Senator Tim Scott, a Republican from South Carolina, has filed papers with the Federal Election Commission to run for President of the United States. If elected, he would be the first Black Republican President in the country’s history.
Scott’s decision to run for President doesn’t come as a surprise, as he had already formed a presidential exploratory committee in April. He plans to announce his candidacy in North Charleston, his hometown, on Monday.
During his campaign, Scott has been actively visiting key states that are crucial for early momentum in the Republican nominating contest. He has emphasized his Christian faith, conservative values, and unique perspective as the only African American on the Republican side of the US Senate. Moreover, he has highlighted his upbringing in a single-parent household in poverty.
On Thursday, Scott took to Twitter to express his vision for the country, stating that “American families are starving for hope” and that “we need to have faith in God, faith in each other, and faith in America.”
However, Scott faces an uphill battle as recent polling data indicates that he currently holds around two percent of support, which is far behind former President Donald Trump, the 54-point frontrunner in the race. Other candidates vying for the Republican nomination include Nikki Haley, Trump’s former United Nations ambassador and former governor of South Carolina, Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and Larry Elder, the first African American to enter the race and a well-known talk radio host.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Trump’s closest rival, is also expected to launch his own presidential bid in the coming week, which will further intensify the competition among Republican candidates.
Regardless of the challenges, Scott brings significant fundraising prowess to his campaign. Last month, he announced that he had $22 million in his Senate campaign account and initiated a $6 million ad buy in Iowa and New Hampshire, two crucial early primary states. The coming months will test Senator Tim Scott’s ability to gain traction and build support in his quest to become the first Black Republican President of the United States.
