The south carolina delegation
congressional officials …
South Carolina is a mid-sized and electorally stable congressional delegation.
Of the nine members in the 2022-2023 class, eight are Republicans, and only one is a Democrat. Two are minority representation through the end of the year. Eight are male, and one is female, the first woman to graduate from The Citadel. Four are lawyers, one has a Master’s degree, and none have a doctorate.
The University of South Carolina has conferred five degrees - the highest any .
The average tenure for the delegation currently is 5.5 terms, assuming everyone completes their service by the end of 2024. Three of the members have military service, and the longest-serving member has been in Congress for 16 terms.
One member of the South Carolina delegation is a freshman. Neither of the Senators is up for re-election in 2024.
When you look at these profiles, we have given each a letter grade for their effort this Congress, based on various factors, which you will find in What Is Thomas Looking For? These letter grades are probably pretty familiar to you if you have ever been a school student (we hope the answer to that is we all have!)
If you see a meager score for a particular member, it will probably be due to one or two key factors: ethics challenges or anti-democratic behavior.
Republicans have been hit hard on their lack of pushback on former President Trump and their support of election denying in the 2020 presidential campaign. The unanswered soaring deficit on their watch, the dismantling of allied relationships around the globe, and opposition to funding anti-authoritarian initiatives. The denial of climate change weighs heavily on us as well. We make no secret that transparency and Government in the Sunshine are essential to us, and we further argue that some have been awful stewards of this category. For example, four of the nine South Carolina delegation members voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results the same evening as Trump supporters stormed the United States Capitol.
Democrats have been hit hard for their lack of progress on critical matters because they control the United States Senate and have a razor-close margin in the U.S. House of Representatives. They have not been innovative or necessarily insistent on finding rational, reasonable solutions to the problems plaguing the American public today. We want to see more and better.
Both have been dinged for being too partisan and not collaborative where evident. Being too doctrinaire, in our opinion, or an obstructionist to good government in the 21st century, such as Lindsey Graham has been doing, does not get one a good grade from Thomas. In our opinion, being too doctrinaire
We also indicate what we believe might be the outcome of these Members’ 2024 elections today. The overwhelming majority of House members were re-elected in 2022.
Our prospect ratings fall into three categories:
Safe Bet - which means what it means. These members of Congress are running strong and look to be overwhelming prospects for re-election at this time. However, we reserve the right to re-categorize their chances if necessary.
It’s A Race - means this race is too close to call, and we can not reasonably predict who will win this seat.
Nudging - means the seat is leaning one way or another for this candidate. We have just a small number of current members of Congress in this category. Stay tuned!
So, would you like to meet these fascinating South Carolinians? If so, keep reading on!
what is thomas looking for?
There are no vulnerable races in South Carolina that we are watching for 2024.
the senators
Credit: US Senator Lyndsey Graham
United States Senator lindsey graham (r)
Lindsey Graham is a four-term United States Senator from the state of South Carolina. He is the senior senator and serves on the Appropriations Committee; the Environment and Public Works Committee; the Budget Committee; and the Judiciary Committee. Both his undergraduate and law degrees were earned from the University of South Carolina. The Senator is not married and does not have children.
Thomas Take: Not up for re-election in 2024.
Thomas Rank: F
Credit: US Senator Tim Scott
United states senator tim scott (r)
South Carolina’s junior senator is serving his second full term after being appointed by then-Governor Nikki Haley to fill an open seat in 2012. A former member of the House, Senator Scott serves on the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee; the Finance Committee; the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee; the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee; and the Select Committee on Aging. A candidate for the Republic nomination for President in 2024, Senator Scott withdrew from the race in late 2023 and has strongly endorsed Donald Trump’s bid for the White House in 2024. The Senator holds a degree from Charleston Southern University, is not married, and has no children.
Thomas Take: Not up for re-election in 2024.
Thomas Rank: C
the representatives
Credit: US Rep. Nancy Mace
district 1 - u.s. rep. nancy mace (r)
Congresswoman Nancy Mace represents the east coast area of South Carolina around Charleston and Hilton Head. A two-term member of the House, Congresswoman Mace earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and was the first woman to graduate from The Citadel. She is the mother of two and serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Oversight and Reform Committee, and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The Congresswoman spoke out strongly against President Trump for his January 6th role but also voted not to impeach the then-President.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: C
district 2 - U.S. Rep. joe wilson (r)
Joe Wilson represents the area of South Carolina that runs from Columbia west to the Georgia state line. An eleven-term member of the House, Congressman Wilson serves on the Armed Services Committee, the Education and Workforce Committee, and the Foreign Affairs Committee. A graduate of Washington & Lee University, Wilson also holds a law degree from the University of South Carolina. An Army Reserves and Army National Guard member, Congressman Wilson generated some controversy in 2009 when he yelled, “You lie!” at President Obama during his joint session speech discussing Obamacare. Wilson quickly apologized for the outburst which the President accepted. He is married and the father of four.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: D
Credit: US Rep. Joe Wilson
Credit: US Rep. Jeff Duncan
District 3 - U.S. Rep. jeff duncan (r)
Representing the northwest corner of the state where South Carolina meets Georgia and North Carolina, Congressman Jeff Duncan is a seven-term member of the House who serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee. Married and the father of three, Duncan graduated from Clemson University. He has announced that he will not be seeking re-election in 2024.
Thomas Take: Not Running for Re-Election in 2024 (Open Seat) - Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: D
District 4 - U.S. Rep. william timmons (r)
Three-term member Congressman William Timmons holds an undergraduate degree from George Washington University, a graduate degree from New York University, and a law degree from the University of South Carolina. Married, Congressman Timmons represents the upstate area of the Palmetto State which includes the cities of Greensville and Spartanburg. Representative Timmons serves on the Financial Services Committee and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: D
Credit: US Rep. William Timmons
Credit: US Rep. Ralph Norman
district 5 - U.S. rep. ralph norman (r)
Representing north-central South Carolina, three-term Congressman Ralph Norman is a former real estate developer who graduated from Presbyterian College. He serves on the Oversight and Reform Committee, the Budget Committee, and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Congressman Norman is married and the father of four.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: D
district 6 - U.S. rep. James clyburn (d)
The House Majority Leader from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023, Jim Clyburn is serving his sixteenth term in Congress and probably single-handedly delivered the South Carolina primary results to a struggling Joe Biden in 2016 effectively ensuring his presidential election several months later A retired educator, Congressman Clyburn is a widower and father of three. He graduated from South Carolina State University and serves on no committees currently. His district covers the Columbia and Charleston communities.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: A
Credit: US Rep. James Clyburn
Credit: US Rep. Russell Fry
district 7 - U.s. Rep. russell fry (R)
U.S. Representative Russell Fry is a freshman member of Congress who represents coastal South Carolina in the Florence area. Married and the father of one, Fry graduated from the University of South Carolina and has a law degree from the Charleston School of Law. He serves on the Judiciary and Oversight and Accountability committees.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: B