Trump’s conservative retired Air Force colonel enters 2026 Congressional competition

Exclusive: Four years ago, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel launched a Republican campaign in South Carolina’s first congressional district on his last evacuation flight from Afghanistan four years ago.

Alex Pelbath, who calls himself “Trump Conservative” Rep. Nancy Mace, Who is bidding for governor rather than seeking reelection in the right-leaning coastal areas of South Carolina Lowlands.

“In combat, missions are everything. My mission is clear: provide President Trump “The reinforcements he needs make leadership proud of Lowlands and bring outsiders’ perspectives to Washington,” Perbas said in a statement shared with Fox News’ digital numbers.

First at Fox: Nancy Mace bids for South Carolina Governor

Pelbath has worked in the Air Force for 22 years and has flew over 4,000 hours, including more than 1,000 combat.

During our highly-watched period Withdraw from Afghanistan In former President Biden’s first year at the White House, Pelbath served as the commander of the aviation missionary for Kabul’s final evacuation, overseeing all relevant aircraft. He personally flew the last American plane out of Afghanistan.

“I’m the last one. But the mission is not over yet,” Perbas said in the statement and the accompanying video.

Marines assigned to the 24th Naval Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are waiting for flights on a flight at Al Udrid Air Force Base in Qatar. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by 1st Lieutenant Mark Andries | AP)

A press release from the Pelbath campaign highlighted that he helped shape two defense budgets and advised the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during his tenure at the Pentagon.

“I’ve witnessed the devastation caused by the weak leadership of professional politicians,” Perbart said in a statement. “I never intended to run for Congress, but I couldn’t stand it, and Washington pushed politics toward missionary work. The United States needs leaders to stand with President Trump and work to make America great again, stopping the awakening in our schools and in the military and fighting for lower-level families by ending the mobility of illegal immigration.”

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Pelbath, a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, lives on a pleasant mountain top South Carolina and his wife and their two children.

He became the second Republican candidate to compete in the competition after Marvin “Mark” Smith, a state member of the South Carolina House of Representatives in District 99.

Rep. Nancy Mays (RC (Tracy Glantz/State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

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Mace, who was first elected to the region in 2020, is one of five leading candidates running for Republican governor nomination, and is a limited-term Republican Governor Henry McMaster, who is from Palmetto State. The longest-appointed governor.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Gov. Pamela Evette, Rep. Ralph Norman and State Sen. Josh Kimbrell are also seeking reliable red state Republican gubernatorial nominations.