Tom Rice

Hugh Thompson Rice Jr. (born August 4, 1957) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 7th congressional district from 2013 to 2023. The district contained most of the northeastern corner of the state and includes Myrtle Beach, the Grand Strand, Florence, Cheraw, and Darlington. He is a member of the Republican Party. Rice was first elected in 2012 and was a member of the freshman class chosen to sit at the House Republican leadership table. In 2021, Rice was one of ten Republicans to vote to impeach Donald Trump, leading to his censure by the South Carolina Republican Party. He became a vocal critic of Trump, who later endorsed Russell Fry, a state representative, to challenge Rice in the Republican primary. In 2022, Rice lost renomination to Fry in a landslide, garnering less than 25% of the vote. This was the worst performance for a House incumbent in a primary with just one incumbent running since 1992.