Nothing says "I'm done with Washington" quite like spending six years on cable news talking about Washington every single night and then potentially going back to Washington. Former congressman and current Fox News host Trey Gowdy is reportedly being floated as a serious contender for the late Lindsey Graham's Senate seat in South Carolina, as Trending Politics reported, and honestly the only surprising part is that it took this long for somebody to suggest it.
Gowdy served South Carolina's 4th Congressional District from 2011 to 2019, made a national name for himself grilling witnesses during high-profile congressional investigations, then walked away from elected office saying he preferred practicing law and doing television. He landed at Fox News as a contributor and eventually got his own show, "Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy." So basically he traded legislating for commenting on legislating, which is the political equivalent of retiring from cooking to become a food critic.
The seat opened up after Graham's death, and Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham's sister, Darline Graham Nordone, as interim senator to hold things down until voters pick a permanent replacement. Candidate filing begins July 21, with the Republican primary set for Aug. 11. That is an extremely tight timeline, which means anyone who wants in better start making decisions right about now.
Gowdy reportedly has the backing of Sen. Tim Scott, which is no small thing in South Carolina Republican politics. His years in Congress gave him strong name recognition in the state, and his nightly Fox News appearances have kept him visible to conservative audiences across the country. He also still has relationships with Republican donors and activists from his congressional days. The man basically never stopped campaigning, he just did it from a television studio instead of a campaign bus.
He is not the only one eyeing the seat, of course. Rep. Nancy Mace has publicly acknowledged she is considering a run, telling reporters she would "be an idiot" not to explore the opportunity. Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman are also reportedly weighing bids, along with Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette. President Trump has spoken favorably about several potential contenders while encouraging Republicans to rally behind a strong candidate.
The big question is whether Gowdy actually wants to do this. Since leaving Congress, he has repeatedly talked about how much he enjoys his legal career and his television work. Running for Senate would mean giving up a cushy Fox News gig where you get to have opinions without having to vote on anything. That is a pretty sweet deal to walk away from.
No formal announcement has been made, and Gowdy has not publicly confirmed any plans to run. But with filing just days away, the clock is ticking. South Carolina Republicans are watching closely, and this race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive the state has seen in years. Stay tuned, which is also what Fox News would prefer Gowdy keep telling his viewers.
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