Sen. Tim Scott Launches Presidential Campaign

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott formally launched his 2024 presidential campaign on Monday. Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, made his announcement in North Charleston, after an introduction by the second-highest-ranking Senate Republican, John Thune of South Dakota, who has endorsed him.  

Scott is attempting a more traditional conservative, positive message, a contrast to the current frontrunner, former President Donald Trump. Whether that resonates with the GOP base, particularly in an increasingly crowded field, remains to be seen.

According to the New York Times, "Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, are expected to enter the race in the coming days. Chris Sununu, the popular Republican governor of New Hampshire, hinted over the weekend that he was likely to throw his hat in the ring as well, scrambling the battle for the state with the first Republican primary. Mike Pence, Mr. Trump’s former vice president, is still mulling a run."

Scott will also have to deal with a rival from his own state. Former Gov. Nikki Haley announced her campaign back in February. The two could split much of the non-Trump vote in the South Carolina primary, one of the first events on the 2024 calendar.

As governor, Haley appointed Scott, then a member of the U.S. House, to the Senate in 2012, after Jim DeMint resigned. Scott then won a special election in 2014, and easily won reelection to full terms in 2016 and 2022.