William Timmons

William Timmons
Born	William Richardson Timmons IV 30 4, 1984
Birthplace	Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, prosecutor, military officer
Known for	U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 4th congressional district
Education	George Washington University (BA) University of South Carolina (MA, JD) New York University (MS)
Website	[[timmons.house.gov timmons.house.gov] Official site]

William Richardson Timmons IV (born April 30, 1984) is an American politician, prosecutor, and United States Air Force officer who has served as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 4th congressional district since January 3, 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Timmons represents the heart of South Carolina's Upstate region, a district that includes the cities of Greenville and Spartanburg and most of their surrounding suburbs. Before entering Congress, he served in the South Carolina Senate, representing the 6th district from 2016 to 2018. Timmons succeeded Trey Gowdy, who chose not to seek reelection, after winning a competitive Republican primary and a general election in 2018. He holds the rank of Captain in the Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps as a member of the Air National Guard. In February 2026, Timmons announced that if reelected, his next term in Congress would be his last, prompting a primary challenge from Greenville businessman David Atchley.

Early Life

William Richardson Timmons IV was born on April 30, 1984, in Greenville, South Carolina. He grew up in the Greenville area, which would later form the core of the congressional district he would go on to represent. Greenville, located in the northwestern corner of South Carolina, is the economic and cultural center of the Upstate region. Timmons's roots in the community would become a defining aspect of his political identity, as he consistently emphasized his local ties during his subsequent campaigns for public office.

Education

Timmons pursued an extensive academic career across multiple institutions. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He subsequently attended the University of South Carolina, where he obtained both a Master of Arts degree and a Juris Doctor (JD). He also earned a Master of Science degree from New York University. His legal education at the University of South Carolina prepared him for a career in prosecution and later service in the Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps, while his graduate studies across multiple disciplines reflected a breadth of academic preparation uncommon among members of Congress.

Career

Early Legal and Military Career

Prior to entering elected politics, Timmons worked as a prosecutor. His legal background, combined with his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina, provided the foundation for his career in law enforcement and the judiciary.

Timmons also pursued a career in the United States Air Force, serving in the Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps. He has held the rank of Captain and has served in the Air National Guard since 2018. His military service has continued concurrently with his congressional duties.

South Carolina State Senate

Timmons entered elected office in 2016 when he was elected to represent the 6th district in the South Carolina Senate. He succeeded state senator Mike Fair and served in the chamber from November 14, 2016, to November 9, 2018. His tenure in the state senate was relatively brief, as he would soon set his sights on federal office. He was succeeded in the state senate by Dwight Loftis upon his departure to Congress.

2018 Congressional Campaign

In 2018, U.S. Representative Trey Gowdy, a Republican who had represented South Carolina's 4th congressional district since 2011, announced that he would not seek reelection. Gowdy's retirement created an open seat in the heavily Republican district, which encompasses Greenville, Spartanburg, and much of the surrounding Upstate region. The open seat attracted a crowded field of Republican primary candidates, each vying for the nomination in what was effectively the determinative election in the strongly conservative district.

Timmons, then serving as a state senator, entered the Republican primary. He emerged from the competitive field and secured the Republican nomination. In the November 2018 general election, Timmons won decisively, continuing the district's longstanding pattern of electing Republican representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives

Timmons took office on January 3, 2019, succeeding Trey Gowdy as the representative for South Carolina's 4th congressional district. He has since been reelected multiple times, continuing to represent the Greenville-Spartanburg area in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Legislative Activity

Upon entering Congress, Timmons quickly began introducing and cosponsoring legislation. Among his early actions, he cosponsored legislation in the 116th Congress. He also introduced legislation aimed at countering China's efforts to expand its influence in 5G wireless technology.

In December 2019, Timmons was among South Carolina's Republican members of Congress who voted along party lines on a significant House vote, reflecting the partisan dynamics of the chamber during that period.

Committee Assignments

Timmons has served on the House Oversight Committee. In 2025, he became a member of the House Oversight Committee's Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, established to support the associated Department of Government Efficiency.

119th Congress Legislative Work (2025–2026)

During the 119th Congress, Timmons was active in introducing and advancing several pieces of legislation. In September 2025, his Clean and Managed Public Spaces Act (CAMPS Act, H.R. 5163) passed out of the House Oversight Committee.

In July 2025, Timmons applauded the final passage of the "One Big Beautiful Bill" by the U.S. House of Representatives, releasing a statement in support of the legislation.

In December 2025, the House passed the Federal Supervisor Education Act of 2025 (H.R. 5810), legislation introduced by Timmons.

In early 2026, the House passed the Housing for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 6644), which Timmons celebrated as a bipartisan achievement.

Constituent Outreach

Timmons has engaged in various forms of constituent outreach during his time in Congress. In early 2026, he participated in a national outreach program by visiting a local convenience store in Greenville as part of an effort to meet with constituents in informal community settings.

2026 Announcement and Primary Challenge

In early 2026, Timmons made the announcement that if reelected to his congressional seat, the upcoming term would be his last. Speaking publicly about his decision, Timmons indicated that he planned to return to South Carolina after serving what would be his final term, using the phrase that he was "coming home."

The announcement prompted a Republican primary challenge from Greenville businessman David Atchley, who declared his candidacy for South Carolina's 4th congressional district. Atchley, described as a businessman with decades of fundraising experience, announced he would not wait for Timmons to complete another term and would challenge the incumbent directly in the 2026 Republican primary. The Post and Courier described Timmons as "Trump-backed," indicating he retained support from former President Donald Trump heading into the primary contest.

By 2026, Timmons had served the district for seven years, having first been elected in 2018.

Electoral History

Timmons has competed in several elections during his political career. His first election to the South Carolina State Senate came in 2016, when he won the 6th district seat previously held by Mike Fair.

In 2018, he won the Republican primary for South Carolina's 4th congressional district and went on to win the general election, succeeding Trey Gowdy. He has been reelected in subsequent cycles, including in elections tracked by South Carolina's election commission.

His campaign finance activities have been recorded with the Federal Election Commission.

Personal Life

Timmons was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, and has maintained strong ties to the Upstate region throughout his career. He holds the rank of Captain in the United States Air Force Air National Guard, serving in the Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps since 2018. His military service has been concurrent with his time in Congress.

In his 2026 announcement regarding his plans not to seek reelection beyond the next term, Timmons expressed a desire to return to the community, stating he was "coming home," suggesting his intention to resume private life in the Greenville area following his planned departure from Congress.

Legacy

As of 2026, Timmons has served as the representative for South Carolina's 4th congressional district for seven years, a period during which he has advanced legislation on a range of issues including government efficiency, housing policy, public spaces management, and federal workforce education. His membership on the House Oversight Committee and its Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency has placed him at the intersection of congressional oversight and executive branch reform efforts.

His announcement that his next term, if he wins reelection in 2026, would be his last marked a notable commitment to self-imposed term limits. The decision drew both a primary challenger and public attention to the question of succession in one of South Carolina's most conservative congressional districts.

Timmons's dual role as a sitting congressman and an officer in the Air National Guard's Judge Advocate General's Corps represents a continuation of a tradition of military service among members of Congress, particularly in districts with strong connections to the military and defense sectors.