YORK — S.C. House Rep. Thomas E. “Tommy” Pope has announced his intention to seek election to South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District.
The 5th Congressional District seat is expected to become vacant due to Congressman Mick Mulvaney’s pending confirmation as director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Pope, a Republican, is the current Speaker Pro Tempore and former 16th Circuit Solicitor from York.
“I always believed that here in South Carolina was where I could best serve the people, but when God closes one door He often opens another,” said Pope. “In the past weeks I have received an outpouring of support from people across the 5th district, urging me to take on this new challenge. My wife and I have prayerfully considered this run and how it will affect our family, and my constituents in the York, Clover, and Lake Wylie area.”
Pope said he looked forward to Mulvaney’s speedy confirmation by the Senate.
“I’ve decided to step forward because there has never been a greater opportunity for real conservative change in Washington and I want to help lead it,” Pope said. “The 5th District’s next representative must fight to cut our bloated government, protect the unborn, and restore our God-given rights to the states. Ultimately what our citizens want is a country that is safe and secure so that they and their loved ones can fully realize the pursuit of happiness.”
A formal kickoff to the campaign will occur once the seat is vacated and the filing period opens. Further details will be provided at that time.
In 1992, when Pope was 30, he was elected Solicitor of the 16th Judicial Circuit consisting of York and Union counties. Pope is most commonly recognized for his 1995 prosecution of Susan Smith for the drowning death of her two children.
When he was first elected, the 16th Circuit had the worst backlog of criminal cases in the state. Under his guidance, the 16th Circuit overcame that backlog and moved to consistently lead the State in providing effective and timely prosecution of criminal cases.
Throughout his tenure as Solicitor, Pope personally tried numerous murder and death penalty cases. Pope retired in 2006 and began a new chapter of helping people through the private practice of law. In 2008, Pope was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor for his dedication and service to South Carolina.
In 2010 Pope was elected to the S.C. House of Representatives and in 2014 was elected Speaker Pro Tempore and was reelected in 2016. Pope and his wife Kimberly live in York and have four children and one grandchild.