Tim Scott to be South Carolina's Next Senator

Will be Senate's only black and first to represent the South in more than 100 years

For the first time since Reconstruction some 140 years ago, a black person has been tapped to represent a southern state in the U.S. Senate.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has selected Tea-Party Republican and freshman U.S. Rep. Tim Scott to replace U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint. DeMint is retiring from the Senate beginning in January to head the Heritage Foundation, a research group focused on promoting conservative public policies.

Scott, a native of Charleston, S.C., will be the first African American to ever represent South Carolina in the Senate. He also will be the only African American among the Senate’s 100 members.  

"Sen. Jim DeMint has led in a way that few others have led," said Scott, who like DeMint is a conservative. "There's no way to fill his shoes."

"It is a great day for South Carolina," said Haley, the first Indian American and woman to lead South Carolina as governor. "It is a historic day for South Carolina." (Los Angeles Times)

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