In South Carolina, surprising many who believed Gov. Nikki Haley (R) would act after the first of the year, announced that she will appoint Rep. Tim Scott (R-SC-1) to replace outgoing Sen. Jim DeMint (R). Though it was widely reported that Haley was working from a list of five possible appointment candidates, it was viewed that the choice was really between Scott and former First Lady Jenny Sanford.
DeMint will reportedly resign prior to the new Congress convening on Jan. 3. This will allow Mr. Scott to be sworn in for a full session. He will likely run in the 2014 special election and, if successful, will earn the right to serve the entire four years of DeMint's remaining term. Scott would be eligible to seek a full six-year term in 2016. The Congressman enjoys the strong support of the most conservative elements of the South Carolina Republican Party and at least begins in a very strong position to become a consensus 2014 GOP candidate. He will become the first African American to represent South Carolina since Reconstruction.
Should the schedule for Senator-designate Scott taking office be as described above, then a special election cycle for his first District House seat will occur in March (party primaries) and April (special general). Gov. Haley will set the special election schedule once the resignations become official.
For more information, please contact David Ashinoff at (202) 547-5013 or ashinoffd@agc.org.
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