GREENVILLE — After a tough election season, Republican incumbent U.S. Representative William Timmons has successfully secured his fourth term in office. The Associated Press declared his victory at 9:41 p.m. on election night.
Timmons received about 60 percent of the votes, comfortably defeating Democratic challenger Kathryn Harvey in South Carolina’s heavily Republican 4th Congressional District, which includes Greenville and Spartanburg counties. Harvey tried to make history by becoming the first Democrat to win in the district since 1990 and had raised more campaign funds than any other Democratic candidate in recent years. However, Timmons has consistently won his races against Democratic opponents, achieving similar vote percentages in past elections.
After the election was called, Timmons commented that he expected the outcome. He said it was impressive that Harvey managed to gather such financial support for her campaign. Timmons’ victory came after a tense primary race against fellow Republican Adam Morgan, whom he narrowly defeated in June. Although he lost in his home base of Greenville County, votes from Spartanburg County helped him claim overall victory.
Following the primary, Timmons shifted his focus from his own campaign to supporting other Republican candidates in more competitive districts across the country, stating he felt no concern about the general election’s outcome.
Throughout his campaign, Timmons heavily relied on his endorsement from former President Donald Trump and his alignment with Trump’s policies. He repeatedly referenced these connections during forums, even defending Trump’s controversial statements related to FEMA following Hurricane Helene.
Timmons also faced difficult questions regarding the legitimacy of the 2020 election, expressing uncertainty about the winner. He acknowledged his legal background while admitting the challenges in determining the election’s outcome, which he described as troubling.
This election cycle presented new challenges for Timmons, as allegations of infidelity surfaced weeks after he narrowly avoided a runoff election in 2022. When discussing these allegations at a forum, he acknowledged them but remained largely vague.
Despite these challenges, voters in the Upstate remained supportive of Timmons throughout the campaign. He has maintained an undefeated record in his political career, having first won office as a state Senate candidate in 2016 and then securing a seat in Congress in 2018 after winning a Republican primary runoff.
As he embarks on another term, Timmons remains a significant figure in South Carolina politics, standing firm in his beliefs and voter support.
