Tim grew up in poverty in a single-parent household in North Charleston. His mom worked 16-hour days as a nursing assistant to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads. Tim admits his circumstances left him hopeless, and as a result, he nearly failed out of high school. By the grace of God, Tim met his mentor, a Chick-fil-A operator named John Moniz. Moniz taught Tim Biblical principles and Conservative values. Through the love, prayers, and strength imparted by his mom and Moniz’s idea that you could ‘think your way out of poverty,’ Tim’s life got back on track.
Tim graduated from Charleston Southern University with a political science degree. He went on to build his successful small business from the ground up. Inspired by the lessons from his mentor, Tim set out to positively effect the lives of a billion people. He was first elected to public office in 1995 and served at the local and state level until his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010.
In 2013, Tim joined the U.S. Senate. His signature legislation, Opportunity Zones, has infused $75 billion of private investments into distressed communities across the country in just a few years. As he continues his work to lift Americans out of poverty, Tim also plays a critical role in protecting the unborn, Second Amendment rights, police and criminal justice reform, credit access, education, connectivity, and workforce development.
Tim brings a fresh perspective to Washington, and his remarkable story shows the transformative power of Conservative values. He will keep fighting to ensure folks in South Carolina—and across the country—have the opportunity to succeed.
