Tim Scott said he would love to see Trey Gowdy enter the Ralph Norman-linked race to replace Lindsey Graham in South Carolina’s Aug. 11 special election. Scott made the appeal Wednesday during an event remembering Lindsey Graham, saying he has been trying to recruit Gowdy for the seat.
Tim Scott and Trey Gowdy
Scott said, “You probably will be surprised to hear this, but I have an affinity for Trey Gowdy.” He added, “Trey would be an amazing senator for South Carolina. I'm not sure that, as he says, he could afford the alimony or the pay cut,” and then said, “But I would love to see him. He's happily married, by the way.”
He also said, “I think he would make a great representative,” and, “I can't think of a better person that, I think, represents the heart of South Carolina than Trey Gowdy.” The comments put Gowdy back at the center of a race Scott is publicly trying to shape before the Aug. 11 contest.
Gowdy's path after 2019
Gowdy served in the House for eight years and retired in 2019 before becoming a host on. Scott said he is trying to get him interested in the job, but Gowdy has been pretty clear that he is not looking for the job or asking for it.
That leaves Scott pushing for a candidate who has not agreed to run. His pitch also reflects the practical tradeoff Scott named out loud: a Senate bid would have to pull Gowdy away from a job he already has and a life he has not said he wants to leave.
Russell Fry and Donald Trump
Scott also pointed to Russell Fry as someone who “probably is getting the president's enthusiasm.” He said he had not seen or heard of an endorsement yet coming out of President Donald Trump.
The race is moving toward the Aug. 11 special election with at least one public recruitment effort and one possible Trump-backed contender in view. Scott’s effort narrows the question to whether Gowdy will step in or stay out.
