Tim Scott’s amendment passes key vote. But he didn’t vote on it. This is where he was.

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-Hanahan, missed a crucial senate vote Thursday evening during a presidential campaign event he hosted in Iowa.

One of his own amendments was included in the vote as well, which passed in the Senate Thursday evening.

The vote was on the National Defense Authorization Act, and passed the Senate’s 60-vote threshold by 86-11. Scott’s amendment, SA 944, was included in the Act, and had to do with “Chinese Communist Party influence” in higher education systems by restricting financial support for U.S. colleges from listed Chinese sources. The amendment was passed on voice vote.

Scott, a presidential hopeful, however, did not vote on the final passage.

Instead, he was in Ankeny, Iowa, at a town hall-style event for his campaign with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds. During the event, he fielded questions from the audience about school choice and the southern border, discussed his policies on the economy and took aim at one of his GOP competitors, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, for his new policy on Black history standards in public education.

DeSantis’ new standards suggest that Black people who were enslaved had benefited because it taught them “skills.”

“There is no silver lining in slavery,” Scott said. “I would hope that every person in our country − and certainly running for president − would appreciate that.”

DeSantis responded to Scott’s comments Friday and said he was perpetuating Democratic talking points.

The NDAA will allow for $886 billion to be authorized for spending on national defense. The Act will assist and authorize how the Defense Department can use federal funding, but doesn’t provide the funding.

Scott has been vocal about his FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which was also included in the NDAA, and targets Chinese fentanyl suppliers by using economic sanctions. His South Carolina competitor, Nikki Haley, has been the most vocal on China and military policies in comparison to other candidates, and her experience as U.N. ambassador under Trump has led her to use the topic as a defining aspect of her campaign.

The missed vote plays into the question of how candidates like Scott and DeSantis balance and tend to their responsibilities as elected officials while also campaigning.

Scott’s team said Scott has “successfully fought to secure critical wins for South Carolinians and the American people in this year’s NDAA,” noting that the defense bill had overwhelming support among senators prior to passage.

They included instances of his legislation such the John Lewis Fellowship Act, which dedicates $2 billion to support South Carolina military installations, the Savannah River Site and more.

A Marquette Law school national survey July 27 showed Nikki Haley the presidential polls at 6%, slightly higher than Tim Scott at 4%, with Trump as the front runner with 46%.

This story was originally published July 28, 2023 at 2:47 PM.