Ex-SC lawmaker who once sued SC GOP now leads Upstate county’s Republican Party
The Anderson County Republican Party on Monday elected a new chairman who once sued the state GOP for interfering in his reelection campaign and was booted from the House Republican Caucus.
Former state Rep. Jonathon Hill, who in 2022 was fined $12,000 for failing to report contributions to his campaign and using campaign money to pay his mortgage, was elected the Upstate county’s party chairman in a vote of the roughly 140 delegates who were present.
Hill won’t officially become chairman until after the state party convention next month.
Hill said he has remained a member in good standing with the party since 2009. He will succeed Herb Nymark.
“Many people in the Anderson County GOP have been supportive of me, and so I welcomed the opportunity to in a way give back and I’m excited for what the future possibilities may bring,” Hill told The State.
Hill’s mother, Janet Hill, was elected second vice chair in a closely contested race. Hill said she’s been involved with the party for as long as he has. Hill said there’s nothing legally or ethically preventing family members from serving as county party leaders at the same time.
The S.C. GOP did not immediately return a request seeking comment.
Hill’s election follows what has been a tumultuous relationship between the former lawmaker and the Republican Party.
Hill was indefinitely suspended from the House GOP Caucus for “erroneous and hostile attacks” on fellow Republicans that went too far, party leaders said at the time.
In 2020, Hill sued the state party after he accused the S.C. GOP of spending more than the state maximum of $5,000 in support of his primary opponent. A judge threw out the lawsuit.
Hill won the primary and reelection that year.
A year later, in 2021, Hill stormed out of the House chamber during an abortion debate and tossed a stack of papers into the air after he missed an opportunity to offer amendments to the restrictive so-called “fetal heartbeat” six-week abortion bill. Then-Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Darlington, called it “childish behavior.”
“I’m not going to lie. I have to think there will be some animus there,” Hill said. “I certainly aim to do my job as professionally as I can. We’ll cross whatever bridges that may present themselves at that time.”
Hill, who works in information technology, opted not to run for reelection in 2022.
“I do not consider him (S.C. Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick) the enemy, and I will be working to advance the party platform, and at all times demonstrate my first loyalty is to the Constitution and presumably this is what the job description is for all GOP chairmen,” Hill said. “I hope we can work together on that.”
