State Rep. Bobby Cox has resigned from his House seat, announcing he will run for State Senate District 12. The Greer Republican announced his intent to run on Monday, following Sen. Roger Nutt’s resignation from the Senate seat.
Nutt said in a news release on Monday that he would be resigning due to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. Following his announcement, the Senate set dates for a special election to fill his seat. Filing for the position will open Aug. 29. Party primaries, if necessary, will be Oct. 21, with the special election occurring on Dec. 23.
“We continue to pray for [Nutt’s] family and for him for this diagnosis,” Cox said. “Not only is he my senator, he's my friend, [and] he's also just a solid guy.”
According to Cox, Nutt had encouraged him to run for the seat following his resignation. Cox resigned from his House seat later in the afternoon on Monday. The joint resignation allows the House and the Senate special elections to be held at the same time. Cox says this will save taxpayer dollars, as well as ensure constituents in House District 21 are not left without representation in 2026 if he is elected to the Senate.
Cox was first elected to the State House in 2018. Before becoming a representative, he served as an Army ranger, serving four combat tours in Iraq. He says that he views his work as a representative as a continuation of his service.
“That's the legacy I want to leave, is giving back to our community, and giving back to our nation,” Cox said. “... I want to continue to lead that legacy of service. And making Greer, making South Carolina and making the nation better than how we found it.”
In Cox’s time as representative, the House has passed seven general bills of which he was listed as a primary sponsor, according to House records.
In February of this year, Cox introduced House Bill 3907, the Honor Our First Responders Act. If elected to Senate District 12, Cox says he plans to introduce a similar bill, which aims to continue health care coverage for families of first responders who died in the line of duty.
Currently, many families of first responders lose their coverage a month after their relative’s death, according to Cox. This bill, if passed, would provide benefits to these families for up to two years.
Cox’s sponsorship of the bill aligns with his platform of being pro-law enforcement. Cox says that his focus in the Senate will be on taking these pro-law enforcement values and turning them into actions, a step he believes is often overlooked in Columbia.
“South Carolina is a pro-military state, a pro-law enforcement state,” Cox said. “[But] a lot of times, we don't know where to put that patriotism and that police support into action.”
Cox also mentioned his connection to Greer and how he hopes his policy decisions will reflect in the area.
“Greer is really a hidden gem,” he said, noting the continued economic growth in the area. “...We can't lose sight of that. We have to make sure that we have strong, capable champions … that will advocate for its continued success.”
He continued: “I bring that knowledge, that leadership and being successful in the house … and I'll continue to be a champion for not only Greer, but everyone within District 12.”
Filing for Sen. Nutt’s seat will close on Aug. 29, with the special election taking place on Dec. 23.
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