Sen. Jim DeMint’s resignation just one month after the recent general election creates an undue expense upon the state, the South Carolina Progressive Network said on January 31.

This coalition of grassroots organizations submitted a formal request that DeMint compensate for the costs of the upcoming special election, which the state Election Commission says will cost approximately $1 million.

Citing records of the Federal Election Commission, the Progressive Network pointed out that DeMint’s political action committee (Team DeMint) had a reported balance of over $800,000.  The former senator should offer that balance to the state Election Commission, the letter suggested, “removing that burden from South Carolina taxpayers.”

On December 6, DeMint announced he was stepping down from his U.S. Senate seat to become president of the Heritage Foundation.

While Gov. Nikki Haley could appoint DeMint’s replacement, who was Rep. Tim Scott of the state’s 1st Congressional District, the U.S. Constitution only allows House seats to be filled by election.

As a result, South Carolina had to schedule party primaries, potential runoffs and a final election to fill Scott’s now vacant seat. 

 “We hope that you agree that paying for this election with campaign money you no longer need would honor both your constituents and your conservative values,” Progressive Network’s letter concludes.

DeMint’s donation would be completely legal, too. Progressive Network directly consulted the FEC, it says, and received confirmation that a contribution from his PAC to the Election Commission in order to pay for the election would be an allowed “public purpose” expense.

The former senator’s PAC could also use this opportunity to balance out its record of donations to groups outside of South Carolina, the Network says.

"In 2010, your PAC gave a total of $1.15 million to Republican parties in eight states other than South Carolina,” Progressive Network’s letter reminds DeMint, but only “$7,500 in contributions to 19 South Carolina county Republican parties and $350,000 to the state Republican Party.

“In 2012, you generously donated $700,000 to the Club for Growth and only $5,000 to the SC Republican Party."

The party primary elections take place March 19. A total of 21 candidates from three parties have filed for the race.

If needed, runoffs are scheduled for April 2; final election is set for May 7.

In 2004, the Team DeMint PAC was charged $8,700 by the FEC in late filing penalties. 

He hasn’t even assumed the office yet, but Tim Scott is already campaigning for his re-election.

Shortly after being appointed this afternoon to fill a soon-to-be empty seat of South Carolina U.S. Senator, an email blast calling for donations to the 2014 race was submitted in bulk.

“It’s truly an honor to have been appointed by Governor Haley to replace Jim DeMint in the U.S. Senate,” the message begins.

“We must work together to stand up to the big spenders in Washington. Will you join with me by donating what you can here? I have set a goal of reaching 10,000 contributors in 48 hours and would appreciate your help.”

A postscript to the email concludes “I will have to run for re-election next election. Your support will help ensure we keep this seat in Republican hands.”

Although he takes DeMint’s seat on Jan. 3, Scott will have to be formally elected to the senate position in 2014 to continue what will then be the final two years of the term.

In his appointment acceptance speech, issued at a 12 p.m. press conference from the State House, Scott appeared to focus more on the upcoming election than his duties for the next two years.

“I look forward to taking the opportunity to introduce myself across the state.”

Scott has held office in Charleston County and the Lowcountry’s 1st Congressional District, leaving him rather unknown in other parts South Carolina.

On Dec. 6 DeMint announced he was resigning the office to be the new president of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank in Washington D.C.

Scott was first elected to the U.S. House in 2010, and was re-elected in 2012.

After all of yesterday’s rumors and jokes about him filling in for resigning Sen. Jim DeMint, a local website hopes to turn comedian Stephen Colbert’s congressional bid into reality.

A “Colbert for Congress” website, produced by Mt. Pleasant’s Harbor Light Media, quickly went online with the tagline “if our representation is going to be a joke, it should at least be funny.”

The petition on the site is quite real, though; signers receive emails with a link to confirm validity. As of 11 a.m. EST, 325 names were accepted on the petition.

“The residents of South Carolina have been suffering long enough and it’s time for someone to put us out of our misery,” the site’s homepage reads. “Many have tried and failed and it’s becoming increasingly clear that the only person for the job is Stephen Colbert.”

Colbertforcongress.com also includes specific supporting arguments geared to Democrats, Republicans and independents.

The incumbent senator announced his resignation yesterday morning. DeMint will become president of the Heritage Foundation in January.

That leaves South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to fill the seat with a replacement for the next two years. Secret sources and government insiders have dropped the names of Rep. Tim Scott, former state Attorney Gen. Henry McMaster, state Sen. Tom Davis and countless others as DeMint’s replacement.

He asked viewers to tweet @nikkihaley messages supporting his appointment with the hashtag of “#SenatorColbert”.

A native of the state, Colbert made humorous attempts to run in South Carolina’s presidential primary races in 2008 and 2012, but didn’t appear on the ballots in either year.

Rumors that sister Elizabeth Colbert-Busch was being recruited to run for the 1st Congressional District circulated earlier this year, too. The director of business development for the Clemson University Restoration Institute, Colbert-Busch didn’t enter the race. 

(By Chris Weyant of The Hill)


See: 
DeMint resigns, multiple replacements rumored 

U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) announced his resignation this morning.

Effective beginning January, he’ll become the new president of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that promotes small government and free enterprise.

"It's been an honor to serve the people of South Carolina in United States Senate for the past eight years, but now it's time for me to pass the torch to someone else and take on a new role in the fight for America's future,” he stated in a press release announcement.

“I've decided to join The Heritage Foundation at a time when the conservative movement needs strong leadership in the battle of ideas.”

DeMint’s retirement from elected office has been anticipated, but not this soon, however. In Aug. 2011, he said he would not seek re-election in 2016.

The sudden announcement opens the doors for rumors about his replacement, who will be selected by Gov. Nikki Haley, according to the state constitution.

A public election will take place in 2014 for the remaining two years of the senate term.

Multiple sources say Rep. Tim Scott will get the appointment.

“Jim DeMint has said he wants Tim Scott — period,” one anonymous source told The Washington Post. “The ball is in Governor Haley’s court. Does she go with the status quo and appoint Scott? I think it would be hard not to.”

Scott and Haley are mutual supporters, and campaigned together in 2010 when each first ran for their offices. The two crashed the 2012 Democratic National Convention together, as well.

Haley would not be able to appoint any replacement to Scott’s 1st Congressional Dist. seat, though.

According to Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, “When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.”

No candidates for special election, should Scott get the appointment, have been rumored yet.

Scott offered a rather broad statement on the circumstance. “I know (Haley) will make the right choice for both South Carolina and the nation.”

Scott supporters shouldn’t get their hopes up just yet, though, says DeMint spokesperson Wesley Denton.

“Sen. DeMint has no favorites as our state has a deep bench of conservatives,” Denton told The Hill. “This is Gov. Haley’s decision alone and he trusts her to make a great choice.”

Other rumors insinuate that Haley will seek the office herself.  With dwindling reputation and public support, Haley is anticipated to face primary challengers in the 2014 gubernatorial election. A move to a new office could help her overcome voter dissent.

However, an incumbent governor can’t nominate him- or herself. Haley would have to resign, and then be appointed by her replacement, Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell (Rep.).

While still President Pro Tem of the state senate, however, McConnell sparred frequently with Haley, indicating no allegiance between them.

Other rumored nominees include: her deputy Chief of Staff Ted Pitts; former state Attorney Gen. Henry McMaster (Haley’s primary opponent in 2010); state Dept. of Health and Environmental Control director Catherine Templeton; former Ambassador David Williams; state Rep. Nathan Ballentine; state Sen. Tom Davis; former state GOP Chair Katon Dawson; and Rep. Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina’s 5th Congressional Dist.

DeMint remains vocal in the Senate, though, even after announcing his resignation. This afternoon, he tweeted an angry response to House leader Rep. John Boehner’s budget proposal.

He was first elected to U.S. Senate in 2004 after serving six years as U.S. Representative from the state’s 4th Congressional Dist.

Who do you think Gov. Haley will pick to replace Sen. DeMint? Take this quick, one-question survey!