SC-07: Russell Fry (R)

REPLACING:

Tom Rice (R)[i]

WORK HISTORY:

South Carolina State House of Representatives (State Representative, District 106 / Chief Majority Whip); Coastal Law LLC (Attorney)[ii] [iii]

EDUCATION:

Diploma, Socastee High School; BA, University of South Carolina; JD, Charleston School of Law[iv] [v]

CAMPAIGNED ON:

Election Security; Trump Conservative; Trump Economy & Spending; Illegal Immigration; Fewer Government Regulations; Lowering Taxes; Restoring American Energy[vi]

SOCIAL MEDIA:

  

   

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

Fry is strongly opposed to abortion. He celebrated the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, tweeting, “Praise God! The Supreme Court just REVERSED 49 years of bad precedent! Countless lives will be saved because of this decision! Life won today!”[vii] In May 2022, Fry sponsored H 5399 in the South Carolina State House, a bill that would prohibit all abortions.[viii]

ECONOMY, JOBS & TAXES:

Fry argues that lower taxes, fewer regulations, energy independence, lower government spending, and free markets are essential for improving the economy. He has been critical of the Biden administration and accused it of “launching war on American energy independence and increasing regulations on American enterprise,” alleging that these practices caused current inflation levels.[ix]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

Fry served as a co-chairman of the House Opioid Study Committee in the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2018.[x] He has called the opioid crisis an “epidemic” and worked to pass several bills addressing the crisis during his time on the committee.[xi] In 2018, Fry was named Legislator of the Year by the South Carolina Medical Association for his work addressing the opioid epidemic.[xii] Fry has been critical of the Affordable Care Act, saying “Dems risked everything for Obamacare, but have no priority on debt.”[xiii]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

Fry argues that America needs a “strong and secure border to keep our country safe,” and has stated that “human traffickers, drug lords, criminals, and thousands of pounds of deadly drugs are flowing through our open border.” Fry is critical of the Biden administration’s immigration and border security policies, accusing them of turning a “blind eye to our out-of-control and deadly southern border.”[xiv]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

Fry has criticized the “Defund the Police” movement. In September 2020, he criticized South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham for having a staffer that appeared to support defunding the police.[xv]

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS & ELECTION SECURITY:

Fry believes that “Americans across the country witnessed serious voting irregularities in the 2020 elections,” claiming “ballot harvesting” and judicial overreach took place.[xvi]

EDUCATION:

Fry has referred to the student loan relief program as a “vote buying scheme,” further stating, “I have student loans myself and no one else should be responsible for paying them back.”[xvii] Fry has opposed teaching Critical Race Theory in schools.[xviii]

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

Fry wants to “unleash American energy” and has been critical of the Green New Deal, calling it a “fantasy.”[xix] Fry previously served in the South Carolina House Energy Caucus.[xx]

GUN SAFETY:

Fry worked to pass the Open Carry Act in March 2021 and stated that he was “proud to cosponsor the legislation.”[xxi] He also supported a bill allowing the permitless carry of firearms.[xxii] Fry holds a 92% rating from the NRA.[xxiii]

FOREIGN POLICY:

In August 2020, Fry agreed with former President Trump’s claim that then-Presidential candidate Biden’s agenda was “Made in China.”[xxiv]