Russell Fry

Russell Fry
Born	Russell William Fry 31 1, 1985
Birthplace	Surfside Beach, South Carolina, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Known for	U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 7th congressional district
Education	University of South Carolina (BA) Charleston School of Law (JD)
Spouse(s)	Bronwen Fry
Children	1
Website	[russellfrysc.com Official site]

Russell William Fry (born January 31, 1985) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 7th congressional district since January 3, 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Fry previously represented the 106th District in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2015 to 2022. Born and raised in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, Fry entered state politics at the age of thirty after winning a special election to fill a vacated seat. He rose through the ranks of the state legislature, serving as Majority Chief Whip for the 122nd South Carolina General Assembly. Fry gained national attention in 2022 when he challenged incumbent U.S. Representative Tom Rice in the Republican primary, securing the endorsement of former President Donald Trump after Rice had voted to impeach Trump following the January 6 Capitol attack. Fry defeated Rice decisively in the June 2022 primary and went on to win the general election. Upon taking office in Congress, he was named president of his congressional freshman class. In Congress, Fry has focused on legislative priorities including tax reform, securing federal funding for the Grand Strand and Pee Dee regions, and authoring the bipartisan Trafficking Survivors Relief Act, which was signed into law in January 2026.

Early Life

Russell William Fry was born on January 31, 1985, in Surfside Beach, a small coastal town in Horry County, South Carolina, situated along the Grand Strand. Fry grew up in the Myrtle Beach area, a region whose tourism-driven economy and coastal community would later shape much of his political focus.

Fry's father, Russell William Fry, Sr., was described as "a man of deep faith, quiet strength, and generous spirit" in his obituary following his death on June 26, 2025, at the age of 94.

Fry's upbringing in the Grand Strand area gave him close familiarity with the economic and infrastructural concerns of coastal South Carolina, including tourism, hurricane preparedness, and the growth pressures facing rapidly expanding communities. These early experiences in Horry County would later inform his legislative priorities at both the state and federal levels.

Education

Fry attended the University of South Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently pursued a legal education at the Charleston School of Law in Charleston, South Carolina, earning his Juris Doctor degree. His legal training provided the foundation for a career in law and public service, and Fry practiced as a lawyer prior to and during his time in the South Carolina state legislature.

Career

South Carolina House of Representatives

Fry's entry into elected office came in 2015, following the resignation of state Representative Nelson Hardwick from the 106th District seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives. Hardwick resigned after an investigation into sexual harassment claims against him. The vacancy triggered a special election in which Fry competed for the Republican nomination.

Fry won the Republican primary for the 106th District special election in July 2015. He subsequently won the seat and was sworn in on September 19, 2015, officially taking over the 106th District House seat. Upon beginning his duties, Fry was reported to have immediately started work on issues affecting his district.

Fry ran for a full term in the 2016 general election, winning the 106th District seat. He continued to serve in the South Carolina House through subsequent election cycles, establishing himself as a reliable member of the Republican caucus in the state legislature.

In 2018, Fry was appointed to the position of Majority Chief Whip for the 122nd South Carolina General Assembly, a leadership role that placed him in charge of marshaling votes and maintaining party discipline among Republican members of the state House. This appointment reflected his growing influence within the state Republican Party and his ability to work within the legislative body's leadership structure.

Fry served in the South Carolina House of Representatives until November 14, 2022, when he resigned to prepare for his incoming term in the U.S. Congress. His successor in the 106th District was Thomas Val Guest.

2022 Congressional Campaign

Background: Tom Rice's Impeachment Vote

The political landscape that led to Fry's congressional bid was shaped by the actions of incumbent U.S. Representative Tom Rice, who had represented South Carolina's 7th congressional district since 2013. On January 13, 2021, Rice was one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump in the wake of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The vote provoked significant backlash among Republican voters and party officials in South Carolina, and Rice was subsequently censured by the South Carolina Republican Party.

Exploring a Challenge

In the months following Rice's impeachment vote, Fry began exploring a potential primary challenge against the incumbent congressman. Reporting from The Post and Courier in early 2021 indicated that Fry was considering running for the 7th congressional district seat, motivated in part by the political fallout from Rice's impeachment vote.

Fry formally launched his primary bid against Rice later in 2021, framing the challenge around Rice's impeachment vote and what Fry characterized as a departure from the priorities of the district's conservative electorate.

Trump Endorsement

Fry's campaign received a significant boost when former President Donald Trump endorsed his candidacy. Trump's endorsement of Fry was part of a broader effort by the former president to support primary challengers against the ten House Republicans who had voted for his impeachment. The Hill reported on Trump's endorsement of Fry as part of this wider pattern of targeting impeachment-supporting incumbents. The endorsement brought national media attention to the race and reinforced Fry's position as the leading challenger to Rice.

Primary and General Election Victory

The Republican primary for South Carolina's 7th congressional district took place on June 14, 2022. Fry defeated Rice in the primary, a result that was widely covered by national media outlets as one of the most closely watched races of the 2022 primary season. NPR reported on the outcome as part of a broader analysis of the impact of Trump endorsements on South Carolina Republican primaries.

Following his primary victory, Fry won the general election in November 2022, securing the seat in a district that leaned heavily Republican.

U.S. House of Representatives

Swearing In and Freshman Leadership

Fry took office as the U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 7th congressional district on January 3, 2023, succeeding Tom Rice. Shortly after his election, Fry was named president of his congressional freshman class, a distinction that reflected his peers' recognition of his leadership capabilities.

Legislative Priorities and Federal Funding

In Congress, Fry has focused on legislative priorities relevant to his district and to national policy debates. He has participated in discussions on tax reform, including a roundtable event hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce in October 2025, where he discussed tax policy with local business leaders.

Fry has also worked to secure federal funding for projects in the Grand Strand and Pee Dee regions of South Carolina. In January 2026, he announced that new laws had secured millions of dollars in funding for projects across his district. Separately, Fry announced in early 2026 that President Trump had signed a funding package that included $3 million in funding directed to South Carolina's 7th congressional district.

Trafficking Survivors Relief Act

One of Fry's notable legislative achievements in Congress has been the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act (H.R. 4323), a bipartisan bill aimed at providing criminal record relief to survivors of human trafficking. The legislation was designed to help trafficking survivors who had been coerced into criminal activity as a result of their victimization by offering a pathway to clear certain offenses from their records.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill on December 2, 2025. The bill was co-led by Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), who released a statement following its passage through the House. President Trump subsequently signed the bill into law in January 2026.

Energy Policy and Public Commentary

Fry has also been active in public commentary on national policy issues. Ahead of President Trump's State of the Union address on February 24, 2026, Fry published an op-ed in which he discussed energy policy and economic conditions, contrasting what he described as an "inflation era" under Democratic governance with what he characterized as an "energy revival" under the Trump administration.

Personal Life

Fry resides in the Surfside Beach area of South Carolina, where he was born and raised. He is married to Bronwen Fry, and the couple has one child.

Fry's father, Russell William Fry, Sr., died on June 26, 2025, at the age of 94.

Recognition

Upon his election to Congress in November 2022, Fry was selected by his fellow incoming Republican members to serve as president of the congressional freshman class, a leadership role that typically involves organizing and representing the interests of newly elected members.

Fry's authorship of the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support and was signed into law by President Trump in January 2026, has been recognized as a significant legislative accomplishment during his early tenure in Congress.

His engagement with business and economic policy was highlighted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which hosted him for a tax reform roundtable event in Myrtle Beach alongside the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce in October 2025.