A retired US Air Force colonel, who commanded the last evacuation flight from Afghanistan four years ago, has kicked off a Republican campaign in South Carolina’s First Congressional District.
Alex Pervas, labeling herself a “Trump conservative,” is aiming to succeed the three-term GOP representative, Nancy Mace, who’s pursuing the governorship in the upcoming 2026 election instead of seeking re-election in this largely conservative coastal area of South Carolina.
“In combat, missions are everything,” Pervas stated. “My mission is clear: I will support President Trump, provide the leadership the Lowcountry deserves, and bring an outsider’s outlook to Washington.”
Pervas, a 22-year veteran of the Air Force with over 4,000 flight hours—more than 1,000 in combat—held the role of air mission commander during the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in President Biden’s first year. He personally piloted the last American plane out of Afghanistan.
“I was the last one to leave, yet the mission wasn’t finished,” Pervas remarked in her announcement and accompanying video.
Her campaign emphasized that she would have a hand in shaping two defense budgets while advising high-ranking military officials during her tenure at the Pentagon.
In her statement, Pervas expressed frustration over what she perceives as the failures caused by career politicians. “I hadn’t planned to run for Congress, but I can’t sit back while Washington prioritizes politics over mission. America requires leaders who will align with President Trump and advocate for making America great again by halting illegal immigration, tackling woke agendas in schools and the military, and ensuring the economy benefits families in the Lowcountry.”
Pervas, a graduate of the US Air Force Academy, resides in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, with her spouse and two children.
She is the second Republican to enter the race, following businessman and state legislator Marvin “Mark” Smith.
Nancy Mace, who was first elected in 2020, is among several candidates vying for the GOP nomination to succeed the term-limited Republican Governor Henry McMaster in what is expected to be a competitive primary.
