U.S. Rep. Henry Brown (RINO – SC 1) will not seek reelection to the U.S. Congress in 2010, a decision that sets the stage for a competitive battle for the GOP nomination – as well as a competitive general election which could feature a third party candidate.
Brown – a former state lawmaker from Hanahan, S.C. – will formally announce his decision to retire on Monday.
First elected to the U.S. House in 2000 (after Gov. Mark Sanford stepped down to honor his pledge to serve only three terms), Brown has been one of the most fiscally liberal Republicans in Washington – at least until President Barack Obama took office in 2009.
According to Club for Growth scorecards, Brown voted for pro-taxpayer policies just 63% of the time, one of the worst Republican records in Congress. He also riled fiscal conservatives by spending more taxpayer money on self-promotional mail pieces than any other member of Congress.
Prior to his federal boondoggling, Brown served for fifteen years as a state lawmaker, including five years as Chairman of the S.C. House Ways & Means Committee (1995-2000).
Republicans currently seeking Brown’s seat include Columbia lobbyist Carroll A. “Tumpy” Campbell III and Myrtle Beach military mom and GOP activist Katherine Jenerette.
Of those, Campbell is another “RINO” while Fava and Jenerette are more fiscally-conservative candidates.
Expect a democrat to jump in the race, too, as challenger Linda Ketner nearly unseated Brown in 2008.
Sources tell FITS that other candidates are also eying the district – which runs along the S.C. coast of the state from Charleston to Myrtle Beach.
By not impressed January 4, 2010 at 7:41 am
Thought you were suppose to be “in the know”. Fava announced his withdrawal Saturday.
By fitsnews January 4, 2010 at 7:50 am
Fava did. Sorry. We received several emails promoting his candidacy this AM and presumed he was still running. Also, we were freezing our butts off at Legion Field Saturday and must have missed that groundbreaking announcement.
By not impressed January 4, 2010 at 8:06 am
No worries! I heard it Saturday and read it on his web site. Today, his announcement is gone. Maybe he’s rethinking?
Can Andre switch to this race? I always thought his lifestyle would fit better in DC rather than Columbia, SC.
By CNSYD January 4, 2010 at 9:27 am
ABT! Anybody but Tumpy. I certainly hope that the voters of the 1st district will not vote for the candidate from BMW. How many days (or is it hours?) does he spend a month in the district?
By PostThis? January 4, 2010 at 9:37 am
Will you even post this?? Fava is out. I don’t know why you keep bashing Carroll Campbell as a RINO. The guy is as far right as anyone, or further. Plus he kept the state’s Port Authority from being turned over to the unions!!
By Great Caesar's Ghost January 4, 2010 at 10:04 am
I hope Tom Davis runs for that seat. Watching him shred Tumpy would be fun.
By darth January 4, 2010 at 10:51 am
Old speculations make this as an option for Andre, but, as we hear from the Carling bottle in Marchant’s car, seeing is believing and you do have to have donors permission to shuffle the dinero.
Have Adams, McBride, Scarborough or Campsen announced yet?
By Fire in the hole January 4, 2010 at 11:06 am
Post this?
You have lost your mind. Tump Tump is about are far right as Karl Marx. His is a buffoon. When asked why he was running, he responded “because my daddy was governor.” That’s why? that’s the reason?
His politics shift with the wind. He’s claiming to be the pro business candidate, when he ran his own business into the ground. What is his job? What is his real world experience? Let’s see the resume, as I’m sure it looks something like this.
-Graduated from college, waiting for Daddy to help
-Got a job w/ SCANA through Daddy, and screwed that up
-Went to work w/PMSC through Daddy, and screwed that up
-Loitered while wife made the money]
-Got piece of family business and managed to almost ruin
-Endorsed Mark Sanford (like we cared)
-Cheated on hot wife and his daughters w/young girl
-Sold family business
-Cozied up at the lake with other men having marital issues
-Served on Ports Board
-Started Lobbying firm w/ democrats
-Removed from Port Board
-Throws hissy fit w/ Governor
-Decides to use Daddy’s name to run for Congress
-Asks girlfriend that he cheated w/ to marry (no date set)
-Paints self as pro business candidate, miserable ratings
-Still no wedding date set (coincidence ?)
-Brown retires, boosting his chances
And when June rolls around, it will probably add, was candidate for 1st Congressional Seat until the voters found out that I can’t put together a complete sentence without help and that I left my wife and kids for a younger woman, and that it’s painfully obvious that I can’t run a business, but want you to trust me w/ your vote.
And unfortunately Davis is in the 2nd district.
By Paul January 4, 2010 at 11:17 am
When does Jenny announce?
By Charleston fats January 4, 2010 at 11:35 am
Too bad Post this doesn’t understand the Ports there are as many Union jobs now as ever, just the man hours are down due to the ecomomy. Tumpy was so effective that he was the only board member in a number of years!
By Jeff January 4, 2010 at 11:37 am
I’m fairly sure this is Tim Scott’s district.
Does that open a door for Tim and get him out of a statewide race he can’t win?
Things might get interesting here.
By Charleston fats January 4, 2010 at 11:37 am
Shoud read only Board member removed
By GaugeMe January 4, 2010 at 12:21 pm
How long before Larry Grooms announces for Congress? He’d be an incredible candidate.
By Billy Bob January 4, 2010 at 1:00 pm
By the time you chase all the RINO’s out of the party, you’ll be able to hold your Annual Meeting in one of those old washing machines?!?
By Chuck January 4, 2010 at 1:28 pm
What about Chad Walldorf? I bet he’s probably looking at it given his background, the ability to self-fund, and his connections to the national Club for Growth. Their endorsement and national $ could change the race.
@GaugeMe I agree it would be fantastic if Larry Grooms would run…can you imagine him in Congress? He’d be the Jim Demint of the US House and could take on Lindsey Graham in 2014.
By Statehouse Watcher January 4, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Tom Davis is in the Second District, so he’s out (though it would be fun watching him debate Tumpy). Larry Grooms would be a good candidate, as would Ben Hagood and Chip Campsen. Second-tier candidates would be guys like Chip Limehouse and Jimmy Merrill. One thing for sure, though: Tumpy is toast. He made have had a (very, very slight chance) to ride an anti-incumbent wave against Henry Brown, but he has less than zero chance now.
By CNSYD January 4, 2010 at 3:41 pm
National politics looks so easy from far away. Then you get elected and find out it is a whole lot more complicated that you could have ever imagined. Here you are a freshman member of Congress from a small state and also you are from the minority party. Some impact you are going to make. By the time you find out where the restrooms are, it is time to run again. Whoever gets elected will need to study up on oceans and wildlife because that is the subcommittee where Henry was.
By Matt January 4, 2010 at 5:23 pm
Chuck: I’m with you on the Chad Waldorff suggestion. Here’s hoping he’s considering a run. He would be a candidate that could unite the tea party conservatives with the Club for Growth oriented conservatives…two groups that are prevalent in the 1st District and would naturally play a role in an interesting, competitive GOP primary.
By Jeffy01 January 5, 2010 at 9:16 am
Bar B Q boy running for Congress?? No way on Waldorff. Most of the other names make more sense. I agree, MLTT has the same odds as Dabo Swinney winning National Coach of the Year.
By Elmer January 5, 2010 at 9:20 am
This is the best decision Henry has made for the taxpayers since being in office.
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' January 5, 2010 at 11:28 am
Two words: Congressman Limehouse