From the Washington Examiner: Alex Pelbath, the last U.S. pilot to fly out of Kabul, Afghanistan, is ready for a new mission: running a campaign to serve in the House of Representatives.
Pelbath, 46, launched his bid for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District on Monday, one day before the fourth anniversary of the terrorist attack on Abbey Gate that took the lives of 13 service members at the end of the 20-year war in Afghanistan.
The Republican said in an interview with the Washington Examiner on Tuesday that he intentionally timed his campaign launch to avoid clashing with the anniversary to honor the fallen soldiers.
“I did not want to make today about my political campaign launch,” Pelbath said.
The report explains that “Pelbath served as air mission commander for the final evacuation from Kabul and flew the last U.S. C-17 out of the country as the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan” in August 2021.
After serving 22 years in the Air Force, Pelbath is now a retired lieutenant colonel who is ready to get back in the fight by running for U.S Congress. He is running for the seat currently held by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who recently announced she is running for governor of South Carolina.
Blasting Joe Biden and former Gen. Mark Milley, Pelbath said he’s now seen first-hand that when “politicians like that put themselves before the country, then terrible things happen.”
Pelbath posted his first campaign video Monday morning and wrote:
I piloted the last mission out of Afghanistan, and saw up close the consequences of what happens when weak career politicians put themselves before the mission.
Congress needs leaders, not more politicians. That’s why I’m running for Congress to give President Trump the reinforcements he needs to Make America Great Again.
If you want someone in Congress who will help President Trump end the flow of illegals into our country, get woke nonsense out of our schools & military, and build an economy that works for Lowcountry families, join me at http://PelbathForCongress.com.
WATCH BELOW:
If you want someone in Congress who will help President Trump end the flow of illegals into our country, get woke nonsense out of our schools & military, and build an economy that works for Lowcountry families, join me at https://t.co/FK2nngUUKE
— Alex Pelbath (@PelbathForSC) August 25, 2025
Pelbath appeared on Fox News and Newsmax for interviews after announcing his run for Congress:
WATCH BELOW:
This morning, I announced on @FoxandFriends that I’m running to represent SC-01 in Congress. @POTUS needs battle-tested leaders by his side in Congress.
Getting his agenda through Congress will be a dogfight in the next two years. Republicans are going to have to be… pic.twitter.com/hssV4KWGQZ
— Alex Pelbath (@PelbathForSC) August 25, 2025
Four years after the botched Afghanistan withdrawal, the last pilot out of Kabul recalls the “terrible decision” that cost the lives of 13 service members pic.twitter.com/pRlQ2bQasj
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 26, 2025
My number one priority in Congress is to give President Trump the reinforcements he needs to see his agenda through.
We have to win in 2026, and I need you to help me get there >>> https://t.co/FK2nngUUKE pic.twitter.com/lY2HY5Ng1S
— Alex Pelbath (@PelbathForSC) August 26, 2025
“I’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences of career politicians’ weak leadership and this is why I’m running.”
Help me fight to see President Trump’s agenda through Congress in 2026 —> https://t.co/FK2nngUUKE@gregkellyusa pic.twitter.com/J3ig8CCXxF
— Alex Pelbath (@PelbathForSC) August 27, 2025
FIRST ON FOX: Retired Air Force colonel who piloted last flight out of Afghanistan reveals new mission https://t.co/ZCVMzzv42X
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 25, 2025
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