Curtis M. Loftis, Jr.

Who is Curtis M. Loftis, Jr.?

Curtis M. Loftis, Jr. is an American politician, businessman and philanthropist. He currently serves as the Treasurer of South Carolina. According to the South Carolina Republican Party, he was the first Republican to ever defeat a sitting incumbent in a statewide GOP primary. He was elected on November 2, 2010 and inaugurated January 12, 2011. In the Republican Primary, Loftis garnered 62% of the vote and carried all 46 of the state's counties. In the general election Loftis received more than 907,000 votes. Loftis faced no Democratic opponent in the general election.

He had previously won the Republican primary election on June 8, 2010, becoming the party's nominee for treasurer. The primary campaign was contentious with Loftis characterizing himself as a conservative reform candidate. He was endorsed by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, former US Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and the Club for Growth. He received many state Tea Party movement endorsements, including Boiling Springs, Laurens County, Aiken County, Spartanburg, Hartsville and Myrtle Beach. Loftis was also supported by the business community and received several newspaper endorsements including the Spartanburg Herald-Journal.