Tim Scott, Senate’s sole Black Republican, launches 2024 bid: ‘America is not a nation in decline’

The South Carolina Republican faces an uphill battle

Sen Tim Scott (R - South Carolina), the sole Black Republican in the United States Senate, announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president, joining a crowded field.

Mr Scott made the announcement on Monday in his home of North Charleston, where he referenced his humble upbringing by noting how his grandfather worked in South Carolina’s cotton fields.

“My family went from cotton to Congress in his lifetime. And it was possible because my grandfather had stubborn faith,” he said.

A senator since 2013, Mr Scott joins a crowded field that includes former president Donald Trump, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, who appointed him to become a Senate to fill the vacancy left by a retiring senator.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is also expected to join the Republican presidential primary.

As the Senate’s sole Black Republican, Mr Scott has spoken regularly about how the Republican Party can offer opportunities for marginalised communities. When Republicans passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Mr Scott included a provision to create “opportunity zones” that encouraged investment in low-income communities.

After police in Minneapolis killed George Floyd in 2020, he attempted to negotiate with Sen Cory Booker (D - New Jersey) to pass police reform, but negotiations ultimately fell through.

During his speech on Monday, he criticised the Biden administration and Democrats for denigrating police.

“And in Biden’s America, crime is on the rise and law enforcement is in retreat,” he said. “The far left is ending cash bail. They’re demonizing, demoralizing, and de-funding the police. I grew up in neighborhoods alongside people who ended up incarcerated or in a cemetery. We needed more public safety, not less!”

“America is not a nation in decline. But under Joe Biden, we have become a nation in retreat,” Mr Scott added.

At the same time, Mr Scott voted for most of Mr Trump’s cabinet nominees and judicial nominees, including all three Supreme Court justices Mr Trump nominated.

Upon Mr Scott’s announcement, Mr Trump praised the Senator while also taking a dig at Mr DeSantis, his arch rival.

“Good luck to Senator Tim Scott in entering the Republican Presidential Primary Race,” he posted on Truth Social. “It is rapidly loading up with lots of people, and Tim is a big step up from Ron DeSanctimonious, who is totally unelectable. I got Opportunity Zones done with Tim, a big deal that has been highly successful. Good luck Tim!”

During his announcement speech, Mr Scott refrained from mentioning Mr Trump, preferring instead to aim his attention at President Biden.

Mr Scott will likely make a play for South Carolina’s primary, the first Republican presidential contest in the South, which could siphon off votes from Ms Haley and Mr DeSantis. But his colleague Sen Lindsey Graham (R - South Carolina) and the state’s Gov Henry McMaster (R - South Carolina) have both endorsed Mr Trump.

Polling shows that Mr Scott faces a significant disadvantage. A Morning Consult survey showed he is tied with Texas Gov Greg Abbott and Mr Hutchinson at one per cent, far behind Mr DeSantis and Mr Trump.