Jay Byars
SC-01 Republican nominee?
$164.0K
JUN 24, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleCouncil Member
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age54 years old (Jan 14, 1972)
GenderMale
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LocationSouth Carolina
BackgroundDorchester County Council member
EducationB.S., Clemson University
Notable personal detailsJames Lex Byars III is a Dorchester County Council member (District 7) in South Carolina and a Republican candidate for U.S. House in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District. He has worked in the mortgage industry since 2002 and has been described as a former Dorchester School District Two science teacher and baseball coach. He earned a B.S. from Clemson University and an MPA from the University of Georgia.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports cutting federal spending, eliminating waste, and restoring fiscal sanity; embraces the America First agenda and pledges to cut reckless spending and pay down the debt. No explicit campaign promise to raise taxes or enact progressive tax increases was found in campaign materials reviewed.
Immigration & Border
Supports securing the U.S. border and prioritizing enforcement as part of an "America First" agenda while positioning immigration as an economic and budget concern. Endorses policies to protect citizens first and to finish what President Trump started on border security.
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Climate & Energy
The candidate describes himself as a “conservative conservationist” who has led local efforts to protect marshes, coastlines and public lands but does not present detailed national climate or energy policy positions on his campaign site. Public reporting about his campaign emphasizes land and coastal protection while showing no explicit endorsement of aggressive emissions-reduction measures or specific energy policies.
News
Jay Byars has entered the race for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District as a Republican candidate. He says the campaign is focused on growth, traffic, infrastructure strain, and affordability in the Lowcountry. The seat is drawing a crowded field ahead of the 2026 House election, making the race highly competitive.
Growth and affordability are challenges in SC’s Lowcountry
Meet the 17 candidates running to replace SC’s Nancy Mace
Republicans building an advantage in redistricting, but how much?
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262026
LatestCycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements