Thomas C. Alexander (born July 25, 1956) is an American businessman and politician. Since 2021, he has served as the secondPresident of the South Carolina Senate. A member of theRepublican Party, he has represented South Carolina's 1st Senate District since 1994 and has represented parts ofOconee County, specifically the city ofWalhalla, for over forty years.
Alexander began his political career on the Walhalla City Council in 1982, following his father, Claude Alexander, who had also served on the council.[4] He was elected MayorPro Tempore in 1985.[5]
In 1991, South Carolina's 'mandate-to-write'auto-insurance law faced criticism due to rising costs. Alexander, who chaired House committees on insurance, advocated for a new car insurance system.[10] Despite extensive government discussions, the issue remained unresolved by 1993.[11]
Alexander was first elected to theSouth Carolina Senate to represent District 1 (Oconee and part of Pickens Counties) in a 1994 special election. This election was held to complete the term ofAlexander Macaulay, who had been elected to the judicial bench for the10th Circuit (Anderson and Oconee counties).[13] At that time, Alexander was aconservative Democrat.[14] However, prior to the 1996 election, he switched to theRepublican Party, announcing the change when he filed for reelection in the Republican primary.[15]
As of April 2024[update], Alexander chairs the Interstate Cooperation Committee and the Legislative Oversight Committee. He also serves on the Banking and Insurance Committee, the Ethics Committee, the Finance Committee, the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, and the Medical Affairs Committee.[1] Previously, he chaired the Finance Committee[16] and the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee. Additionally, Alexander is the Vice-Chair of the College and University Trustee Screening Commission, a Joint Committee with members from both the House and Senate.[17] On December 6, 2021, Alexander was sworn in as the 2nd President of the South Carolina Senate.[5][18]
Whenthe 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 broader than necessary.[19]
In 2002, Alexander sponsored ado-not-call law, but found the bill stalled by lobbying from banks, insurance companies, and credit card companies.[20]
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.[26]
In 2023, Alexander was a vocal supporter of bipartisan efforts to address the rise in youthvaping in the state.[27] He also helped pass a statewide plan to addressAlzheimer's anddementia.[28]
In 2022, Alexander supported and voted for South Carolina'sSave Women's Sports Act.[29][30] The bill, signed into law on May 18, 2022, bars transgender students from participating in sports teams that do not match their gender assigned at birth.[31]
On March 14, 2024, Alexander introduced a bill to ban gender-affirming care for minors alongside other Republican Senators.[32] He voted in favor of a similar bill,[33] H. 4624: Gender Reassignment Procedures,[34] which became law on May 21, 2024.[35]
Alexander was President of the South Carolina Senate during theUnited States Supreme Court case regardingracial andpartisan gerrymandering,Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP. He oversaw the redistricting process (and is the Alexander named in the case title).[36] On March 28, 2024, a three-judge district court issued an order allowing for the map to remain in place for the2024 United States Elections. On May 23, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the SC legislature, arguing that the NAACP failed to provide substantiated evidence demonstrating race-based motivations in the districts drawn.[37]
Alexander ispro-life.[38][39][40] Throughout his career, he has supported the restriction ofabortion in South Carolina.[41][42] His preference has always been towards a total ban without any exceptions (such as for cases of incest or rape),[43] preferring a law that is "as restrictive as possible."[44] However, he has frequently been willing to compromise to get some ban passed.[45][46][47] His time as President of the Senate has overseen the state's most restrictive abortion legislation, a six-week fetalheartbeat bill. The bill went into effect on August 23, 2023. This followed a decision by theSouth Carolina Supreme Court, which voted 4-1 to overturn its earlier ruling that had blocked the bill earlier that year.[48][49][50] Alexander voted in favor of the legislation.[51]
Alexander had the highest total expensereimbursements among state lawmakers in the 2011-2012 fiscal year, totaling $17,613. He cited his longer commute and perfect attendance as reasons for the high total.[54]
In 2018, following derogatory comments and conspiracy theories posted by Lisa Manini Widener about survivors of theMarjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, South Carolina Democrats called for her dismissal as the research director for the state Senate Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee.[55] Despite receiving criticism from the public and pressure from Democratic leaders, Alexander, chairing the committee, chose not to terminate her employment. This decision drew criticism from Democrats and was defended by the Republican Party as a non-issue.[56] Subsequently, in 2023, the South Carolina Senate recognized Widener with a commendation for her extensive service to the state.[57]
As the head of the Public Utilities Review Committee (PURC), Alexander has been associated with controversies involving utility companies. Reports have noted Alexander's presence at dinners and events sponsored by utility companies, includingSCANA andDuke Power, raising concerns about the relationships between lawmakers and utility companies, particularly in light ofthe failed $9 billion V.C. Summer nuclear project.[58] Furthermore, Alexander received $21,250 in political contributions from utilities between 2005 and 2017, according to reports.[59] While Alexander has defended his participation and the committee's actions, stating no issues were discussed at dinners[58] and expressing skepticism about the effectiveness of prohibiting donations,[59] these incidents have fueled ongoing debates about regulatory oversight and potential conflicts of interest.
Alexander and his wife Lynda live inWalhalla, South Carolina.[1] They have three children and 13 grandchildren.[5] Alexander and his wife arePresbyterian, attending the historic church, the Walhalla Presbyterian Church.[60]
Alexander owned anoffice supplies store, Alexander's Office Supply, until he sold it in 2022. New ownership changed its name to Alexander's Work & Wander.[61] 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,[62] and a book about theMollohon Mill Village.[63]
^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.
