston Housing Authority to purchase land on the county’s upper peninsula for affordable housing. She argued the property should be sold to the highest bidder instead.

When the council eventually voted to designate the area for affordable housing, Honeycutt condemned the decision as a “cooked-up back-room deal involving who knows who.” Her stance gained further attention when she supported a referendum to extend a sales tax for expanding the Mark Clark I-526 Expressway, a project endorsed by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, a significant donor to her campaigns.

However, this project faced opposition from groups like the Coastal Conservation League, which warned of potential ecological damage to the Stono River. A local resident criticized Honeycutt and her peers for prioritizing the interests of developers over constituents. Ultimately, the referendum failed.

In the same year, Honeycutt opposed initiatives to protect historic preservation sites from development. She voted against a 10-year and a 2-year moratorium on construction in these areas, but both were approved despite her opposition.

More recently, Honeycutt supported a tax incentive plan offering up to $4.5 million in tax breaks to developers, reflecting her ongoing support for the development industry. Her congressional campaign has attracted over $44,000 in contributions from developers and real estate entities, with billionaire developers Benjamin and Kelly Navarro contributing $10,000.

Her campaign has also received more than $28,000 from contractors and construction firm employees. Despite highlighting high housing costs as a concern on her campaign website, Honeycutt offers no specific policies to address them. In contrast, Lacore presents an eight-point plan to reduce housing costs, including measures against corporate landlords and tax credits for first-time homebuyers.

Current polls indicate Honeycutt maintains a lead in the race, though it remains a close contest.