Ronald Reagan is credited with describing America as a “shining city on a hill.” I have always had a similar vision about what America should be, coupled with the recognition that we reach that goal only through the hard work of ordinary citizens who are willing to step off the sidelines and make their communities better. That belief has led me to get involved in my community; it led me to run for the State Senate; and it led me to run for the U.S. Congress.
When I decided last year to run for Congress, I did so, in large part, out of a frustration with what America has become. I am deeply concerned about irresponsible borrowing and spending, excessive government involvement in private affairs, and an elitist, out-of-touch Congress that seems to care very little about what the average American wants. Those deficiencies are not limited to either political party; Republicans and Democrats both have failed us.
Unfortunately, most of these problems are not limited to Washington, D.C., either. In South Carolina, years of poor budgeting have combined with an outdated and inefficient government structure to hold us back and make us more susceptible to economic difficulties. We are right to be concerned and frustrated with Washington, but we should begin our rebuilding here at home.
I have worked hard in my short time in the Senate to make state government more transparent, more efficient, and more responsible. In the midst of difficult times for our state, with a budget fight looming in the Senate, I feel the need to remain in the Senate to fight for the people of Aiken, Edgefield, McCormick, and Saluda.
Additionally, on a much more personal level, I cherish the ability to come home to Edgefield every night and spend time with my wife and daughter. I am unwilling to be an absent father, and I have no desire to raise a family in the cesspool of Washington, D.C.
For these reasons, I have decided to end my campaign for Congress and concentrate on my promise to shake up Columbia.
I am deeply and sincerely grateful for the support I have received from folks across the district, and I value the lifelong friendships I have made along the way. I ask that the people of Congressional District 3 join me in backing a candidate who will fight for the conservative principles on which this nation was founded and who will get involved and work to restore our rightful place as the shining city on a hill.
