Josh Kimbrell
{{Short description|American politician from South Carolina}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Josh Kimbrell
| state_senate = South Carolina
| district = 11th
| term_start = November 9, 2020
| term_end =
| predecessor = Glenn G. Reese
| successor =
| birth_name = Joshua Brett Kimbrell
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|12|18}}
| birth_place = Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| spouse = {{marriage|Liliya Kimbrell|December 19, 2017}}
| children = 2
| education = North Greenville University (BA)
Gardner-Webb University
}}
Joshua Brett Kimbrell (born December 18, 1984) is an American aviation leasing operator and politician. He is also a former Christian talk radio host.
Kimbrell has served as a member of the South Carolina Senate from the 11th District (Spartanburg) since his 2020 election.{{cite web |title=South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography |url=https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0993465790 |website=www.scstatehouse.gov |access-date=May 12, 2021}} He is a member of the Republican Party.{{cite web |title=South Carolina State Sen. Josh Kimbrell - Biography {{!}} LegiStorm |url=https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/315047/Joshua_Brett_Kimbrell.html |website=www.legistorm.com |access-date=May 12, 2021 |language=en}}
S.C. Senate
In 2020, Kimbrell defeated incumbent Democrat Glenn G. Reese, who had held the seat in the South Carolina Senate's 11th District since 1991.
In June 2021, Kimbrell sponsored a bill in the state senate that would "allow mental health professionals to refuse to provide care that violates their religious beliefs."{{cite web |date=21 June 2021 |title=SC considers extending religious objections to therapists |url=https://apnews.com/article/sc-state-wire-business-religion-health-government-and-politics-5777609f4c45f093fe9356adfa852253 |access-date=June 27, 2021 |website=AP |language=en}} During the 2022 session, Kimbrell also introduced a budget proviso to ban "prurient" books in children's library sections at public libraries, though some librarians and other lawmakers said the language was too vague to enforce without banning a wide variety of books.{{cite web |date=5 May 2022 |title=Library leaders fight proposal on banned books |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/library-leaders-fight-proposal-on-banned-books/article_26fada42-c41a-55e8-8d8a-f7c2c15b5eca.html |access-date=June 26, 2022 |website=Post and Courier |language=en}}{{cite web |date=29 April 2022 |title=SC Senate lawmakers consider cutting off aid to libraries that allow kids access to 'prurient material |url=https://www.wltx.com/article/news/politics/senate-lawmakers-may-link-aid-prurient-material-libraries/101-20259161-6ba0-4303-a4bc-2a901e7fbbda |access-date=June 26, 2022 |website=News 19 |language=en}}
2026 Governor's race
See also: 2026 South Carolina gubernatorial election
On March 24,2025 Kimbrell formed an exploratory committee for the 2026 South Carolina gubernatorial election.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=ABC Columbia |date=2025-03-25 |title=State senator launches exploratory committee for governor's race |url=https://www.abccolumbia.com/2025/03/25/state-senator-launches-exploratory-committee-for-governors-race/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=ABC Columbia |language=en-US}}
Endorsements
Kimbrell supported Florida Governor Ron Desantis in the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries, traveling with him to Iowa as a surrogate for the campaign.{{Cite news |last=Barton |first=Tom |date=December 28, 2023 |title=Ron DeSantis enlists South Carolina senator to undercut Nikki Haley in Iowa |url=https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/ron-desantis-enlists-south-carolina-senator-to-undercut-nikki-haley-in-iowa/ |access-date=June 17, 2024 |work=The Gazette}}{{Cite news |last=Contorno |first=Steve |date=December 28, 2023 |title=DeSantis enlists help to make closing case to Iowans – and to undercut Haley in the Hawkeye State |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/28/politics/ron-desantis-iowa-nikki-haley/index.html |access-date=June 17, 2024 |work=CNN}} When Desantis withdrew from the race and endorsed former President Donald Trump, Kimbrell switched his endorsement to Trump.{{Cite news |last=Shutt |first=Jennifer |date=January 21, 2024 |title=Florida’s DeSantis withdraws from Republican presidential race, endorses Trump |url=https://scdailygazette.com/2024/01/21/floridas-desantis-withdraws-from-republican-presidential-race-endorses-trump/ |access-date=June 17, 2024 |work=South Carolina Daily Gazette}}
Personal life
In October 2014, Kimbrell was arrested and charged with sex crimes against his 3-year-old son.{{cite web |title=Christian Talk radio host accused of sex crime against 3-year-old |url=https://www.wyff4.com/article/christian-talk-radio-host-accused-of-sex-crime-against-3-year-old/7011098 |website=WYFF |access-date=May 12, 2021 |language=en |date=16 October 2014}} After being held in jail without bail, the charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence in February 2015.{{cite web |last1=Dykes |first1=David |title=Solicitor dismisses criminal sexual conduct charge against Upstate radio host |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2015/02/19/walt-wlkins-joshua-brett-kimbrell/23687111/ |website=The Greenville News |access-date=May 12, 2021}}
Electoral history
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center;" |
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Year
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Office ! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Type ! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Party ! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Main opponent ! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Party ! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=4 | Votes for Kimbrell ! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Result ! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Swing ! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Ref. |
|---|
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | Total
! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | % ! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | {{abbr|2=Position|P}}. ! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | {{tooltip|2=Change in percentage value since previous election|±%}} |
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | 2018
| U.S. House of Representatives | Rep. primary | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | | 7,465 | 11.13% | 4th | N/A | {{no|Lost}} | colspan=2 | N/A |
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | 2020
| rowspan=1| S.C. Senate | General | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | | Glenn G. Reese{{efn|Incumbent seeking re-election.}} | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | | 26,117 | 55.34% | 1st | N/A | {{yes2|Won}} | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" | | Gain |
Notes
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References
{{Reflist}}
{{South Carolina State Senators}}
{{SouthCarolina-politician-stub}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kimbrell, Josh}}
Category:21st-century Christians
Category:21st-century members of the South Carolina General Assembly
Category:American conservative talk radio hosts
Category:Candidates in the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections
Category:Christians from South Carolina
Category:Gardner–Webb University alumni
Category:North Greenville University alumni
Category:People from Spartanburg, South Carolina