50-529: Timothy Eugene Scott (born September 19, 1965) is an American businessman and politician serving as the junior United States senator from South Carolina since 2013. A member of the Republican Party , he previously served as a member of the Charleston County Council, a state representative , and a U.S. Representative . He also worked in financial services before entering politics. After
100-487: A Bachelor of Science degree in political science . Upon graduating from college, Scott worked as an insurance agent and financial adviser, a stepping stone toward starting his insurance agency, Tim Scott Allstate. Scott ran in a February 1995 special election for the Charleston County Council at-large seat vacated by Keith Summey, who had resigned upon being elected mayor of North Charleston . Scott won
150-503: A King James version of the Commandments to the wall. Shortly thereafter, the ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State challenged this in a federal suit. After an initial court ruling that the display was unconstitutional, the council settled out of court to avoid incurring more legal fees. Of the costs of the suit, Scott said, "Whatever it costs in the pursuit of this goal
200-427: A nursing assistant , and Ben Scott Sr. When Scott was seven years old, his parents divorced, leaving him and his older brother, who later became a sergeant major in the U.S. Army , to grow up in working-class poverty with their mother, who often worked double shifts to support her family. After his parents divorced, Scott, his mother, and his older brother moved into his maternal grandparents' house. There, he formed
250-635: A bill on race and police reform. Amid skeptical reactions from others in the black community, he tweeted, "Not surprising the last 24 hours have seen a lot of 'token' 'boy' or 'you're being used' in my mentions" and "Let me get this straight ... you DON'T want the person who has faced racial profiling by police, been pulled over dozens of times, or been speaking out for YEARS drafting this?". Scott's 106-page Justice Act included: The bill lacked provisions demanded by Democrats, including restrictions on qualified immunity . Nancy Pelosi called Scott's bill "inadequate", and said Republicans "understand that there's
300-737: A close bond with his grandfather. As a freshman at North Charleston's R.B. Stall High School , he failed several subjects, prompting his mother to send him to summer school, which he had to finance by working at a local movie theater. During this time, he met John Moniz, the owner of a nearby Chick-fil-A . Their initial interaction over a sandwich at Scott's workplace evolved into a substantial mentorship. Moniz educated Scott on individual responsibility, conservative business principles, philanthropy, and finance. From an early age, Scott enjoyed sports and excelled at football. He overcame racial prejudice in high school, securing election as student body vice president in his junior year and student body president as
350-401: A need to get something done. ... They admit that and have some suggestions that are worthy of consideration—but so far, they were trying to get away with murder, actually—the murder of George Floyd." Senate Minority Whip Democrat Dick Durbin called the bill "token" legislation, although he later apologized to Scott. Two Democrats and one Independent senator who caucuses with Democrats broke with
400-406: A senator who has served for 12 years is more senior than one who has served for 10 years. Because several new senators usually join at the beginning of a new Congress, seniority is determined by prior federal or state government service and, if necessary, the amount of time spent in the tiebreaking office. These tiebreakers in order are: When more than one senator had such office, its length of time
450-549: A senior. A month before his senior year, he fell asleep while driving, resulting in a car accident that dimmed his prospects as a football recruit. Nevertheless, he attended Presbyterian College from 1983 to 1984 on a partial football scholarship. He was introduced to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes , an encounter that led him to his Christian faith, which became a central part of his life. Scott later transferred to Charleston Southern University , where he graduated in 1988 with
500-481: A site for manufacturing for that reason. In South Carolina Club for Growth 's 2009–2010 scorecard, Scott earned a B and a score of 80 out of 100. The South Carolina Association of Taxpayers praised his "diligent, principled and courageous stands against higher taxes." Scott entered the election for lieutenant governor but switched to run for South Carolina's 1st congressional district after Republican incumbent Henry Brown announced his retirement. The 1st district
550-439: A special election. The seniority date for an appointed senator is usually the date of the appointment, although the actual term does not begin until they take the oath of office. An incoming senator who holds another office, including membership in the U.S. House of Representatives , must resign from that office before becoming a senator. A senator's seniority is primarily determined by length of continuous service; for example,
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#1732873585738600-667: Is a private university in North Charleston, South Carolina , United States. It is affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention ( Southern Baptist Convention ). Charleston Southern University was chartered in 1960 and became the Baptist College of Charleston , where it offered its first classes in the education building of the First Baptist Church of North Charleston. The university offered
650-470: Is based in Charleston and includes approximately the northern 3/4 of the state's coastline (except for Beaufort and Hilton Head Island , which were included in the 2nd District after redistricting). Scott finished first in the nine-candidate June 8 Republican primary, receiving a plurality of 32% of the vote. Fellow Charleston County Councilman Paul Thurmond was second with 16%. Carroll A. Campbell III,
700-482: Is combined with a comprehensive liberal arts foundation which is designed to develop problem-solving and communication skills . Charleston Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate degrees. It is affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention ( Southern Baptist Convention ). Charleston Southern
750-430: Is important to me, as a minority female, that Congressman Scott earned this seat, he earned this seat for the person that he is. He earned this seat with the results he has shown." Scott ran to serve the final two years of DeMint's term and won. In January 2014, he signed an amicus brief in support of Senator Ron Johnson's legal challenge to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management 's Affordable Care Act ruling. Scott
800-830: Is located off Exit 205B on I-26 in North Charleston, South Carolina . It is situated on 300 acres (121 ha), formerly the site of a rice and indigo plantation. B. Keith Faulkner is the fourth and current president of Charleston Southern University. He is the first alumnus of the school to serve as president. Beyond the classroom, students can participate in a variety of campus activities including academic clubs, service organizations, intramural athletics and campus ministries. Intramural athletic activities include flag football, basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and more. Campus ministries include Cru , Fellowship of Christian Athletes , Campus Outreach, and Elevate. Single students under 21 years of age are encouraged to live on campus. There are at least four dining facilities on campus; one
850-497: Is used to break the tie. For instance, Jerry Moran , John Boozman , John Hoeven , Marco Rubio , Ron Johnson , Rand Paul , Richard Blumenthal , and Mike Lee took office on January 3, 2011. The first two senators mentioned had served in the House of Representatives: Moran had served for 14 years and Boozman for nine. As a former governor, Hoeven is ranked immediately after the former House members. The rest are ranked by population as of
900-524: Is worth it." In January 2001, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Charleston County, South Carolina for racial discrimination under the Voting Rights Act , because its council seats were based on at-large elections, meaning that the whole county voted to fill each seat. DOJ had attempted to negotiate with county officials on this issue in November 2000. Justice officials noted that at-large seats dilute
950-410: The 2000 census . These ranked from 36th to 43rd in seniority when the 118th United States Congress convened. If two senators are tied on all criteria, the one whose surname comes first alphabetically is considered the senior senator. This happened with Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock , both of Georgia, who were sworn in on January 20, 2021. Because they were both newly elected senators from
1000-808: The 2024 elections, Scott was elected chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee . He chose Senators Marsha Blackburn , Ted Budd , Katie Britt , and Pete Ricketts , and Senator-elect Jim Banks as vice chairs. Scott will also chair the Senate Banking Committee at the start of the 2025 term. Scott served on the Charleston County Council from 1995 to 2009. He then served in the South Carolina General Assembly from 2009 to 2011 and represented South Carolina's 1st congressional district in
1050-460: The Republican response to President Joe Biden 's Joint Address to Congress . On May 28, 2021, Scott voted against creating an independent commission to investigate the 2021 U.S. Capitol attack . In August 2019, Scott said, "I plan to run for reelection, but that will be my last one, if I run." He was reelected in 2022 , defeating Democratic nominee Krystle Matthews . Scott led the drafting of
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#17328735857381100-530: The Senate. The senator in each U.S. state with the longer time in office is known as the senior senator ; the other is the junior senator . This convention has no official standing, though seniority confers several benefits, including preference in the choice of committee assignments and physical offices. When senators have been in office for the same length of time, a number of tiebreakers, including previous offices held, are used to determine seniority. By tradition,
1150-478: The U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013. Nikki Haley , then governor of South Carolina, appointed Scott to the U.S. Senate in 2013 to fill a vacancy. He retained his Senate seat after winning a special election in 2014 and was elected to a full term in 2016 and reelected in 2022 . He became the first African-American senator from the Southern United States to be directly elected . Scott
1200-414: The case of senators elected in a run-off election occurring after the commencement of a new term, or a special election, their seniority date will be the date they are sworn in and not the first day of that Congress. A senator may be simultaneously elected to fill a term in a special election and elected to the six-year term which begins on the upcoming January 3. Their seniority is that of someone chosen in
1250-608: The county seats were apportioned as nine single-member districts. The Department of Justice won the case. A new districting plan replaced the at-large method of electing the Charleston City Council. The federal court found that the former method violated the Voting Rights Act, following a lawsuit brought by the Justice Department. Scott was then elected to the Charleston County Council by District 3, rather than by
1300-551: The district. According to the Associated Press , Scott "swamped his opponents in fundraising, spending almost $ 725,000 during the election cycle to less than $ 20,000 for his November opponents". He won the general election against Democratic nominee Ben Frasier 65–29%. With this election, Scott and Allen West of Florida became the first African-American Republicans in Congress since J. C. Watts retired in 2003. Scott also became
1350-531: The first African-American Republican elected to Congress from South Carolina in 114 years. Scott was unopposed in the primary and won the general election against Democratic nominee Bobbie Rose, 62–36%. Scott declined to join the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). He recognized the efforts of the CBC but said "My campaign was never about race." In March 2011, Scott co-sponsored a welfare reform bill that
1400-870: The first instruction at a post secondary level in 1965 and awarded its first degree in 1967. In 1990, the South Carolina Baptist Convention voted to change the university's name from Baptist College at Charleston to Charleston Southern University. The university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor's and master's degrees. CSU students can choose from more than 50 undergraduate majors and graduate programs such as business, education, criminal justice, computer science, cyber security, Christian studies, graphic design, nursing, physical therapy, physician assistant, etc. Each degree program
1450-572: The first state to vote in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries. Other announced and suspected Republican candidates also hosted events in Iowa at the same time as Scott. On April 12, 2023, Scott formed an exploratory committee to potentially run for president. On May 19, he filed with the Federal Election Commission to run for president. He formally announced his candidacy on May 22, in North Charleston, South Carolina . Scott announced
1500-461: The following: The beginning of an appointment does not necessarily coincide with the date the Senate convenes or when the new senator is sworn in. In the case of senators first elected in a general election for the upcoming Congress, their terms begin on the first day of the new Congress. For most of American history this was March 4 of odd-numbered years, but effective from 1935 the 20th Amendment moved this to January 3 of odd-numbered years. In
1550-414: The issue was not a question of ethnicity, stating that voters in black precincts in the county had rejected Scott as a candidate for the council. The lawsuit noted that because of the white majority, "white bloc voting usually results in the defeat of candidates who are preferred by black voters." The Department added that blacks live in compact areas of the county and could be a majority in three districts if
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1600-588: The liberal blog ThinkProgress said would terminate food stamps to families when a family member participates in a labor strike; the Republican Study Committee denied that charge. He introduced legislation in July 2011 so that the National Labor Relations Board could not order "any employer to relocate, shut down, or transfer employment under any circumstance". The NLRB had recently opposed
1650-556: The longest serving senator of the majority party is named president pro tempore of the Senate , the second-highest office in the Senate and the third in the line of succession to the presidency of the United States . The United States Constitution does not mandate differences in rights or power, but Senate rules give more power to senators with more seniority. Generally, senior senators will have more power, especially within their own caucuses . There are several benefits, including
1700-478: The only African American member of the county council, said of this case and the alternative of electing council members from single-member districts : I don't like the idea of segregating everyone into smaller districts. Besides, the Justice Department assumes that the only way for African-Americans to have representation is to elect an African-American, and the same for whites. Obviously, my constituents don't think that's true. The Department of Justice alleged that
1750-411: The party to support Scott's bill, but, ultimately, Democrats used the filibuster to block it; it received 55 of the required 60 votes. In February 2023, it was reported that Scott was preparing for a presidential run. He announced a "listening tour" that would include a Black History Month event in Charleston, South Carolina , as the tour's first stop and then hosted events and speeches throughout Iowa,
1800-471: The port and jobs would be created. During the summer 2011 debate over raising the U.S. debt ceiling , Scott supported the inclusion of a balanced budget amendment in the debt ceiling bill, but after a day full of meetings and prayer he went from leaning No on the bill to voting No. The House Republican Steering Committee appointed Scott to the Committee on Transportation and the Committee on Small Business. He
1850-402: The relocation of a Boeing production facility from Washington state to South Carolina. Scott successfully advocated for federal funds for a Charleston harbor dredging project estimated at $ 300 million, saying the project was neither an earmark nor an example of wasteful government spending. He said the project was merit-based and in the national interest because larger cargo ships could use
1900-463: The same state, with no prior government service, no other tie-breaking criteria could be used. The Senate's official records, as well as the Democratic Caucus, thus consider Ossoff, whose name comes first alphabetically and elected to a full six-year term, as the senior senator. Only relevant factors are listed below. For senators whose seniority is based on their state's respective population,
1950-456: The seat as a Republican, receiving nearly 80% of the vote in the white-majority district. He became the first black Republican elected to any office in South Carolina since the late 19th century. In 1996, Scott challenged Democratic State Senator Robert Ford in South Carolina's 42nd Senate district but lost 65–35%. Scott was reelected to the Charleston County Council in 2000. In 2004, he
2000-669: The son of former Governor Carroll A. Campbell Jr. , was third with 14%. Charleston County School Board member Larry Kobrovsky ranked fourth with 11%. Five other candidates had single-digit percentages. A runoff was held on June 22 between Scott and Thurmond. Scott was endorsed by the Club for Growth, various Tea Party movement groups, former Alaska governor and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin , Republican House Whip Eric Cantor , former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee , and South Carolina Senator and Minuteman Project founder Jim DeMint . He defeated Thurmond 68–32% and won every county in
2050-2045: The state population ranking is given as determined by the relevant United States census current at the time that they began service. Republican (49) Democratic (47) Independent (4) 1 (1789) 2 (1791) 3 (1793) 4 (1795) 5 (1797) 6 (1799) 7 (1801) 8 (1803) 9 (1805) 10 (1807) 11 (1809) 12 (1811) 13 (1813) 14 (1815) 15 (1817) 16 (1819) 17 (1821) 18 (1823) 19 (1825) 20 (1827) 21 (1829) 22 (1831) 23 (1833) 24 (1835) 25 (1837) 26 (1839) 27 (1841) 28 (1843) 29 (1845) 30 (1847) 31 (1849) 32 (1851) 33 (1853) 34 (1855) 35 (1857) 36 (1859) 37 (1861) 38 (1863) 39 (1865) 40 (1867) 41 (1869) 42 (1871) 43 (1873) 44 (1875) 45 (1877) 46 (1879) 47 (1881) 48 (1883) 49 (1885) 50 (1887) 51 (1889) 52 (1891) 53 (1893) 54 (1895) 55 (1897) 56 (1899) 57 (1901) 58 (1903) 59 (1905) 60 (1907) 61 (1909) 62 (1911) 63 (1913) 64 (1915) 65 (1917) 66 (1919) 67 (1921) 68 (1923) 69 (1925) 70 (1927) 71 (1929) 72 (1931) 73 (1933) 74 (1935) 75 (1937) 76 (1939) 77 (1941) 78 (1943) 79 (1945) 80 (1947) 81 (1949) 82 (1951) 83 (1953) 84 (1955) 85 (1957) 86 (1959) 87 (1961) 88 (1963) 89 (1965) 90 (1967) 91 (1969) 92 (1971) 93 (1973) 94 (1975) 95 (1977) 96 (1979) 97 (1981) 98 (1983) 99 (1985) 100 (1987) 101 (1989) 102 (1991) 103 (1993) 104 (1995) 105 (1997) 106 (1999) 107 (2001) 108 (2003) 109 (2005) 110 (2007) 111 (2009) 112 (2011) 113 (2013) 114 (2015) 115 (2017) 116 (2019) 117 (2021) 118 (2023) Charleston Southern University Charleston Southern University ( CSU )
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2100-592: The suspension of his campaign on Fox News 's Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy on November 12, 2023. Scott believes that federal spending and taxes should be reduced, with a Balanced Budget Amendment and the FairTax respectively implemented for spending and taxes. Seniority in the United States Senate United States senators are conventionally ranked by the length of their tenure in
2150-410: The voting strength of the significant African American minority in the county, who in 2000 made up 34.5% of the population. They had been unable to elect any "candidates of their choice" for years. Whites or European Americans made up 61.9% of the county population. County officials noted that the majority of voters in 1989 had approved electing members by at-large seats in a popular referendum . Scott,
2200-707: The whole county. In 2008, incumbent Republican State Representative Tom Dantzler decided to retire. With support from advisors such as Nicolas Muzin , Scott ran for his seat in District 117 of the South Carolina House of Representatives and won the Republican primary with 53% of the vote, defeating Bill Crosby and Wheeler Tillman. He won the general election unopposed, becoming the first Republican African-American State Representative in South Carolina in more than 100 years. Scott supported South Carolina's right-to-work laws and argued that Boeing chose South Carolina as
2250-435: Was a candidate in the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries , forming an exploratory committee on April 13, 2023. He filed Federal Election Commission paperwork to run for president on May 19 and formally declared his candidacy three days later. Scott suspended his campaign on November 12 of that year due to low poll numbers. Tim Scott was born on September 19, 1965, in North Charleston, South Carolina , to Frances,
2300-472: Was later appointed to the Committee on Rules and relinquished his other two assignments. On December 17, 2012, South Carolina governor Nikki Haley announced she would appoint Scott to replace retiring Senator Jim DeMint , who had previously announced that he would retire from the Senate to become the President of The Heritage Foundation . Scott is the first African American U.S. senator from South Carolina. He
2350-439: Was one of three black U.S. Senators in the 113th Congress , alongside Mo Cowan and later Cory Booker (and the first since Roland Burris retired in 2010 after succeeding Barack Obama ). He is the first African American to be a U.S. senator from the Southern United States since Reconstruction . During two periods, first from January 2, 2013, until February 1, 2013, and again from July 16, 2013, until October 31, 2013, Scott
2400-486: Was reelected again with 61% of the vote, defeating Democrat Elliot Summey (son of Mayor Keith Summey). Scott served on the Charleston County Council from 1995 until 2009, becoming chairman in 2007. In 1997, he supported posting the Ten Commandments outside the council chambers, saying it would remind members of the absolute rules they should follow. The county council unanimously approved the display, and Scott nailed
2450-478: Was reelected to a full term in office. He was endorsed by the Club for Growth. In July 2018, Scott and Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris introduced a bipartisan bill to make lynching a federal hate crime . In February 2019, Scott was one of 16 senators to vote against legislation preventing a partial government shutdown and containing $ 1.375 billion for barriers along the U.S.–Mexico border that included 55 miles of fencing. In April 2021, Scott delivered
2500-461: Was the only African American senator. He and Cowan were the first black senators to serve alongside each other. News media reported that Scott, Representative Trey Gowdy , former South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster , former First Lady of South Carolina Jenny Sanford , and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Director Catherine Templeton were on Haley's short list to replace DeMint. Of choosing Scott, Haley said, "It
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