Election day will see two candidates vying for South Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District seat.
Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson is seeking re-election, and is running for his 13th term in Congress. He will be challenged by Democrat and military veteran David Robinson II. The 2nd Congressional District is comprised of all or parts of Aiken, Lexington, Barnwell, Orangeburg and Richland counties.
Below you will find questionnaires filled out by each of the candidates, including biographical information, links to their campaign websites, their priorities for the coming term of the U.S. House of Representatives, and more.
The general election is set for Nov. 5.
South Carolina’s Second Congressional District candidates US Representative Joe Wilson and Adair Ford Boroughs debate at River Bluff High School on Tuesday, October 20, 2020. Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Joe Wilson - Republican
Name: Addison Graves “Joe” Wilson Sr.
Age: 77
Occupation/place of employment: United States House of Representatives
Education/school: University of South Carolina School of Law (1972), Washington and Lee University (1969)
Political or civic experience: Served in the offices of Senator Strom Thurmond and Congressman Floyd Spence. Served as Deputy General Counsel in the Department of Energy under Ronald Reagan’s administration. Worked under Secretary Jim Edwards (former South Carolina governor). Served 17 years in the South Carolina State Senate. First modern Republican to be elected chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. Retired as colonel from the Army Reserves and South Carolina Army National Guard after 31 years of service in 2003. Father of four sons who have all served in the military overseas. Strong supporter of military personnel and their families.
Why are you running for Congress? I am running for re-election to Congress to continue serving the people of South Carolina’s 2nd District and to defend the conservative values that have made our state and nation strong. Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked to support our military, protect our veterans, and advocate for fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, and job creation. My commitment to these principles remains steadfast as I seek to ensure that South Carolina families have a secure future. I want to continue being a voice for limited government, strong national security, and economic opportunity.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year in Congress? 1. Strengthening national security and supporting military families: As a member of the Armed Services Committee, my top priority remains ensuring that our military is well-funded and capable of defending the country from emerging global threats. In addition to strengthening our defense, I am committed to supporting military families and increasing military pay, ensuring that the men and women who serve, as well as their families, are compensated fairly for their sacrifices. These are areas of national defense that many in our district strongly support and that I will continue to prioritize in Congress.
2. Supporting economic growth and job creation: I will advocate for pro-business policies that help small businesses thrive, reduce the regulatory burden on entrepreneurs, and keep taxes low. Job creation and economic growth remain at the heart of a prosperous community, and I will work to advance policies that spur innovation and create new opportunities for South Carolinians.
3. Caring for our veterans: I will work to ensure that veterans receive the benefits, healthcare and support they deserve. Expanding access to quality healthcare services, reducing wait times for care, and enhancing employment opportunities for veterans will be key focuses in my next term. Veterans have earned our gratitude and respect, and I am committed to fighting for the services they need.
Parts of District 2, certainly in Lexington County, have seen marked population and commercial growth in the last decade. What would you do to balance continued growth and quality of life for longtime residents?
The rapid growth in areas like Lexington County is a sign of a vibrant economy, but it also brings challenges. I will work closely with local leaders to ensure that development is balanced with maintaining the quality of life for residents. This includes advocating for infrastructure improvements such as expanded roads, better traffic management, and access to reliable utilities. I support thoughtful zoning policies that preserve spaces and promote smart growth, so our communities can continue to thrive without compromising what makes them special.
David Robinson II Campaign photo
David Robinson II - Democrat
Name: David Robinson II
Age: 54
Occupation/place of employment: Retired Army, founder of the Daniel Robinson Foundation
Education/school: Midlands Technical College, Army Combat Lifesaver, NEI Truck Driving School
Why are you running for Congress? I am running for Congressional District 2 because we need a representative who represents every citizen in our district, not leaving any community behind. My run is not only to continue to keep jobs in our district, but better-paying jobs. I understand the need to invest in our working and middle class. As a wartime veteran, I was taught that we don’t leave a fallen comrade on the battlefield; we leave no one behind. For over 23 years, I watched communities in Congressional District 2 be left behind and unrepresented. We need someone to represent everyone. I decided to stand up as I did after 9/11 when I joined the Army. It took another tragedy to push me to act. The search for my missing son, Geologist Daniel Robinson, drove me to act. I will also fight for the over 600,000 Americans who go missing every year in this country, the over 270 people who have gone missing this year so far in South Carolina.
If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year in Congress? We must defend our democracy, protect women’s reproductive rights, provide quality education in every zip code, continue lowering healthcare and prescription costs, safeguard our infrastructure, and find solutions to our missing American crises.
Parts of District 2, certainly in Lexington County, have seen marked population and commercial growth in the last decade. What would you do to balance continued growth and quality of life for longtime residents?
I advocate for inclusionary zoning laws that require developers to include a percentage of affordable housing units. Support community land trusts, affordable housing funds, and rent control and tenant protections. We must have community engagement in planning, anti-displacement measures, affordable housing expansion, green spaces and public amenities, sustainability and environmental protections, economic development for local businesses, equitable taxation and public services, historical preservation and zoning protections, job training and workforce development, health and safety regulations, and gentrification protections.
This story was originally published October 4, 2024 at 9:38 AM.
Chris Trainor is a retail reporter for The State and has been working for newspapers in South Carolina for more than 21 years, including previous stops at the (Greenwood) Index-Journal and the (Columbia) Free Times. He is the winner of a host of South Carolina Press Association awards, including honors in column writing, government beat reporting, profile writing, food writing, business beat reporting, election coverage, social media and more.
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