South Carolina’s Tim Scott to likely announce presidential bid Monday

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) is gearing up for a major announcement next week — whether he intends to seek the nation’s highest office.

The signs are there: he launched a book about his life and career thus far and embarked on a tour in early voting states. The senator from South Carolina also launched a presidential exploratory committee in April.

But it was during a tour event in Charleston that Sen. Scott teased he would be making a “major announcement” on May 22 while in North Charleston. That announcement will come during a “Faith in America” stop at his alma mater, Charleston Southern University.

Sen. Scott recently spoke with fifth graders at a private school in Mount Pleasant where he spoke about his life growing up, what led him to his faith, and why he chose to seek political office.

But one popular question during that event was whether he intends to run for the White House in 2024.

“There are a lot of reasons to want to be President. I will tell you that for me, the mission of restoring hope, creating opportunities, and protecting the America we love motivates me every day,” he said. “And if it leads me to the position of a higher office, to God be the glory. And if it does not lead me to a position of a higher office, to God be the glory.”

If Scott makes his run official, he will join another South Carolinian in that Republican race – former governor Nikki Haley, who launched her campaign in February of this year.