Tate Few was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned a bachelor's degree from Coastal Carolina University in 2022 and a graduate degree from the University of North Dakota in 2023. As of April 2024, Few attended law school at the University of South Carolina. He previously worked as a legislative assistant at the South Carolina House of Representatives. He has contributed his time to various causes, supporting organizations such as SC United, the Environmental Defense Fund, HomelessNoMore, Harvest Hope Food Bank, Rapid Shelter Columbia, and the UofSC Law Pro-Bono Board.[1][2]
Tate Few completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Few's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
I am a law student, who has been inspired to run for office through my experience as a legislative assistant, a community activist, and volunteer at various organizations in Columbia. I am an on the ground advocate for the indigent population of our city by working with legal clinics that reduce barriers to job re-integration efforts and access to justice. I also am involved with LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights organizations that aim to restore and protect our most fundamental rights to choose and to be who we are.
Richland County has the second largest number of people experiencing homelessness in the state. We have 800 unhoused, with a good portion of that being youth and veterans. We need to be putting state funding and backing into job re-integration, expansion of shelter capacity, and improvement of our mental health resources.
District 72 has 35.5% of people that live under the poverty line, in addition to the per capita income being approximately $30,000. That is unacceptable, as the current representative and our state could be doing more to address this issue. As your representative, I would push for a higher minimum wage, increased compensation for specialized professions like teaching, required paid parental leave, and state funding into affordable housing initiatives.
We are in a battle for our fundamental rights to choose, to be who we are, and to feel safe. We need someone in the House that will wholeheartedly advocate for these issues. As an LGBTQ+ community member, I can bring an invaluable perspective to debates about our own rights, bringing both attention and advocacy, because representation is critical in times like these. I will make it a priority to ensure that the people have a voice through referendums, as the state has chosen not to listen to their constituents.
Alleviating homelessness and poverty, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights, education, common sense gun reform, environmental protection, and healthcare access.
I bring compassion, empathy, and dedication to the office. I believe as a representative you have to actively listen to the people, hear and empathize with their situation, and then use that to fuel your dedication to get an injustice resolved for them and all others that are facing hardship in our state.
We are a government in service to and working for the people. The people deserve all information disclosed about a candidate to make an informed decision on holding their elected officials accountable. In addition, the people are taxpayers, and therefore should be privy to financial decisions made by the state.
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.
Note: Few submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on April 19, 2024.
I am a first-time, young candidate, who would be the first LGBTQ+ Democrat to be elected in SC state history. I served as a Legislative Assistant at the South Carolina State House during the previous session, which gave me experience working with critical issues in our state. I was inspired to run, because I feel that we need more vocal advocates that inspire the people to enact change, and a representative that is willing to work heavily with advocacy organizations on the ground. In addition, we need a representative that will fiercely defend the interests and rights of the people of South Carolina.
The median age of District 72 is 23.5 years old. We need someone in office that is representative of that. I would be 23 years old on the day I take office, while my opponent is 43. I am proud to be running a candidacy that embodies the nature of our district, and to be bringing a perspective of someone that is both young and in the LGBTQ+ community.
The state has continually shown that they intend to abridge the rights and interests of women and the LGBTQ+ community. I intend to push for referendums to allow the people of South Carolina to decide on certain issues like abortion. In addition, I plan on pushing for legislation that will protect the rights of members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Richland County, within District 72, has the second largest number of people in the state affected by homelessness, in addition to most people living paycheck to paycheck. I believe that we need to push for affordable housing, reduce barriers to getting a quality education, raise teacher pay, increase the minimum wage, resolve wage gaps, and institute paid parental leave. I intend to propose legislation to implement those, as well as address the efficiency of government assistance programs, subsidize the cost of childcare (i.e provide funding for food for our children in school and during the summer), and increase our investment in public transportation and other specialized transportation services.
I am passionate about any area of policy that is of concern to the people of South Carolina. That includes abortion, gun control, the environment, supporting workers, education, healthcare, affordable housing, LGBTQ+ rights, and public infrastructure.
I bring compassion, empathy, and dedication to the office. I believe as a representative you have to actively listen to the people, hear and empathize with their situation, and then use that to fuel your dedication to get an injustice resolved for them and all others that are facing hardship in our state.
While I don't remember this firsthand, it still inspires me to this day. I was born three months immature. When I was born, I was thought to be dead by the doctor, along with my twin brother. My mom told me that the doctors put me on an oxygen mask to get me breathing, and after several minutes, I pushed the oxygen mask off of my face and was alive for the first time. That story inspires me, because there is a chance that I would not be here today. I appreciate the opportunity I was given to be here, to find my purpose, and to make the world a better place.
I have worked in customer service roles most of my life. I come from a low-income family that understands the value of hard-work. I also understand what it is like to live paycheck to paycheck. It is that understanding that allows me to relate directly with the people and to more adequately represent their interests. I now attend the University of South Carolina School of Law, an opportunity that I will always be grateful for.
We are a government in service to and working for the people. The people deserve all information disclosed about a candidate to make an informed decision on holding their elected officials accountable. In addition, the people are taxpayers, and therefore should be privy to financial decisions made by the state.
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.
Note: Few submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on February 7, 2024.
Tate is a first-time, young, LGBTQ+ candidate. Tate is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, moved to Charleston, SC in 2016, and came to Columbia, SC in January 2023. Tate's family is native to South Carolina, with his parents being born in Greenville, SC. Tate's twin brother with Down Syndrome (Jack Few) is very special to him and has made him a positive, compassionate, and driven individual throughout their time growing up together. Given that, Tate will ensure that all citizens of our great state are heard and cared for when it comes to advocating on behalf of their needs. Tate is currently a law student at the University of South Carolina School of Law pursuing a J.D.. His education includes a B.A. in Intelligence and National Security from Coastal Carolina University and an M.S. from the University of North Dakota. Tate has also worked as a Legislative Assistant at the SC State House during the 2023-2024 Session. It is what inspired him to run for this office, as the voices of the people in District 72 need to be heard and passionately represented when it comes to critical issues, such as abortion, gun control, and education, where that is not currently the case. During his time working in the State House, he would rarely see his opponent speak out. As a Democrat in SC, advocacy is our power and inspiring the public is our way to change the status quo.
I plan on voting against any anti-LGBTQ+ bill. I will speak out against anti-transgender healthcare legislation, anti-LGBTQ+ youth policy, curriculum censorship, and the so-called license to discriminate. I will ensure that the voices of my constituents are heard through subcommittee testimony and through protest/advocacy.
The United States has had approx. 560 mass shootings this year alone. The State House passed "Constitutional Carry", which limits the amount of training, broadens the age requirement, and essentially removes the majority of barriers to get a gun. I will introduce bills that are geared towards resolving those loopholes, such as background checks, age increases, and limiting the type of gun one can carry in the state.
We need to make sure that we are protecting our vulnerable populations in South Carolina from homelessness. I plan on advocating for the expansion of housing/food vouchers in the state budget (i.e. Section 8, Food Stamps, etc.), increasing efficiency in DSS and the Housing Authority in fulfilling applications on the waitlist, expanding rapid shelter facilities, developing microunits, and advocating for hunger-relief efforts (i.e. free school lunches, food/nutrition security, etc.).
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.
Note: Few submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on November 21, 2023.
Tate is originally from Charleston, SC and currently lives in Columbia, SC. Tate comes from a native South Carolinean family with his mother (Sarah Few) and father (Earle Few) being born in Greenville, SC. He also has a twin brother with Down Syndrome (Jack Few) who has pushed him to be a positive, compassionate, and driven individual throughout their time growing up together. Tate is currently a law student at the University of South Carolina School of Law pursuing a J.D. in International Legal Studies. His education includes a B.A. in Intelligence and National Security from Coastal Carolina University and an M.S. from the University of North Dakota. Tate has also worked as a Legislative Assistant at the SC State House during the 2023-2024 Session, whereas he received ample experience in learning the processes of the State House and how to be an effective legislator. Tate is currently the owner of a non-profit corporation known as the Sentinel Aerospace Corporation. Through his non-profit, he advocates for legal reform and R&D for debris sustainability in Earth's orbit, which helps maintain sufficient access to broadband, GPS, and other critical civilian infrastructure. Additionally, he works on the National Board of the Phi Sigma Pi Honor Fraternity pushing for expansion of leadership programs across the nation to give students the opportunity to grow as individuals and to push them to make positive contributions in their community.
Pro-Choice candidate that wants to ensure the privacy rights of women are protected in the state of SC.
Advocate for education reform by pushing for teacher pay raises, funding for public schools, and fighting for students to learn all aspects of history.
Raising the minimum wage for SC as it is currently unestablished, whereas we follow the federal guideline.
I am passionate about women's rights, education, affordable healthcare, supporting the working class, making housing more affordable, mitigating homelessness, and environmental sustainability.
My very first job was being a team member at Chick-fil-A during high school. I had that job for a couple years before I graduated and left for college.
I believe that the governor and the state legislature should have a relationship that is conducive to the system of checks and balances should that need arrive. However, cooperation, communication, and compromise are key components of that relationship.
Yes. Compromise is not only desirable, but it is the foundation upon which we govern effectively in pursuit of representing the common interest of the public.
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.
Note: Few submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on January 31, 2023.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Tate Few campaign contribution history
Year
Office
Status
Contributions
Expenditures
2024*
South Carolina House of Representatives District 72
Lost primary
$7,169
$10,402
Grand total
$7,169
$10,402
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
Ballotpedia features 637,514 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Click here to contact our editorial staff or report an error. For media inquiries, contact us here. Please donate here to support our continued expansion.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
