Amidst the whirl of the presidential campaign trail, Republican candidate Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina has opened up about his personal life, addressing the growing curiosity surrounding his status as a lifelong bachelor.
During his appearance at the Faith and Freedom Coalition in Des Moines, Iowa, Scott revealed, "I'm dating a lovely Christian girl." The revelation came in response to a question from Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, who asked if there was any special lady in his life, apart from his mother.
Scott, 57, further shared his faith-based perspective on relationships, stating, "One of the things I love about the gospel of Jesus Christ is it points us always in the right direction. Proverbs 18:22 says, 'He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.'" His remarks were met with laughter from the audience as he requested their collective prayers.
This personal disclosure follows a comprehensive feature by The Washington Post that delved into Scott's romantic life. However, the publication noted that it could not independently verify the existence of Scott's girlfriend, adding that it would be "insane" for a presidential campaign to fabricate such a detail.
Scott reluctantly shared details about his girlfriend with the newspaper, revealing that they were introduced by a mutual friend from church. However, his campaign has declined to reveal her identity or arrange a private conversation with her.
Brian Moniz, a close friend of Scott and the son of Scott's late mentor John Moniz, admitted to being unaware of the senator's girlfriend. Moniz was also surprised to learn that Scott had once been engaged, a fact the senator had previously disclosed on CNN.
Jennifer DeCasper, Scott's 2024 campaign manager, is one of the few who claims to have met the senator's girlfriend, having spent time with her at a zoo. Scott first publicly acknowledged having a girlfriend in May.
Speculation about Scott's romantic life has reportedly caused unease among donors, as per an Axios report from late August. Donors have expressed a desire for more clarity regarding Scott's bachelor status. Currently, Scott is the only major contender from either party who has never been married. The last time an unmarried man became president was over 139 years ago, when James Buchanan, speculated to be the first gay president, took office in 1856.
Despite Scott's bachelor status, Moniz insists that the senator "always had a way with the ladies." He attributes Scott's single status to his demanding work schedule, which often relegates his personal relationships to the background. Moniz told The Washington Post, "It's been a challenge, mainly for the females in his life over the years. They get put on the back burner. Women have hung around for a while, and they realize they're not going to be the top priority right now."
As the campaign continues, Scott currently holds seventh place with 2.5% support in the latest RealClearPolitics aggregate of polls.
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