South Carolina Republican congressman-elect Tim Scott, a member of 2010’s The Root 100, is wasting no time in his chase for congressional glory. Today, the 45-year-old announced that he is running for the Elected Leadership Committee’s freshman position. The committee serves as a gathering place for House Republicans to plan policy and messaging, and this is the first year a freshman representative will have a seat at the table.
In an e-mail to his colleagues, Scott wrote, “I am writing to ask for your consideration for the Freshman Leadership (E.L.C.) position that has been created for our class. … My goal would be to ensure that the principles that our class stands for – fiscal responsibility, limited government, and a transparent and accountable Congress – remain front and center in the new Congress.”
Politico reports that Scott will likely run against South Dakota’s Kristi Noem. If so, the ELC would stand to benefit greatly from either winner. Scott and Noem are both tied to the Tea Party movement and they’re both minorities, two key constituencies that will be important to the GOP as it moves into the 21st century.
-Cord Jefferson is a staff writer at The Root. Follow him on Twitter.