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WASHINGTON — South Carolina elected an African American senator Tuesday and made history in the process.
Republican Tim Scott became the first African American senator to win election in the South since its Reconstruction, according to CNN.
Scott became senator in 2013 after the state’s governor named him to fill the senate seat vacated by Jim DeMint, who resigned in 2012. On Tuesday, Scott defeated Democrat Joyce Dickerson for the seat.
Scott will have to run again in 2016 in order to earn a full six-year term. Tuesday’s election was only to fill the remaining two years of DeMint’s term.
Scott took to Twitter to discuss his race and the progress made in the country.
My skin color is talked about often. Tonight I want to talk about it for just a moment.
— Tim Scott (@votetimscott) November 5, 2014
In South Carolina, in America, it takes a generation to go from having a grandfather who is picking cotton, to a grandson in Congress.
— Tim Scott (@votetimscott) November 5, 2014
We are thankful for those trailblazers who came before us and said the status quo was not enough. I stand on the shoulders of giants.
— Tim Scott (@votetimscott) November 5, 2014
Our values and our issues are central. The most important things we have to offer are on the inside. This is the testament to progress made
— Tim Scott (@votetimscott) November 5, 2014
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