Jenny Honeycutt (R) and Mark Smith (R) are running in the Republican primary runoff for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District on June 23, 2026. Honeycutt and Smith were the top two finishers in the June 9 primary. Honeycutt received 22.1% of the vote and Smith received 18.0%. They advanced to a runoff after neither received more than 50% of the vote.
Both Honeycutt and Smith released new campaign ads after advancing from the primary. In a post-primary campaign ad, Honeycutt said, "I'm fighting to protect our home and our way of life. Unlike my opponent, I'm not running for a title. I'm running to serve you." A Smith campaign ad released after the primary said, "Jenny Honeycutt cast the deciding vote on a $4 billion tax hike. Mark Smith voted to cut your income taxes."
Incumbent Nancy Mace (R) ran for governor rather than seeking re-election. This is the first election in the 1st District without an incumbent since 2013.
Honeycutt was elected to the Charleston County Council in 2018. Honeycutt is an attorney and small business owner. Honeycutt's campaign website says she is "a lifelong Lowcountry resident and unapologetic conservative running for Congress to serve the people and protect the place she loves."
Smith was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2020 and served on the Mount Pleasant Town Council in 2013. Smith is president and chief executive officer of McAlister-Smith Funeral Homes, Inc. Smith's campaign website says he is "a conservative businessman who’s rolled up my sleeves, signed the front of the paycheck, and gotten things done."
As of June 2026, major election forecasters rated the general election Solid/Safe Republican. In 2024, Mace defeated Michael B. Moore (D) 58.2%–41.6%.
