by Brandon Goldman @realbgold
On Sunday night, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott abruptly announced that he was suspending his presidential run. The announcement, which Scott made while on Fox News with Trey Gowdy, was so unexpected that apparently, many of the Senator’s donors and staff found out live.
“I think the voters, who are the most remarkable people on the planet, have been really clear that they’re telling me: ‘Not now, Tim.’ I don’t think they’re saying, Trey, no, but I do think they’re saying not now,” Scott told Gowdy on “Sunday Night in America.” “And so, I’m going to respect the voters, and I’m going to hold on and keep working really hard and look forward to another opportunity.”
The end of Scott’s campaign came after he failed to shine in the third presidential debate in Miami. He had also failed to gain any traction throughout the course of the primary race, having only around 2% support his entire campaign.
It is likely we will see Tim Scott supporters move to the Nikki Haley and Chris Christie camps. Despite having voted 90% with President Trump, Scott was branded as a more moderate candidate in the field; his kind affect and Southern charm were apparently not what Republican voters were looking for. Donald Trump remains far ahead in the polls—clearly still the leader of the party with no viable alternatives.
Posting on X, Nikki Haley wrote, “Tim Scott is a good man of faith and an inspiration to so many. The Republican primary was made better by his participation in it. South Carolina is blessed to continue to have him as our senator.”
Ron DeSantis commented, “Tim Scott is a strong conservative with bold ideas about how to get our country back on track. I respect his courage to run this campaign and thank him for his service to America and the U.S. Senate. I look forward to Tim continuing to be a leader in our party for years to come.”
Scott just won re-election in 2022, meaning his current senate term will continue into January 2029.