Alvin Greene

Greene was born in Florence, South Carolina. His father, James Greene Sr., is a retired teacher from the Clemson Extension program, a barber, and a nightclub owner "who wanted blacks to play a bigger role in politics and entertainment."{{cite web|url=http://free-times.com/index.php?cat=1992912064227409&ShowArticle_ID=11011506102495579|last=Hutchins|first=Corey|title=The Manning-churian Candidate?|work=freetimes|date=June 15, 2010|access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-date=June 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623003821/http://www.free-times.com/index.php?cat=1992912064227409&ShowArticle_ID=11011506102495579|url-status=dead}}.

Greene received a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of South Carolina in 2000.

Greene served as a unit supply specialist in the U.S. Army from February 2007 to August 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/23/alvin-greene-responds-to_n_656959.html|title=Alvin Greene Responds To Release Of Military Records: 'Ridiculous...They Only Promote The Terrorists And The Communists'|first=Nick|last=Wing|date=July 24, 2010|access-date=February 27, 2019|publisher=HuffPost}} He also previously served in the South Carolina Air National Guard from 1995 to 2002, on active duty with the U.S. Air Force as an intelligence specialist from July 2002 to September 2005 and with the Army National Guard for seven months prior to joining the Army.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alvin-greenes-military-records-cite-mistakes/|title=Alvin Greene's Military Records Cite Mistakes|website=Cbsnews.com|date=July 22, 2010|access-date=February 27, 2019}}{{cite magazine|url=https://swampland.time.com/2010/06/21/questions-persist-about-alvin-greenes-mysterious-military-discharges/|title=Questions Persist About Alvin Greene's Mysterious Military Discharges|first=Michael|last=Scherer|access-date=February 27, 2019|magazine=Time|date=June 21, 2010}}

During Greene's time in the Air Force, he received numerous poor evaluations from his superiors. The evaluations stated that Greene was an ineffective leader who was disorganized, made costly errors, and could not clearly express his thoughts. Greene received an honorable but involuntary discharge from the Army in 2009 after a 13-year career.{{cite web|last1=Dwyer|first1=Devin|last2=Osunsami|first2=Steve|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/2010_Elections/alvin-greene-surprise-win-south-carolina-primary-felony/story?id=10867602 |title=Sen. Nominee Was Kicked Out of Army, Has Felony Charge Pending|work=ABC News |access-date=June 10, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100612015711/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/2010_Elections/alvin-greene-surprise-win-south-carolina-primary-felony/story?id=10867602| archive-date= June 12, 2010 | url-status= live}}

For his military service, Greene received the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korea Defense Service Medal, the Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon and the Air Force Training Ribbon.{{cite news|title=In South Carolina, Greene is mystery man despite winning Democratic Senate nod|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/10/AR2010061002499_pf.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Manuel | last=Roig-Franzia}}

{{See also|2010 United States Senate election in South Carolina}}

Greene said that he originally got the idea to run for office in 2008 when he was stationed in Korea.{{Cite web|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2010/06/alvin-greene-south-carolina/|title=Who Is Alvin Greene?|last=Khimm|first=Suzy|date=2010-06-09|website=Mother Jones|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-09}} On June 8, 2010, he won the South Carolina Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, receiving 100,362 (59%) votes out of 170,215 votes cast; 69,853 (41%) went to Vic Rawl. Greene's victory over Rawl, a Charleston County councilmember and former state legislator,{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Senate-candidate-Vic-Rawl-asks-for-primary-redo-3185138.php|title=Senate candidate Vic Rawl asks for primary redo|first1=Meg|last1=Kinnard|first2=Associated|last2=Press|date=June 15, 2010|website=SFGate}} was described as an upset.{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38479.html|title=Rawl may protest unlikely loss to Greene|first=David|last=Catanese|website=POLITICO|date=June 13, 2010 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/greenes-primary-opponent-calls-for-investigation-of-election-results|title=Greene's Primary Opponent Calls for Investigation of Election Results|date=March 26, 2015|website=Fox News}} At the time of his Senate campaign, Greene was unemployed and living with and caring for his fatherWolfe, Wes. http://www.wolfereports.com/tag/alvin-greene/ Strange happenings in the Dem senatorial primary. {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20100610234103/http://www.wolfereports.com/tag/alvin-greene/ |date=June 10, 2010 }} Wolfe Reports. May 21, 2010. in Manning, South Carolina.Hutchins, Corey. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100612145146/http://www.free-times.com/index.php?cat=1992912064017974&ShowArticle_ID=11011905102861700 A Phantom Candidate for U.S. Senate?] Free Times. Issue #23.20 :: May 19, 2010 – May 25, 2010 Greene won the primary despite very limited campaigning and campaign spending and despite having no website and no yard signs.[http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/06/08/unknown_candidate_wins_senate_nomination.html Political Wire: Unknown Candidate wins Senate Nomination] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611144203/http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/06/08/unknown_candidate_wins_senate_nomination.html |date=June 11, 2010 }}. Retrieved June 8, 2010. Voter turnout in most counties was in the range of 20–30%.South Carolina State Election Commission. [http://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/16117/27900/en/summary.html Official election results. Note: scroll down or page through the list to find the results for the Democratic Senate primary.] US Senate Results (Dem). June 14, 2010.

After Greene was declared the winner and Rawl congratulated him on his win, Democratic officials began to voice opposition and to raise questions about Greene and his campaign. He did not attend the state Democratic party convention, did not file legally required forms with the Secretary of the Senate or Federal Election Commission, and attempted to pay his $10,440 filing fee with a personal check, rather than a check from a campaign account.

Though his primary victory baffled many, some explanations have been offered. South Carolina State Senator Robert Ford claimed that the surname "Greene" is common among African-Americans, and suggested that fact may have caused African-American voters to identify with him.Robert Behre and David Slade, [http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/jun/10/strange-twist-in-senate-race/ Update: Clyburn calls for probe in Senate race] The Post and Courier, June 10, 2010. Some, including House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, speculated that Greene was a Republican plant and called for an investigation into the primary.[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/12/us/politics/12greene.html South Carolina Votes First, Asks Questions (Who’s Alvin Greene?) Later] The New York Times, Mark Leibovich. June 11, 2010{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/politicaljunkie/2010/06/10/127741230/democrats-are-hinting-foul-play-in-south-carolina-senate-primary|title=Democrats Are Hinting Foul Play In South Carolina Senate Primary|first=Ken|last=Rudin|date=June 10, 2010|via=NPR}} Officials noted that similar tactics had been used in the past,Cook, John. [https://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_pl2500 Mystery S.C. nominee has pending felony charge] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612121111/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_pl2500 |date=June 12, 2010 }}. Yahoo! News, June 9, 2010. including in a 1990 primary in South Carolina.Franke-Ruta, Garance. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/10/AR2010061004943.html Intrigue surrounding S.C.'s Democratic primary deepens], The Washington Post, June 11, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2010.Hunter, Kathleen. [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003680810 Clyburn Calls for Probe Into South Carolina Primary Candidates.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611073728/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003680810 |date=June 11, 2010 }} Congressional Quarterly. June 10, 2010. Greene denied the assertion that he was a Republican plant.{{cite magazine| last =Duboff| first =Josh| title =Keith Olbermann Struggles To Get Answers From Alvin Greene| magazine =New York| date =June 11, 2010| url =http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/06/keith_olbermann_attempts_to_ge.html| access-date =June 11, 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100613022653/http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/06/keith_olbermann_attempts_to_ge.html| archive-date= June 13, 2010 | url-status= live}} Vic Rawl's campaign issued a press release that election forensics analyst Dr. Walter Mebane had "performed second-digit Benford's law tests on the precinct returns from the Senate race" and found improbable vote patterns. Dr. Michael Miller reportedly found a significant difference in the vote percentages in absentee voters and Election Day voters, indicating a corrupted count.{{Cite web|last=Schaller|first=Tom|date=2010-06-12|title=SC Democratic Primary Getting Weirder By The Hour|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/sc-democratic-primary-getting-weirder/|access-date=2021-01-22|website=FiveThirtyEight|language=en-US}}

Some commentators raised questions about the source of Greene's funding for the $10,440 filing fee. Federal and state law requires a candidate to pay a filing fee out of his own pocket. Greene claimed that he paid the filing fee by saving two years of his service pay.[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna37613034 Top Dem wants mystery candidate investigated]. NBC News, June 10, 2010. However, Greene qualified to be represented by a public defender in his obscenity case.Cook, John. [https://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100610/pl_ynews/ynews_pl2523_3 Where'd Alvin Greene get, K to run for Senate?]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Yahoo! News, June 10, 2010. Former state Democratic Party chairman Dick Harpootlian told NPR that this revelation raised doubts about whether Greene could have afforded the filing fee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127747650|title=How Did Alvin Greene Win In South Carolina?|website=NPR.org}}

In response to an official protest filed by Rawl, the executive committee of the South Carolina Democratic Party conducted a formal hearing on June 17, 2010, to assess the legitimacy of the primary election results.Kinnard, Meg (June 17, 2010) [https://web.archive.org/web/20100620012124/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hNyH1XTKf1Adc_-fGBAefXf8YYEQD9GD3ODO0 "SC Dems hearing protest over US Senate primary"], The Associated Press. Retrieved June 17, 2010.O'Donnell, Kelly (June 16, 2010) [https://web.archive.org/web/20100619103408/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/06/16/4517878-sc-dems-to-hold-hearing-on-greene-tomorrow "SC Dems to hold hearing on Greene tomorrow"], MSNBC.com. Retrieved June 17, 2010. Greene neither attended nor sent a representative to the hearing. The executive committee of the South Carolina Democratic Party voted 55 to 10 to reject Rawl's request for a new Senate primary,Capehart, Jonathan (June 18, 2010) {{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/06/green_light_for_alvin_greenes.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004165459/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/06/green_light_for_alvin_greenes.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 4, 2012|title=Green light for Alvin Greene's senate run | newspaper=The Washington Post}}, The Washington Post. Retrieved June 18, 2010.Washington, Wayne (June 18, 2010) [http://www.thestate.com/2010/06/17/1337480/will-democrats-overturn-us-senate.html "Democrats uphold Greene’s nomination for Senate"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619071858/http://www.thestate.com/2010/06/17/1337480/will-democrats-overturn-us-senate.html |date=June 19, 2010 }}, The State.com. Retrieved June 18, 2010. finding insufficient evidence of impropriety to disturb the primary election result.Kinnard, Meg. [https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hNyH1XTKf1Adc_-fGBAefXf8YYEQD9GDDHBG0 "SC Dems uphold US Senate primary shocker"]{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, The Associated Press. Retrieved June 17, 2010.Toeplitz, Shira (June 18, 2010) [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38704.html "S.C. Dems reject Rawl appeal"], Politico. Retrieved June 18, 2010.

On June 27, 2010, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the 5th Circuit Solicitor's office announced that they were investigating Greene's finances. On the same day, it emerged that Greene's public defender had been replaced by a private attorney.Monk, John. [http://www.thestate.com/2010/06/28/1353788/us-sen-race-greenes-finances-subject.html Greene’s finances subject of SLED investigation] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701020131/http://www.thestate.com/2010/06/28/1353788/us-sen-race-greenes-finances-subject.html |date=July 1, 2010 }}. The State, June 28, 2010. On July 9, 2010, Greene was cleared of wrongdoing after a state criminal probe determined Greene had indeed paid the filing fee from his own personal funds.{{cite news|author =Charles Riley |author2=Peter Hamby |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/09/south.carolina.greene.investigation/ |title=Greene cleared in South Carolina investigation |website=Cnn.com |date= July 10, 2010|access-date=August 21, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100807153116/http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/09/south.carolina.greene.investigation/| archive-date= August 7, 2010 | url-status= live}}

At multiple points during the campaign, the South Carolina Democratic Party called for Greene to withdraw his candidacy. In August 2010, South Carolina Democratic Party chairwoman Carol Fowler asserted that the criminal charges against Greene would make it impossible for him to run a statewide campaign.{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/alvin-greene-howls-after_n_683691|title=Alvin Greene Howls After Obscenity Indictment Raised In Interview (VIDEO)|first=Elyse|last=Siegel|date=August 16, 2010|website=HuffPost}}

Greene has been called an enigmatic figure in American politics.{{cite news|last=SEELYE|first=KATHARINE Q.|title=Enigmatic Jobless Man Prepares Senate Campaign|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/us/politics/11greene.html?ref=alvingreene&_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=July 10, 2010}}{{cite news|last=Kinnard|first=Meg|title=Alvin Greene, Enigmatic South Carolina Senate Candidate, To Make First Public Speech|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/12/alvin-greene-south-caroli_n_643151.html|work=Huffington Post|access-date=19 March 2013|date=July 12, 2010}} He is known for his "strange, well-documented behavior on the campaign trail".{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2010/07/alvin-greene-documentarians-have-their-work-cut-out-for-them|title=Alvin Greene Documentarians Have Their Work Cut Out for Them|first=Juli |last=Weiner |date=July 29, 2010|magazine=Vanity Fair}} In a June 2010 interview, CNN's Don Lemon asked Greene about his mental state and cognitive ability.{{Cite web|url=https://theweek.com/articles/493558/alvin-greenes-bizarre-cnn-interview|title=Alvin Greene's 'bizarre' CNN interview|date=June 14, 2010|website=theweek.com}}

Much attention was devoted to Greene's manner of speaking due to his habits of frequently interrupting himself, halting in mid-sentence, and saying "OK" between statements. At times, his jokes were not well understood by the media, such as when he told British newspaper The Guardian that one way to create jobs was to employ people to make toys in his likeness.[https://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20100729/pl_yblog_upshot/alvin-greene-may-end-up-on-the-big-screen Coming soon: Alvin Greene, the movie] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100803044156/http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20100729/pl_yblog_upshot/alvin-greene-may-end-up-on-the-big-screen|date=August 3, 2010}} Yahoo! News, Michael Calderone. July 29, 2010{{Cite news|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jul/06/alvin-greene-south-carolina-senate# |title=Alvin Greene: America's most unlikely politician|date=July 6, 2010}} A study by the Pew Research Center released in late July 2010 found that Greene's campaign had received the most media attention of all of the 2010 political campaigns.{{cite news|last=Davis |first=Susan |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/07/26/alvin-greene-gets-most-media-attention/ |title=Alvin Greene Gets Most Media Attention – Washington Wire – WSJ |website=Blogs.wsj.com |date=July 26, 2010 |access-date=August 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828092959/https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/07/26/alvin-greene-gets-most-media-attention/ |archive-date=August 28, 2010 |url-status=live }}

In late July 2010, a hip hop-based viral video entitled "Alvin Greene is on the scene" became a hit on YouTube and other internet sites, garnering thousands of views an hour.{{Cite news|title=Alvin Greene rap video removed from YouTube|publisher=WACH Fox News Center|url=http://www.midlandsconnect.com/news/story.aspx?id=488402|date=July 27, 2010|access-date=July 27, 2010|archive-date=July 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719141539/http://www.midlandsconnect.com/news/story.aspx?id=488402|url-status=dead}} It promoted Greene's candidacy and intermixed media clips of him with clips of LeBron James. AutoTune was used to manipulate some of the lyrics.{{Cite news|url=http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/07/22/4731515-when-i-say-alvin-you-say-greene|website=MSNBC.com|date=July 22, 2010|access-date=July 22, 2010|title=When I say Alvin, you say Greene| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100725013559/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/07/22/4731515-when-i-say-alvin-you-say-greene| archive-date= July 25, 2010 | url-status= dead}}{{Cite news|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/22/alvin-greenes-on-the-scene/|title=Alvin Greene's 'On the Scene'|work=The New York Times|date=July 22, 2010|access-date=July 22, 2010|first=Katherine Q.|last=Seelye| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100723070108/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/22/alvin-greenes-on-the-scene/| archive-date= July 23, 2010 | url-status= live}} Greene has since denied that he played any role in the production of the video.{{Cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/23/alvin-greene-is-on-the-scene-not-official-but-greenes-listening/?fbid=QzhE-P0Hcth|title='Alvin Greene is on the Scene': Not official, but Greene's listening|website=Cnn.com|first=Peter|last=Hamby|date=July 23, 2010|access-date=July 23, 2010|archive-date=October 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007204018/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/23/alvin-greene-is-on-the-scene-not-official-but-greenes-listening/?fbid=QzhE-P0Hcth|url-status=dead}}

In August 2010, a reporter visited Greene's home and asked about his recent indictment. In response, Greene "ordered the reporter to 'leave [his] property' and 'go away'". When the reporter "'stopped briefly to talk with Greene's brother Jimmy, Alvin Greene began howling and wailing the words, "no" and "go"'".

Greene was the first African-American to be nominated for the U.S. Senate by a major party in South Carolina.[http://www.theroot.com/views/alvin-greene-and-strange-politics-south-carolina Alvin Greene and the Strange Politics of South Carolina] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812001117/http://www.theroot.com/views/alvin-greene-and-strange-politics-south-carolina |date=August 12, 2010 }}, by Terence Samuel, Washington Post Newsweek InteractiveFranke-Ruta, Garance. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120506070924/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/06/clyburn-alvin-greene-is-someon.html?wprss=44 Clyburn: Alvin Greene is 'someone's plant' in South Carolina], The Washington Post blog, June 6, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.

The day after the primary election, the media reported that Greene was facing felony obscenity charges stemming from a November 2009 arrest for allegedly showing a pornographic picture on an Internet site to an 18-year-old female University of South Carolina student in a computer lab and allegedly saying, "Let's go to your room".Khimm, Suzy. [http://motherjones.com/mojo/2010/06/alvin-greene-felony-charge-camille-mccoy Mother Vows Revenge on Alvin Greene for Showing Porn to Her Daughter.] Mother Jones. June 10, 2010.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/10/AR2010061002499_2.html?sid=ST2010061002959|title=In South Carolina, Greene is mystery man despite winning Democratic Senate nod | newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Manuel | last=Roig-Franzia | date=June 11, 2010}}Kinnard, Meg. [http://www.nbcnews.com/id/37589451 Mystery S.C. Dem has pending felony charge]{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Associated Press. June 9, 2010. Greene refused to bow out of the race, asserting that "the Democratic Party has chosen their nominee, and we have to stand behind their choice. The people have spoken. We need to be pro-South Carolina, not anti-Greene".{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/09/AR2010060905512.html |title=S.C. Democrat Greene urged to quit U.S. Senate race over obscenity charge |newspaper=The Washington Post |date= June 10, 2010|access-date=June 10, 2010}}

Greene hired South Carolina attorney Suzanne Coe as his campaign manager. Coe said she offered to assist Greene after being struck by his honesty and selfless motivation.[http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=92102&catid=2 Alvin Greene Campaign Manager Suzanne Coe: His Honesty is Refreshing] WLTX.com, Tony Santaella and James Gilbert. July 29, 2010

The progressive watchdog organization Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington named Greene to their list of the 11 most crooked candidates vying for federal office in 2010. Greene took exception to this designation, saying that "I think my opponent should be on this list. He's not doing his job and he doesn't care about South Carolina or the United States of America."{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/40404.html|title=Greene makes watchdog's 'crooked' list|first=Daniel|last=Strauss|website=POLITICO|date=July 29, 2010 }}

In the general election, Greene faced DeMint, Green Party candidate Tom Clements, and write-in candidates Nathalie Dupree{{cite web |url=http://www.independentmail.com/news/2010/oct/01/dupress-promises-stir-pot/ |title=Dupree promises to stir the pot |website=Independentmail.com |date=October 1, 2010 |access-date=November 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629142109/http://www.independentmail.com/news/2010/oct/01/dupress-promises-stir-pot/ |archive-date=June 29, 2011 }} and Mazie Ferguson.{{cite web|author=NICK McCORMAC |url=http://www.theitem.com/news/article_13633fa0-5b9f-5430-8f08-7a7105686b1d.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204052844/http://www.theitem.com/news/article_13633fa0-5b9f-5430-8f08-7a7105686b1d.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 4, 2013 |title=News – Sumter native launches write-in campaign for Senate |website=Theitem.com |access-date=November 2, 2010 }} On November 2, 2010, Greene lost to DeMint by a margin of 61.48% to 27.65%, with Clements receiving 9.21% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/19077/39425/en/summary.html|title=SC – Election Results|website=Enr-scvotes.org|access-date=February 27, 2019}}

On December 24, 2010, Greene filed as a candidate in the Democratic primary special election for the South Carolina House of Representatives seat left vacant by the death of Representative Cathy Harvin.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/failed-u-s-senate-candidate-alvin-greene-now-trying-for-south-carolina-house-seat|title=Failed U.S. Senate Candidate Alvin Greene Now Trying for South Carolina House Seat|agency=Associated Press|date=December 27, 2010|access-date=December 28, 2010|publisher=FOX News}} The primary was held on February 15, 2011; Greene received 37 votes.{{cite news|url=http://www.live5news.com/story/14030936/greene-back-on-ballot-this-time-for-sc-house|title=Greene gets trounced in primary for SC House seat|date=February 16, 2011|access-date=September 17, 2014|publisher=WCSC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140918031651/http://www.live5news.com/story/14030936/greene-back-on-ballot-this-time-for-sc-house|archive-date=September 18, 2014|url-status=dead}}

After he lost the 2010 Senate election, Greene reportedly asked the South Carolina Democratic Party how much the filing fee would be to run for President of the United States.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/44895.html|title=Alvin Greene mulls presidential bid|last=Hunt|first=Kasie|date=November 10, 2010|work=Politico|access-date=November 10, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101111165546/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/44895.html| archive-date= November 11, 2010 | url-status= live}} The next day, he confirmed to the Columbia Free Times that he was "seriously considering" a presidential campaign, although he was not sure which party's nomination he would seek.{{cite news|url=http://www.free-times.com/index.php?cat=1992209084141467&act=post&pid=11861011104084234|title=Alvin Greene "Seriously Considering" Presidential Run in 2012|last=Hutchins|first=Corey|date=November 10, 2010|work=Columbia Free Times|access-date=November 10, 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20101124115236/http://free-times.com/index.php?cat=1992209084141467&act=post&pid=11861011104084234|archive-date=November 24, 2010|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

During his 2010 Senate campaign, Greene's campaign slogan was: "Let's get South Carolina back to work." Greene favored measures to lower the price of gas and supported offshore drilling.

Greene cited the example of mismanagement at the Pentagon as proof that greater accountability in government is needed. He criticized corporate influence on politics, saying that "Half the members of the US Senate work for BP. The other half work for Halliburton."{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/aug/27/alvin-greene-south-carolina|title=The Alvin Greene manifesto for a fairer America | Alvin Greene|first=Alvin|last=Greene|newspaper=The Guardian |date=August 27, 2010|via=www.theguardian.com}}

In an editorial published in The Guardian as "The Alvin Greene manifesto for a fairer America", Greene explained his political views in more detail and attacked the political establishment. Greene advocated free universal health care, saying that the United States should model its system on Austria, Britain, or Canada.[https://www.foxnews.com/politics/the-greene-manifesto-reticent-candidate-tells-all-overseas/ The Greene Manifesto: Reticent Candidate Tells All – Overseas] Fox News, August 31, 2010

Greene supported the idea that the severity of penalty for a misdeed or wrongdoing should be reasonable and proportionate to the severity of the infraction. "Fairness saves us money," he said in an interview. "There are innocent people incarcerated. We spend more than two times of our taxpayer dollars on inmates than on students."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/us/politics/11platform.html|title=Greene's Personal Approach to His Political Platform | work=The New York Times | first=Katharine Q. | last=Seelye | date=July 10, 2010}}

In June 2010, the media reported that Greene was facing felony obscenity charges stemming from an incident that had occurred the previous fall at the University of South Carolina.

The incident occurred in a basement computer lab on the University of South Carolina campus.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/south-carolina-woman-outraged-at-alleged-pursuers-senate-candidacy|title=South Carolina Woman Outraged at Alleged Pursuer's Senate Candidacy|first=Cristina|last=Corbin|date=March 27, 2015|website=Fox News}} According to student Camille McCoy, a man (later identified as Greene) told her to look at his computer screen; pornographic images were displayed on it. McCoy told him that this was "offensive and not funny". Greene then allegedly asked if he could come to her room. McCoy has stated that the situation "was kind of scary. He's a pretty big boy. He could've overpowered me."{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/unknown-senate-candidate-in-sc-faces-felony-charge/|title=Unknown Senate candidate in SC faces felony charge|date=June 10, 2010|website=The Seattle Times}} McCoy then went to her room and told her resident mentor what had happened.{{cite web|url=http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=88430 |title=Alvin Greene, Senate Candidate Charged with Felony, Speaks Out wltx.com | Columbia, SC News, Weather and Sports | |website=Wltx.com |date=November 12, 2009 |access-date=August 21, 2010}} Greene was later arrested.{{Cite web|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/rawl-files-primary-protest/article_d9a65d21-a3e5-5455-9f36-9a0fc73e244c.html|title=Rawl files primary protest|first=Glenn|last=Smith|website=Post and Courier|date=June 14, 2010 }} Greene has asserted that he was joking when he spoke to McCoy, and that he believed she owed him an apology for pressing charges.[http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-alvin-greene-20100730,0,7153874.story A man way, way outside Beltway] Los Angeles Times, Robin Abcarian. July 29, 2010 In an affidavit, police said that they had surveillance video showing the interaction.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/2010_Elections/alvin-greene-surprise-win-south-carolina-primary-felony/story?id=10867602 |title=Alvin Greene, Surprise Win in South Carolina Primary with Felony Pending – ABC News |website=Abcnews.go.com |date=June 9, 2010 |access-date=August 21, 2010}}

On August 12, 2010, a Richland County grand jury indicted Greene for disseminating, procuring or promoting obscenity (a felony) as well as a misdemeanor charge of communicating obscene materials to a person without consent.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/14/us/politics/14greene.html | work=The New York Times | title=S.C. Senate Candidate Is Charged With Obscenity | first=Katharine Q. | last=Seelye | date=August 13, 2010}} On June 6, 2011, Greene accepted the Richland County prosecutor's offer to enter a pretrial diversion program which would expunge his record of both charges after he completed a year-long{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/former-us-senate-hopeful-greene-applies-for-program-to-avoid-jail-time-erase-criminal-charge/2011/06/10/AGpPWFPH_story.html |title=Greene accepts prosecutor's offer |access-date=August 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228065830/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/former-us-senate-hopeful-greene-applies-for-program-to-avoid-jail-time-erase-criminal-charge/2011/06/10/AGpPWFPH_story.html |archive-date=February 28, 2019 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} course of counseling and community service.{{cite web|url=http://wach.com/news/local/alvin-greene-accepts-pre-trial-program-to-erase-charges|title=Alvin Greene accepts pre-trial program to erase charges|date=June 10, 2011|website=Wach.com|access-date=February 27, 2019}}

On August 9, 2013, Greene was arrested on a trespassing charge at an apartment complex in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A report says Greene was walking around at night, was disoriented, and asked for paramedics. The paramedics checked on Greene, who was then taken into custody.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alvin-greene-former-sc-senate-candidate-arrested/|title=Alvin Greene, former S.C. Senate candidate, arrested|website=Cbsnews.com|date=August 13, 2013 |access-date=February 27, 2019}}

Greene noted in a 2018 interview that he was supportive of President Donald Trump.{{Cite news |last=Kropf |first=Schuyler |date=September 14, 2020 |title=Alvin Greene, celebrity candidate, lives in obscurity, approves of Donald Trump |work=The Post and Courier |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/alvin-greene-celebrity-candidate-lives-in-obscurity-approves-of-donald-trump/article_65eea282-b073-11e8-b4ad-83ecda709038.html |access-date=October 15, 2023}}

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100626111424/http://www.alvingreeneforussenator.com/ Alvin M. Greene for United States Senate] official campaign site {{small|(Archived)}}
• {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=121786 | fec= | congress= }}
• [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=SCS1&cycle=2010 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org
• [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=239680 Candidate profile] at OurCampaigns.com
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYtnrvn9xd4 Alvin Greene] The Big Picture on SCETV, June 10, 2010 (video of interview)
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar09czbfE8o ALVIN GREENE IS ON THE SCENE] music video at YouTube
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr1Ea2SKY5k Who is Alvin Greene?] (A documentary film by Leslie Beaumont and David Garrett.)

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Category:1977 births

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