Topline
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) made his first public appearance with his girlfriend at the end of Wednesday’s GOP presidential debate following months of intrigue surrounding his bachelor status—grabbing headlines after he was upstaged by his opponents’ feuding.
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott speaks to members of the media in the spin room following the third … [+]
Key Facts
Scott brought a woman on stage at the end of Wednesday’s debate, when candidates are typically greeted by their families, appearing arm-in-arm and at one point holding hands.
He told reporters in the post-debate “spin room,” the woman was his girlfriend of “about a year or so,” and multiple outlets later confirmed her name is Mindy Noce, 47, an interior designer based near Charleston, S.C., and a mother of three.
Scott’s romantic life has been the subject of political intrigue since he launched his presidential campaign, including investigations and analyses by a litany of reputable publications such as the Washington Post and New York magazine.
Scott, who at 58 has never been married, has hinted about the relationship, but people close to him have repeatedly told reporters they were unaware he was dating anyone: “It’s nonexistent,” his campaign manager, Jennifer DeCasper, described as a close friend to the Washington Post, told the outlet in September, referring to his romantic life.
Surprising Fact
Americans have elected only one unmarried president, James Buchanan, in 1856. His single status led to widespread speculation about his sexual orientation that persists today.
Key Background
Scott has repeatedly fielded questions from reporters on the campaign trail about his relationship, promising Fox News in September the public would someday meet his significant other, calling her a “wonderful girlfriend.” He also told the Washington Post he couldn’t “imagine dragging her onto the campaign trail unless I have the intention of marrying her,” adding, “I hope that happens, to be honest with you.” While the question seems frivolous, donors have expressed concerns that it could hurt his ability to appeal to voters and raise tedious questions about his romantic life, Axios reported in September, citing sources who said top Republican donors were pressing the campaign for answers about his private life. Noce’s reveal came after a debate that was dominated by bickering between the three candidates on stage who are leading Scott in polls: biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Scott is currently polling at around 2%, according to FiveThirtyEight’s polling average.
Further Reading
5 Takeaways From Trump-Free GOP Debate: Haley Calls Ramaswamy ‘Scum,’ Candidates Spar On China (Forbes)
GOP Debate: DeSantis Blames Trump For Republicans’ Poor Performance In Tuesday’s Elections (Forbes)
‘You’re Just Scum’: Nikki Haley Blasts Vivek Ramaswamy Over Mentioning Her Daughter Using TikTok (Forbes)