Thomas C. Alexander (born July 25, 1956) is an American businessman who is currently serving as the
President of the South Carolina Senate.[1] Since 1996, he has served S.C. Senate District 1as a
Republican.[2] Alexander served as an honorary chair of the 2023 Inauguration Committee for Governor
Henry McMaster.[3]
Political Career
Walhalla City Council
Alexander started his political career on the
Walhalla City Council in 1982.[4] His father, Claude Alexander, similarly served on that same council. In 1985, Alexander was elected Mayor
Pro Tempore.[5]
S.C. House of Representatives
Elections
Alexander was first elected as a
Democrat to the
South Carolina House of Representatives in 1986[6] After M. Duke Cleveland faced an initial set of four primary challengers,[7] Alexander defeated the incumbent directly in a runoff.[8]
He represented State House District 1 of
Oconee and
Pickens Counties through 1994.[5][12] During 1992 and 1993, he served as Chairman of the House Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry.[13][14]
In 1991, South Carolina's auto-insurance system, known as the "mandate-to-write" law, faced further criticism from citizens about rising costs. Alexander, then chairmen of committees in the House that deal with insurance, spoke in favor of rethinking a new system for
car insurance in the state.[15] However, even as late as 1993, this issue was untouched, despite much government effort spent on discussing restructuring.[16]
In 1994, Alexander was elected to the
South Carolina Senate to represent S.C. Senate District 1 in a special election, again as a Democrat.[18] However, in 1996, he switched parties, joining the
Republican Party. This was announced when he filed for re-election in the Republican primary instead of the Democratic one.[19]
Alexander has frequently run in his district
uncontested including in 2020[20] and 2024.[21] His latest challenger,
Constitution Party candidate Polly Nicolay, sought to defeat him in 2008. He won, receiving 85% of the vote.[22]
As of April 2024[update], Alexander chairs the Interstate Cooperation Committee and the Legislative Oversight Committee. He also sits on the Banking and Insurance Committee, the Ethics Committee, the Finance Committee, the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, and the Medical Affairs Committee. In the past, he has also chaired the Finance Committee[31] and the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee.[2]
Alexander serves as Vice-Chair of the College and University Trustee Screening Commission, a Joint Committee with members from the House and Senate.[32]
When
the Upstate had an uptick in bear removal requests in 2001, Alexander proposed a bill that would legalize the shooting of bears that threaten "property, crops, people, or pets." He later acknowledged his bill to have been too broad in scope.[33]
In 2002, Alexander attempted to get a
do-not-call law passed but found the bill stalled by extensive lobbying from banks, insurance companies, and credit card companies.[34]
In 2008, Alexander sponsored legislation to raise the state tax on cigarettes from 45 to 57 cents to raise funds for programs to help curtail smoking and health insurance.[35]
On December 6, 2021, Alexander was sworn in as the 2nd President of the South Carolina Senate.[5] His time as President has overseen several events of note:
He has overseen the state legislature's passage of
abortion bans, so-called
heartbeat bills.[38] A bill banning abortion after six weeks is currently in effect as of August 23, 2023[update].[39] He voted in favor of the legislation.[40] It is an issue he has been vocal on, as far back as 1996.[41]
In 2023, he introduced 12 bills to the Senate, though none became law.[42] That year, he had also been a strong supporter of bipartisan efforts to crack down on the growing youth vaping epidemic in the state.[43] He also played a role in passing legislation for a statewide plan to address issues related to
Alzheimer's and
dementia.[44]
Alexander and his wife Lynda live in
Walhalla, South Carolina.[2] They have three children and 13 grandchildren.[5] Alexander and his wife are
Presbyterian, attending the historic church, the Walhalla Presbyterian Church.[51]
Alexander received an associate degree from
Anderson University in 1976 and a bachelor's degree in economics from
Clemson University in 1978. In 2014, the Clemson Alumni Association awarded him the 2014 Distinguished Service Award.[51]
Previously, Alexander owned an
office supplies store, Alexander's Office Supply, until 2022 when he sold it. New ownership changed its name to Alexander's Work & Wander.[52] While owner of Alexander's Office Supply, he published several historical books written by Rev. George Shealy such as a book about the founder of Walhalla,
Johann Andreas Wagener,[53] and a book about the
Mollohon Mill Village.[54]
^Sheehen, Robert J., ed. (January 28, 1992).
"January 28, 1992". South Carolina House of Representatives Legislative Update. 9 (2): 14 – via SC State Library.
^Sheheen, Robert J., ed. (January 19, 1993).
"January 19, 1993". South Carolina House of Representatives Legislative Update. 10 (2): 22 – via SC State Library.
^Hester, John Ashton (2019). Looking back: a journey through the pages of the Keowee Courier featuring the Walhalla Centennial Special Edition of 1950 and highlights from the years 1956, 1966, 1986, 1996 and 2006. Bloomington, Indiana: Xlibris.
ISBN978-1-7960-3731-9.