VoterBloc
Photograph of Joe Wilson

Joe Wilson

U.S. House · SC-2 · Republicans · since 2025

also

Candidate for U.S. House · SC-2

Target Joe

Biography

Overview

Joe Wilson is a Republican U.S. Representative from South Carolina's 2nd congressional district, serving since 2001. A lawyer and former South Carolina state senator, Wilson is known for his focus on foreign policy, national security, and armed services issues. He serves as an assistant Republican whip and chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia.

Career

Wilson has sponsored bills on teacher recruitment and retention, college campus fire safety, and tax credits for adoptions and living organ donors. He cites his vote for the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 as his most important vote. In 2024, the Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act, which Wilson introduced in 2023, passed the House. He co-founded and chairs the EU Caucus and co-chairs multiple international caucuses focused on democracy and security issues.

Prior political experience

Wilson was first elected in a special election on December 18, 2001, winning 73% of the vote after a crowded five-way Republican primary. He won his first full term in 2002 with 84%, defeating minor-party candidates. His closest race came in 2008 against Democrat Rob Miller, winning 54% to 46%. Most recently, in 2024, he defeated Democrat David Robinson with 59.5% of the vote. In 2012, he ran unopposed and won with 96% of the vote.

Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Ideology

Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)

Liberal
Conservative
119th Congress+0.530

Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)

−1
+1
+0.161
Source: Voteview DW-NOMINATE · 327 scored votes

Campaigns targeting Joe Wilson

No active campaigns target Joe Wilson right now.

Start a campaign targeting Joe Wilson

Officeholding history

TermSeatTerm datesTerminationPredecessorSuccessor
13thU.S. House SC-22025–presentIn progressJoe Wilson—
12thU.S. House SC-22023–2025Term endedJoe WilsonJoe Wilson
11thU.S. House SC-22021–2023Term endedJoe WilsonJoe Wilson
10thU.S. House SC-22019–2021Term endedJoe WilsonJoe Wilson
9thU.S. House SC-22017–2019Term endedJoe WilsonJoe Wilson
8thU.S. House SC-22015–2017Term endedJoe WilsonJoe Wilson
7thU.S. House SC-22013–2015Term endedJoe WilsonJoe Wilson
6thU.S. House SC-22011–2013Term endedJoe WilsonJoe Wilson
5thU.S. House SC-22009–2011Term endedJoe WilsonJoe Wilson
4thU.S. House SC-22007–2009Term endedJoe WilsonJoe Wilson
3rdU.S. House SC-22005–2007Term endedJoe WilsonJoe Wilson
2ndU.S. House SC-22003–2005Term endedJoe WilsonJoe Wilson
1stU.S. House SC-22001–2003Term ended—Joe Wilson

Committee assignments

Current term legislation

Bills sponsored this term10

Bills cosponsored this term10

Elections

YearSeatResultVote shareField
——Pending——