Pro-Trump pastor to run for Upstate SC Congress seat

An Upstate pastor known for his vocal support of President Donald Trump says he plans to run for 4th District U.S. House seat to be vacated by retiring U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-Spartanburg.

Bloomberg reported Mark Burns of Easley will run for Gowdy’s seat.

“We need to combat leftist, liberal ideology that’s dividing our nation. It’s creating dependency,” Burns said in an interview. “We need to create opportunities over dependency – dependency is what’s plaguing our low-income communities.

“As a black man, I’m able to say what white politicians cannot say because they don’t want to be labeled a racist.”

Burns was a frequent speaker at Trump rallies during the 2016 campaign and delivered a prayer at the Republican National Convention. He now is on Trump’s Faith Advisory Council and was featured in a Time magazine piece that declared him Trump’s “top pastor.”

Burns previously had floated the idea of challenging Lindsey Graham, R-Seneca, for his U.S. Senate seat.

Gowdy said last month he would not seek re-election to the Greenville-Spartanburg area seat that he has held since 2010, setting off a flurry of interest from potential candidates for the open seat.

The primary to decide the Democratic and Republican nominees for the seat will be held in June. The winners will square off in the November general election.

Burns’ role during in the Trump campaign was controversial.

Burns was forced to apologize after CNN reported he falsely stated on his church’s website that he had a bachelor’s of science degree and had served six years in the Army Reserve. He later provided proof he had served several years in the S.C. National Guard, not the Reserve.

This story was originally published February 16, 2018 at 8:13 AM with the headline "Pro-Trump pastor to run for Upstate SC Congress seat."