Senator Tim Scott is officially dropping out of the Republican primary race. “When I go back to Iowa, it will not be as a presidential candidate. I am suspending my campaign,” Scott said on Fox News. “I think the voters, who are the most remarkable people on the planet, have been really clear that they’re telling me ‘not now.’”
The South Carolina senator’s poll numbers weren’t looking great even in Iowa, where his hardline anti-abortion views and conservative Christian politics should have been an easier sell. But now that he’s out of the race, it’s the perfect time to go over the more jaw-dropping moments from his campaign. (And believe us, there were plenty).
1. That Time He Implied Welfare Services Were Worse Than Slavery
“Don’t downplay slavery” should be a no-brainer for any politician — especially a Black politician. But Scott did it anyway. During the second debate, Scott argued that Black Americans survived slavery, but what was “hard to survive” was the emergence of welfare programs aimed at helping poor people survive.
While there are plenty of reasonable critiques over how the social safety net in the United States is implemented, there is no reasonable argument that being enslaved is better.
2. Tim Scott’s Mystery Girlfriend
Last week, Scott finally revealed his girlfriend, Mindy Noce. But before taking his partner of a year debate-stage official, Scott kept the relationship shrouded in mystery. He was so mysterious that even his friends told the Washington Post that they didn’t know he was seeing someone.
This went on for months, with people starting to wonder if this was a “my girlfriend goes to a different school” type situation. It was an all-around bizarre news cycle for a presidential candidate.
3. Scott Denies Systemic Racism Is Real
Despite having experienced life as a Black person in America, Scott has repeatedly claimed that there is no such thing as systemic racism. Scott uses his own success as proof that systemic racism is a myth.
4. His Anti-Critical Race Theory Rant
Scott has repeatedly criticized the teaching of race and sexuality within schools, making it a key part of his campaign. Despite there being no evidence that CRT is being taught in K-12 schools, Scott has made it his mission to eliminate it.
5. Tim Scott’s Borderwall
Scott hasn’t endorsed anyone yet. But it doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility that he’ll support the current frontrunner, Donald Trump, since they share a lot in common politically. Scott recently came out in favor of creating a southern border wall in a plan ripped straight from Trump’s playbook.
6. His Hardline Abortion Politics
Among the more consequential aspects of Scott’s candidacy was his fixation on abortion. For the longest time, Republicans argued that the states should decide the issue of abortion. Now, conservative hardliners like Scott are pushing for a national 15-week abortion ban that would severely curtail the rights of pregnant people throughout the United States. This type of ban would disproportionately harm vulnerable groups, including Black Americans.