Joe Reynolds (South Carolina)

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Joe Reynolds

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 9, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 1987

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Navy

Years of service

1987 - 1995

Personal

Birthplace

Haverhill, Mass.

Religion

Catholic

Profession

Chief engineer

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

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Campaign YouTube

Joe Reynolds (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent South Carolina. He lost in the Republican primary on June 9, 2020.

Reynolds completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Joseph Reynolds was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He received his undergraduate degree from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1987. Reynolds served in the U.S. Navy from 1987 to 1995. His professional experience includes working as a chief engineer for the U.S. Merchant Marine. Reynolds was involved in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Elections

2020

See also: United States Senate election in South Carolina, 2020

United States Senate election in South Carolina, 2020 (June 9 Republican primary)

United States Senate election in South Carolina, 2020 (June 9 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. Senate South Carolina

Incumbent Lindsey Graham defeated Jaime Harrison and Bill Bledsoe (Unofficially withdrew) in the general election for U.S. Senate South Carolina on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lindsey Graham (R)	54.4	1,369,137
		Jaime Harrison (D)	44.2	1,110,828
		Bill Bledsoe (Constitution Party) (Unofficially withdrew)	1.3	32,845
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	2,294

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,515,104
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Keenan Dunham (L)
• David Weikle (L)

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Jaime Harrison advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate South Carolina.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Justin Wooton (D)
• Gloria Bromell Tinubu (D)
• Matthew Knights (D)
• William Stone (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate South Carolina

Incumbent Lindsey Graham defeated Michael LaPierre, Joe Reynolds, and Duke Buckner in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate South Carolina on June 9, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lindsey Graham	67.7	317,512
		Michael LaPierre	17.0	79,932
		Joe Reynolds	9.2	43,029
		Duke Buckner	6.1	28,570

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 469,043
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Johnny Garcia (R)
• Peggy Kandies (R)
• Carey Wilson (R)
• Mark Sloan (R)

Constitution convention

Constitution convention for U.S. Senate South Carolina

Bill Bledsoe advanced from the Constitution convention for U.S. Senate South Carolina on January 11, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Bill Bledsoe (Constitution Party)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Joe Reynolds completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Reynolds' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm a Chief Engineer who has spent a life at sea fixing things on the spot. We do not have the luxury of waiting until the next election. That's the same type of drive and determination I'll bring to Washington.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• A Congress for us, not them
• Term limits
• Money out of politics

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Restoring our Congress to a functional legislative branch.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

General George C Marshall.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I don't hang my hat on political philosophy. It doesn't get your mom the drugs she needs. It doesn't stop forest fires. I'm a Chief Engineer. At sea, on the ship? There is no backstop. We keep going until the job is done. Or we sink. There is no 'next year', there is no 'maybe after the election'. That's the same kind of grit and determination I'll bring to Congress.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Voters can't eat political philosophy. My philosophy is this: what's the solution. It's okay to put Hayek or Atlas Shrugged under your pillow, but you can't feed it to your kids. We need more people to buckle down and find solutions, and less philosophy.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

As a Chief Engineer on oceangoing vessels there is no 'maybe tomorrow'. Too often solutions are left gathering dust in Congress because moving them forward takes political risk. Current officeholders don't take those risks. I will, because I'll only be serving one term. Instead of spending my time fundraising or campaigning, or gaming the system to get re-elected, I'll be serving you. Working for you.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

A solid work ethic. Believing the people of the United States have value. To persevere when everyone says it can't be done.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I fixed Congress so it could work again.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

My Dad woke me up to watch Hank Aaron, and I saw him hit his 715th home run.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Washing dishes, Spiros Restaurant. Three years in high school.

What is your favorite book? Why?

If This is A Man, Primo Levi

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Bugs Bunny

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Rockford Files theme song

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Inability to crack a 6 minute mile.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Our government is run by the wrong people, subsidized by corporations, and the members have little connection to the people. The Congress is riddled with career politicians desperate to hang onto their jobs, but with little incentive to fix problems. Without a reformed Congress there will be no progress. On anything.

What qualities does the U.S. Senate possess that makes it unique as an institution?

One US Senator has a lot of individual power, if he or she so chooses.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for senators to have previous experience in government or politics?

No.

What do you think of the filibuster?

Unimpressed. It seems to be an excuse not to do anything.

What criteria would you apply when deciding whether to confirm presidential appointees?

Experience and good judgment.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other senators?

I'm not a ring kisser. But I'll be professional. I won't burn bridges.

If you are not a current senator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Ethics, Rules, Budget, Foreign Affairs, Commerce

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. Senate, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

Majority Leader. Ok, that's a joke. But you asked.

Is there a particular senator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Warren Rudman. Decent. Honest. Fair.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2020 Elections

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Government

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External links

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Footnotes

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South Carolina's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Lindsey Graham (R)

Tim Scott (R)

Representatives

District 1

Nancy Mace (R)

District 2

Joe Wilson (R)

District 3

Sheri Biggs (R)

District 4

William Timmons (R)

District 5

Ralph Norman (R)

District 6

James Clyburn (D)

District 7

Russell Fry (R)

Republican Party (8)

Democratic Party (1)