Josh Kimbrell
Josh Kimbrell | |
---|---|
Member of the South Carolina Senate from the 11th district | |
Assumed office November 9, 2020 | |
Preceded by | Glenn G. Reese |
Personal details | |
Born | Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S. | December 18, 1984
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Liliya Kimbrell (m. 2017) |
Children | Tristan, Lucian |
Parent(s) | Brett and Cindy Kimbrell |
Residence | Boiling Springs, South Carolina |
Alma mater | North Greenville University (B.A.) Gardner–Webb University |
Profession | Radio personality |
Joshua Brett Kimbrell (born December 18, 1984) is an American aviation leasing operator and politician. He is also a former Christian talk radio host.
Kimbrell has served as a member of the South Carolina Senate from the 11th District (Spartanburg) since his 2020 election.[1] He is a member of the Republican Party.[2]
Political Career[edit]
U.S. House of Representatives[edit]
2018 US House race[edit]
Kimbrell unsuccessfully ran for the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina's 4th congressional district in 2018, finishing fourth in a 13-candidate Republican primary.
S.C. Senate[edit]
Elections[edit]
2020 Senate race[edit]
In 2020, Kimbrell defeated incumbent Democrat Glenn G. Reese, who had held the seat in the South Carolina Senate's 11th District since 1991.
2024 Senate race[edit]
In March 2024, Kimbrell filed for re-election. He is opposed in the general election by accountant and U.S. Air Force veteran Angela Geter, who won the June Democratic Primary.[3]
2024 presidential race[edit]
Kimbrell supported Florida Governor Ron Desantis in the Republican Primary for President, traveling with him to Iowa as a surrogate for the campaign.[4] [5] When Desantis withdrew from the race and endorsed former President Donald Trump, Kimbrell switched his endorsement to Trump.[6]
Tenure[edit]
In June 2021, Kimbrell sponsored a bill in the state senate that would "allow mental health professionals to refuse to provide care that violates their religious beliefs."[7] During the 2022 session, Kimbrell also introduced a budget proviso to ban "prurient" books in children's library sections at public libraries, though some librarians and other lawmakers said the language was too vague to enforce without banning a wide variety of books.[8][9]
Following redistricting after the 2020 US Census, S.C. Senate District 11 covers a portion of Spartanburg County.
Personal life[edit]
In October 2014, Kimbrell was arrested and charged with sex crimes against his 3-year-old son.[10] After being held in jail without bail, the charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence in February 2015.[11]
References[edit]
- ^ "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
- ^ "South Carolina State Sen. Josh Kimbrell - Biography | LegiStorm". www.legistorm.com. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
- ^ Lavender, Chris (June 11, 2024). "Geter wins primary in SC Senate District 11 race, faces Kimbrell in November election". The Post and Courier. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- ^ Barton, Tom (December 28, 2023). "Ron DeSantis enlists South Carolina senator to undercut Nikki Haley in Iowa". The Gazette. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ Contorno, Steve (December 28, 2023). "DeSantis enlists help to make closing case to Iowans – and to undercut Haley in the Hawkeye State". CNN. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ Shutt, Jennifer (January 21, 2024). "Florida's DeSantis withdraws from Republican presidential race, endorses Trump". South Carolina Daily Gazette. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "SC considers extending religious objections to therapists". AP. 21 June 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
- ^ "Library leaders fight proposal on banned books". Post and Courier. 5 May 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
- ^ "SC Senate lawmakers consider cutting off aid to libraries that allow kids access to 'prurient material". News 19. 29 April 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
- ^ "Christian Talk radio host accused of sex crime against 3-year-old". WYFF. 16 October 2014. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
- ^ Dykes, David. "Solicitor dismisses criminal sexual conduct charge against Upstate radio host". The Greenville News. Retrieved May 12, 2021.