This South Carolinian, an early Biden backer, will take national stage at DNC
South Carolina Sen. Marlon Kimpson, identified among 17 rising Democratic stars in the country, will speak virtually Tuesday night at the Democratic National Convention.
Kimpson and 16 other Democratic politicians that include U.S. representatives and state legislators will deliver the joint speech with the theme focusing on why leadership matters, said the state senator who has represented his Charleston district since October 2013.
Included among the speakers will be Stacey Abrams, who unsuccessfully ran for governor in Georgia in 2018.
“My words will be very impactful,” said Kimpson, 51. “And it doesn’t take a long time to draw a clear contrast between the current administration and the future of our country.”
Kimpson endorsed Biden almost two months before South Carolina’s Democratic presidential primary in February, then calling Biden’s character “unwavering.” Biden would go on to win the primary in South Carolina, where the majority voting bloc is Black, after he had not performed well in the early primary and caucus states.
Leading into the primary season, Kimpson was heavily involved in presidential politics.
He held town halls with presidential candidates, including U.S. Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. He also has been one of the more outspoken state lawmakers during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, calling on Gov. Henry McMaster to shut down bars and implement a statewide mask mandate.
Kimpson also has been rumored to run for a statewide office.
“To be included among some pretty well-known established political young leaders is significant,” Kimpson said. “I am deeply humbled and honored to be tapped by Joe Biden’s team to bring these remarks on behalf of his campaign.”
This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 2:20 PM.
