A Republican South Carolina state senator who is known for making outlandishly sexist comments won re-election by a landslide on Tuesday as part of a Republican rout in the Palmetto State.
Tom Corbin, a Republican from Travelers Rest, S.C, won the election for South Carolina District Five, which covers parts of Greenville and Spartanburg counties in the Upstate.
He defeated political newcomer Michael McCord, a Democrat, in a landslide election. Corbin won 75 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results.
McCord, of Taylors, South Carolina, is a small business owner whose campaign goal was “to bring a balanced and younger perspective to keep Greenville, and surrounding areas, growing and prosperous.”
Instead, voters in the Upstate chose Corbin — who is best known for allegedly making a very specific overtly sexist comment back in 2015.
“Well, you know God created man first,” Corbin said, reportedly smirking at S.C. Senator Katrina Shealy, the only female senator at the time. “Then he took the rib out of man to make woman. And you know, a rib is a lesser cut of meat.”
Yes, multiple witnesses told FITSNews that he made the comment at a dinner among Senate judiciary committee members, who were discussing a criminal domestic violence issue.
FITSNews was not at all surprised by this comment, given that multiple lawmakers previously told us that Corbin said women do not belong in the S.C. General Assembly and should instead be “at home baking cookies” or “barefoot and pregnant.”
Also on Corbin’s resume while serving the people of Spartanburg and Greenville counties:
- He voted against removing the Confederate flag at the statehouse in 2015.
- When discussing abortion, he said “a woman always has a right to choose at the time of conception?” (WHAT?!?!)
- When speaking on Common Core education, he reportedly once told the only female senator (Shealy) to leave the room, before he made his comment. She didn’t, and then he went on to tell a story about a public school teacher and “gay man juice.”
Not only is Corbin notorious for his outrageous remarks, he’s also known for stealing his colleagues’ Chick-fil-A sandwiches, according to our founding editor Will Folks (who also reported all of the stories mentioned above)
Corbin has held the position of state senator representing District 5 since 2012.
He has run unopposed as a Republican in the 2016 and 2012 elections.
McCord, Corbin’s 2020 opponent, issued a statement Wednesday morning.
“For the first time in years, the people of District 5 had a choice. I am glad to have been one of those choices for the people,” McCord said. “I do not regret stepping forward to try and help serve the district.”
McCord thanked his supporters and congratulated Corbin for “a race well fought.”
“I know it is disappointing, but make no mistake, my team is not done working for change in district 5,” McCord said.
Tom Corbin, who describes himself as a “Christian Conservative businessman” posted a statement thanking his supporters last night on behalf of his wife and children.
Corbin was one of many South Carolina Republicans who won big last night.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR..
Mandy Matney is the news director at FITSNews. She’s an investigative journalist from Kansas who has worked for newspapers in Missouri, Illinois, and South Carolina before making the switch to FITS. She currently lives on Hilton Head Island where she enjoys beach life. Mandy also hosts the Murdaugh Murders podcast. Want to contact Mandy? Send your tips to mandy@fitsnews.com.
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