Tim Scott is a Republican politician and businessman serving as the junior U.S. Senator from South Carolina. Before his senate role, he was a U.S. Representative, state representative, and Charleston city councilor. His career also includes experience in financial services prior to entering politics.
September 19, 1965: Birth of Tim Scott
Tim Scott was born on September 19, 1965.
1983: Tim Scott Attends Presbyterian College
Tim Scott began attending Presbyterian College on a partial football scholarship in 1983.
1984: Tim Scott's Car Accident
In 1984, a year before his senior year, Tim Scott had a car accident after falling asleep while driving.
1984: Thomas A. Farr's Role in Jesse Helms's Senate Campaigns
Thomas A. Farr played a role in Jesse Helms's 1984 Senate campaigns, which were later scrutinized for alleged attempts to suppress Black voter turnout.
1988: Tim Scott Graduates from Charleston Southern University
Tim Scott graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Charleston Southern University in 1988.
1989: Charleston County Approves At-Large Voting System
In 1989, Charleston County approved the use of at-large seats for council elections through a popular referendum.
1990: Thomas A. Farr's Role in Jesse Helms's Senate Campaigns
Thomas A. Farr played a role in Jesse Helms's 1990 Senate campaigns, which were later scrutinized for alleged attempts to suppress Black voter turnout.
1991: Department of Justice Memo Highlights Farr's Role in Alleged Voter Suppression
A 1991 memo from the Department of Justice under President George H.W. Bush's administration surfaced, stating that Thomas A. Farr played a central role in coordinating "ballot security" efforts during the 1984 North Carolina GOP and Helms for Senate campaigns. The memo alleged that Farr was involved in activities designed to challenge voters, particularly in predominantly Black precincts.
February 1995: Tim Scott Wins Special Election for Charleston County Council
Tim Scott won the February 1995 special election for the Charleston County Council at-large seat.
1995: Tim Scott Begins Service on Charleston County Council
Tim Scott started serving on the Charleston County Council in 1995.
1996: Tim Scott's Unsuccessful State Senate Run
Tim Scott unsuccessfully challenged Democratic State Senator Robert Ford in South Carolina's 42nd Senate district in 1996.
1997: Tim Scott Supports Posting of Ten Commandments
In 1997, Tim Scott supported posting the Ten Commandments outside the council chambers.
November 2000: DOJ Attempts to Negotiate with Charleston County Officials
In November 2000, the Department of Justice attempted to negotiate with Charleston County officials regarding concerns about racial discrimination in their voting system.
2000: Tim Scott Re-elected to Charleston County Council
Tim Scott was re-elected to the Charleston County Council in 2000.
2003: J.C. Watts Retires from Congress
J.C. Watts retired from Congress in 2003.
2004: Tim Scott Re-elected to Charleston County Council
Tim Scott was re-elected to the Charleston County Council in 2004.
2008: Tim Scott Elected to South Carolina House of Representatives
Tim Scott won the Republican primary for District 117 of the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2008.
2009: Tim Scott Receives B Grade from South Carolina Club for Growth
In the 2009–2010 scorecard, Tim Scott earned a B and a score of 80 out of 100 from the South Carolina Club for Growth.
2009: Tim Scott Elected to South Carolina General Assembly
Tim Scott was elected to the South Carolina General Assembly in 2009.
2010: Roland Burris Retires from the Senate
Roland Burris retired from the US Senate in 2010.
2010: South Carolina Association of Taxpayers Praises Tim Scott
The South Carolina Association of Taxpayers praised Tim Scott's stance against higher taxes in the 2009-2010 legislative session.
March 2011: Tim Scott Co-Sponsors Welfare Reform Bill
In March 2011, Tim Scott co-sponsored a controversial welfare reform bill.
July 2011: Tim Scott Introduces Legislation Limiting NLRB Power
Tim Scott introduced legislation in July 2011 that would prevent the National Labor Relations Board from ordering companies to relocate or shut down.
2011: Tim Scott Elected to US House of Representatives
In 2011, Tim Scott was elected to represent South Carolina's 1st congressional district in the US House of Representatives.
2011: Opposes Military Intervention in Libya
Tim Scott expressed his opposition to the 2011 military intervention in Libya.
2011: Tim Scott Advocates for Charleston Harbor Dredging Project
Tim Scott successfully advocated for federal funds for a Charleston harbor dredging project in 2011.
December 17, 2012: Nikki Haley Appoints Tim Scott to US Senate
South Carolina governor Nikki Haley appointed Tim Scott to the US Senate on December 17, 2012, to replace retiring Senator Jim DeMint.
2012: Scott Addresses Past Abstinence Pledge
In 2012, Tim Scott addressed questions about a previous public statement he made in the late 1990s regarding his pledge of abstinence until marriage, acknowledging that he was "not as well" following the pledge at that time.
2012: Receives Political Donations from Oil, Gas, and Coal Interests
Tim Scott's campaigns received over $540,000 in political contributions from interests related to oil, gas, and coal during the 2012 election cycle.
January 2, 2013: Start of First Term as Only African American Senator
On January 2, 2013, Tim Scott began his first term as the only African American senator, marking the beginning of a period where he was the sole Black senator.
February 1, 2013: End of First Term as Only African American Senator
On February 1, 2013, Tim Scott's first term as the only African American senator ended.
July 16, 2013: Start of Second Term as Only African American Senator
On July 16, 2013, Tim Scott began his second term as the only African American senator, marking the beginning of another period where he was the sole Black senator.
October 31, 2013: End of Second Term as Only African American Senator
On October 31, 2013, Tim Scott's second term as the only African American senator ended.
2013: Tim Scott Becomes Junior US Senator for South Carolina
In 2013, Tim Scott began his tenure as the junior United States Senator from South Carolina.
January 2014: Supports Legal Challenge to Affordable Care Act Ruling
In January 2014, Tim Scott showed his stance on the Affordable Care Act by signing 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.
2014: Tim Scott Wins Special Election for Senate Seat
Tim Scott won a special election in 2014, securing his position as US Senator.
2014: Receives Political Donations from Oil, Gas, and Coal Interests
Tim Scott's campaigns received over $540,000 in political contributions from interests related to oil, gas, and coal during the 2014 election cycle.
2016: Tim Scott Elected to Full Senate Term
Tim Scott was elected to a full term in the Senate in 2016.
2016: Receives Political Donations from Oil, Gas, and Coal Interests
Tim Scott's campaigns received over $540,000 in political contributions from interests related to oil, gas, and coal during the 2016 election cycle.
November 2017: Cosponsors Bill to Strengthen CFIUS's Oversight on Foreign Investments
In November 2017, amidst concerns about China's attempts to acquire U.S. technology companies, Tim Scott joined eight other senators in cosponsoring a bill designed to bolster the federal government's ability to scrutinize and potentially block foreign acquisitions of American businesses. The bill proposed enhancing the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) by empowering it to review even smaller investments and consider broader national security implications, such as the potential exposure of data belonging to U.S. citizens or if a deal could enable fraudulent activities.
2017: Urges Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement
In 2017, Tim Scott was one of 22 senators who signed a letter to President Donald Trump advocating for the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement, an international accord aimed at combating climate change.
2017: Proposes Opportunity Zone Designation in Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
In 2017, Tim Scott played a key role in shaping the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He put forward the concept of "opportunity zones," a policy designed to encourage investment in economically distressed communities.
2017: Scott Responds to Charlottesville Rally and Trump's Remarks
In 2017, Senator Tim Scott publicly addressed the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, condemning racism and expressing his disagreement with President Trump's remarks that there were "good people on both sides." He emphasized the need for clear moral authority from the president, particularly in the face of such events.
January 2018: Signs Letter Urging Preservation of NAFTA
In January 2018, Tim Scott was one of 36 Republican senators who signed a letter to then-President Donald Trump. The letter urged Trump to maintain the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) but to pursue a modernized version of the agreement.
July 2018: Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Make Lynching a Federal Hate Crime
In July 2018, Tim Scott, along with Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, took a stand against lynching by introducing a bipartisan bill to make it a federal hate crime.
November 2018: Opposes Thomas A. Farr's Nomination for Federal Judgeship
In a notable decision in November 2018, Tim Scott broke ranks with his party and opposed the nomination of Thomas A. Farr for a federal judgeship. Scott's opposition stemmed from allegations against Farr regarding voter suppression tactics targeting African Americans.
January 2019: Cosponsors Health Insurance Tax Relief Act
In January 2019, Tim Scott joined five other senators in cosponsoring the Health Insurance Tax Relief Act. This piece of legislation aimed to delay the implementation of the Health Insurance Tax for a period of two years.
February 2019: Votes Against Legislation to Prevent Partial Government Shutdown
In February 2019, Tim Scott was one of 16 senators to vote against a bill that would have prevented a partial government shutdown. This bill would have allocated $1.375 billion for barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border, a move he opposed.
August 2019: Announces Intention to Run for Reelection
In August 2019, Tim Scott publicly announced his intention to seek reelection in the upcoming election. He stated that if he were to win, this term would be his last.
April 2021: Delivers Republican Response to President Biden's Joint Address
In April 2021, Tim Scott was chosen to deliver the Republican response to President Joe Biden's Joint Address to Congress, a significant moment in his career.
May 28, 2021: Votes Against Investigating the 2021 U.S. Capitol Attack
On May 28, 2021, Tim Scott voted against the formation of an independent commission tasked with investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol that occurred on January 6, 2021.
2022: Wins Reelection Against Krystle Matthews
In 2022, Tim Scott successfully won his reelection bid for senator, defeating the Democratic nominee, Krystle Matthews.
2022: Votes Against Respect for Marriage Act
Tim Scott voted against the Respect for Marriage Act of 2022, legislation that aimed to provide federal statutory recognition of same-sex marriage.
2022: Tim Scott Re-elected to Senate
Tim Scott was re-elected to the Senate in 2022.
2022: Cosponsors PROTECT Kids Act
In 2022, Tim Scott, along with Senator Rick Scott (no relation), cosponsored the PROTECT Kids Act. This bill aimed to cut off federal funding to schools that did not inform parents about changes in their children's "pronouns, gender markers, or sex-based accommodations (including locker rooms and bathrooms)."
February 2023: Prepares for Presidential Run
Reports emerged in February 2023 that Tim Scott was preparing for a potential presidential run in the 2024 election. To gauge public interest and support, he announced a "listening tour." This tour commenced with an event in Charleston, South Carolina, coinciding with Black History Month. He then proceeded to hold events and deliver speeches in Iowa, strategically chosen as it's the first state to hold its Republican presidential primaries in 2024. Notably, other declared and potential Republican candidates were also holding events in Iowa at the same time as Scott.
April 12, 2023: Forms Exploratory Committee for Presidential Run
On April 12, 2023, Tim Scott took a concrete step towards a potential presidential campaign by establishing an exploratory committee. This action allowed him to test the waters and gauge the feasibility of a full-fledged presidential bid.
April 13, 2023: Tim Scott Forms Presidential Exploratory Committee
On April 13, 2023, Tim Scott formed an exploratory committee for a potential presidential run.
May 2023: Scott Shares Relationship Details
In May 2023, Tim Scott revealed that he was in a relationship, initially choosing to keep his girlfriend's identity private.
August 23, 2023: Participates in Republican Presidential Candidate Debate
On August 23, 2023, Tim Scott participated in a debate among Republican presidential candidates where he voiced his opinion on transgender athletes in sports.
November 12, 2023: Suspends Presidential Campaign
Tim Scott announced on November 12, 2023, during an appearance on Fox News's "Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy," that he was suspending his campaign for president.
November 2023: Participates in Republican Presidential Primary Debate and Addresses Iranian Conflict
During a Republican presidential primary debate in November 2023, Tim Scott stated his belief that a diplomatic resolution with Iran might be impossible, suggesting a more aggressive approach was needed to address Iranian proxy attacks in Iraq and Syria.
November 2023: Scott Publicly Announces Relationship with Mindy Noce
In November 2023, Tim Scott went public with his relationship with Charleston-based interior designer, Mindy Noce. They made a public appearance together at the third 2024 Republican primary debate.
2023: Votes Against Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
Tim Scott was among the 31 Senate Republicans who voted against the final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
2023: Expresses Support for 20-Week Federal Abortion Ban
In 2023, in an interview, Tim Scott stated that he would sign a 20-week federal abortion ban into law if he were elected president.
January 21, 2024: Scott and Noce Announce Engagement
On January 21, 2024, Tim Scott and Mindy Noce publicly announced their engagement.
2024: Iowa Hosts First Republican Presidential Primaries
Iowa will be the first state to hold its Republican presidential primaries in 2024.
2024: Tim Scott Runs for President
Tim Scott was a candidate in the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries.