Trey Gowdy
Encyclopedia
Harold Watson "Trey" Gowdy III (born August 22, 1964) is the U.S. Representative
for . He is a member of the Republican Party
. Before his election to Congress, he was the solicitor (district attorney
) for the state's Seventh Judicial Circuit, comprising Spartanburg and Cherokee
counties.
to Dr. and Mrs. Harold Gowdy. Trey graduated from Spartanburg High School
in 1982. He earned a B.A. in history from Baylor University
in 1986 and a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law
in 1989.
on the South Carolina Court of Appeals
and United States District Court Judge Ross Anderson. He then went into private practice before becoming a federal prosecutor in April of 1994. He was awarded the Postal Inspector’s Award for the successful prosecution of J. Mark Allen, one of “America’s Most Wanted” suspects.
In February of 2000, he left the United States Attorney’s Office to run for 7th Circuit Solicitor. He defeated incumbent Solicitor Holman Gossett in the Republican primary. No other party even put up a candidate, ensuring his election in November. He was reelected in 2004 and 2008, both times completely unopposed. During his tenure, he appeared on “Forensic Files
” twice, as well as Dateline NBC
and SCETV
.
When the state faced a budget crunch that forced many employees to go on unpaid furloughs, Gowdy funneled part of his campaign account into the solicitor's budget so his staff could keep working.
in the Republican primary for . Gowdy ran well to Inglis's right, accusing him of crossing party lines too often. In the June 9, 2010 primary, he managed to force Inglis, who served six terms spread out over 16 years, into a runoff, taking 39 percent of the vote to Inglis's 27 percent.
Gowdy routed Inglis in the June 22 runoff, receiving 71 percent of the vote to Inglis's 29 percent. The 4th is so heavily Republican that it was widely presumed Gowdy had assured himself of a seat in Congress.
In the November 2 general election, Gowdy faced Democratic
nominee Paul Corden, Libertarian
nominee Rick Mahler, and Constitution Party nominee Dave Edwards. Gowdy easily won, receiving 64 percent of the vote to 29 percent for Corden.
that his primary test for supporting legislation will be whether its sponsor can show where the Constitution gives Congress the power to act in a particular realm.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for . He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. Before his election to Congress, he was the solicitor (district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
) for the state's Seventh Judicial Circuit, comprising Spartanburg and Cherokee
Cherokee County, South Carolina
Cherokee County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The county was formed in 1897 from parts of York, Union, and Spartanburg Counties. It is included in the Gaffney, South Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 United States Census, the county's...
counties.
Early life
He was born in 1964 in Greenville, South CarolinaGreenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
to Dr. and Mrs. Harold Gowdy. Trey graduated from Spartanburg High School
Spartanburg High School
Spartanburg High School is part of Spartanburg County School District No. 7. The current principal is Jeff Stevens, a former assistant principal at the school.-Layout:...
in 1982. He earned a B.A. in history from Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
in 1986 and a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law
University of South Carolina School of Law
The University of South Carolina School of Law, also known as South Carolina Law or SC Law, is one of the professional schools of the University of South Carolina. South Carolina Law was founded in 1867 in Columbia, South Carolina and is the only public and non-profit law school in the state of...
in 1989.
Judicial career
Following law school, he clerked for the late John P. GardnerJohn Gardner
John Champlin Gardner, Jr. was an American novelist, essayist, literary critic and university professor. He is perhaps most noted for his novel Grendel, a retelling of the Beowulf myth from the monster's point of view....
on the South Carolina Court of Appeals
South Carolina Court of Appeals
The South Carolina Court of Appeals is the intermediate-level appellate court for the state of South Carolina.-Jurisdiction:The Court of Appeals hears most appeals from the Circuit Courts and Family Courts of South Carolina that do not fall within the seven classes of cases over which the South...
and United States District Court Judge Ross Anderson. He then went into private practice before becoming a federal prosecutor in April of 1994. He was awarded the Postal Inspector’s Award for the successful prosecution of J. Mark Allen, one of “America’s Most Wanted” suspects.
In February of 2000, he left the United States Attorney’s Office to run for 7th Circuit Solicitor. He defeated incumbent Solicitor Holman Gossett in the Republican primary. No other party even put up a candidate, ensuring his election in November. He was reelected in 2004 and 2008, both times completely unopposed. During his tenure, he appeared on “Forensic Files
Forensic Files
Forensic Files is an American documentary-style series which reveals how forensic science is used to solve violent crimes, mysterious accidents, and even outbreaks of illness. The show is broadcast on truTV, narrated by Peter Thomas, and produced by Medstar Television, in association with truTV...
” twice, as well as Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC, or Dateline, is a U.S. weekly television newsmagazine broadcast by NBC. It previously was NBC's flagship news magazine, but now focuses on true crime stories. It airs Friday at 9 p.m. EST and after football season on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.-History:Dateline is historically notable for...
and SCETV
South Carolina Educational Television
South Carolina Educational Television is the statewide public television and public radio network in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It consists of all the Public Broadcasting Service member [television stations and National Public Radio member radio stations in the state...
.
When the state faced a budget crunch that forced many employees to go on unpaid furloughs, Gowdy funneled part of his campaign account into the solicitor's budget so his staff could keep working.
2010 election
In the summer of 2009, Gowdy announced that he would challenge Bob InglisBob Inglis
Robert Durden "Bob" Inglis, Sr. is a former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1993 to 1999, and then again from 2005 until 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party...
in the Republican primary for . Gowdy ran well to Inglis's right, accusing him of crossing party lines too often. In the June 9, 2010 primary, he managed to force Inglis, who served six terms spread out over 16 years, into a runoff, taking 39 percent of the vote to Inglis's 27 percent.
Gowdy routed Inglis in the June 22 runoff, receiving 71 percent of the vote to Inglis's 29 percent. The 4th is so heavily Republican that it was widely presumed Gowdy had assured himself of a seat in Congress.
In the November 2 general election, Gowdy faced Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee Paul Corden, Libertarian
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
nominee Rick Mahler, and Constitution Party nominee Dave Edwards. Gowdy easily won, receiving 64 percent of the vote to 29 percent for Corden.
Tenure
Gowdy considers himself to be a staunch conservative. He told Congressional QuarterlyCongressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
that his primary test for supporting legislation will be whether its sponsor can show where the Constitution gives Congress the power to act in a particular realm.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Education and the WorkforceUnited States House Committee on Education and the WorkforceThe Committee on Education and the Workforce is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. From 1947 until 1994 and again from 2007 to 2011, during Democratic control of the House, it was known as the Committee on Education and Labor.-History of the Committee:Attempts were...
- Subcommittee on Workforce ProtectionsUnited States House Education Subcommittee on Workforce ProtectionsThe House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce.-Jurisdiction:The Subcommittee's jurisdiction includes:...
- Subcommittee on Workforce Protections
- Committee on the JudiciaryUnited States House Committee on the JudiciaryThe U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, also called the House Judiciary Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is charged with overseeing the administration of justice within the federal courts, administrative agencies and Federal law enforcement...
- Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law (Vice Chair)
- Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland SecurityUnited States House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland SecurityThe House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security is a subcommittee within the House Judiciary Committee.-Jurisdiction:From the House Rules:...
- Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- Subcommittee on Health Care, District of Columbia, Census and the National Archives (Chairman)
- Subcommittee on TARP, Financial Services and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs
External links
- Congressman Trey Gowdy official U.S. House site
- Trey Gowdy for Congress official campaign site
- Profile at Spartanburg County Government site