Mark Smith holds the leading position in the SC-01 Republican primary as a sitting state representative with established conservative credentials on tax cuts, regulatory relief, and local infrastructure priorities. Recent April GOP forums highlighted his edge, including a straw poll win of 34 percent that placed him ahead of Alex Pelbath. Pelbath, a retired Air Force colonel, has drawn support through emphasis on military leadership and criticism of career politicians, though he trails in fundraising and name recognition within the district. The June 9 primary features a crowded field of eleven candidates, with the open seat created by Nancy Mace’s gubernatorial bid concentrating attention on Smith’s legislative record and Pelbath’s outsider profile as the primary factors shaping current trader assessments.