Over the past months, Senator Scott has visited states that are critical to building momentum in the race for the Republican nomination
Published in: May 20, 2023: 12:52 AM GST
Last updated: May 20, 2023: 12:59 AM GST
US Senator Tim Scott is running to become the first black Republican president, according to documents submitted to the Federal Election Commission on Friday.
The 57-year-old senator, who has been expected to enter the race since he formed a presidential primary committee in April, plans to formally launch his candidacy in his hometown of North Charleston, South Carolina, on Monday.
During the past months, he visited states that are important to achieving momentum in the race to win the Republican nomination, as he stressed the conservative values that he gained from growing up in a poor home in the absence of one of his parents.
Also, he focused on being the only black Republican senator.
“American families are hungry for hope. We must have faith,” he said on Twitter Thursday.
Scott thus joins an arena crowded with candidates seeking to overtake Donald Trump, who is leading so far, but Scott faces a difficult task, as opinion polls show that his approval rating does not exceed 2%, meaning that he is 34 points behind the former president.
Other candidates include Nikki Haley, Washington’s representative to the United Nations under Trump, former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and broadcaster Larry Elder.
But Trump’s main opponent is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is expected to launch his campaign next week.
