William Timmons Bio
William Richardson Timmons IV (born April 30, 1984) is an American politician, prosecutor, and Air National Guard officer serving as the U.S. representative for South Carolina’s 4th congressional district since 2019. A Republican, he represents a district that includes Greenville, Spartanburg, and most of their suburbs in the Upstate region. Before coming to Congress, he served in the South Carolina State Senate from 2016 to 2018 and worked as an assistant solicitor in Greenville County. He was elected to succeed retiring Representative Trey Gowdy, using the campaign slogan “Washington is broken.”
Timmons is a former prosecutor who handled domestic violence and white-collar crime cases, and he continues to serve his country as a judge advocate in the Air National Guard. He holds multiple degrees, including a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Risk and Strategy from New York University. His career has combined legal practice, military service, and elected office in state and federal government.
Early Life and Background
William Richardson Timmons IV was born on April 30, 1984, in Greenville, South Carolina, and grew up in the same community he now represents in Congress. He attended Christ Church Episcopal School, where he excelled at tennis. In 2001, he was named the South Carolina Player of the Year in tennis, and he added an individual state title in 2002. These early athletic achievements demonstrated a competitive drive that would later shape his professional life.
After high school, Timmons enrolled at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and political science. He played Division I tennis throughout his college years and received a partial scholarship for all four seasons. His time in Washington also gave him an early look at the workings of the federal government, an experience that would prove valuable in his later career.
Path to US Politics
Following college, Timmons returned to South Carolina and attended the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor along with a master’s degree in international studies. He later added a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Risk and Strategy from New York University, reflecting an interest in national security issues. Together, these degrees gave him a strong foundation in law, foreign policy, and emerging security challenges.
Timmons spent four years working at the 13th Circuit solicitor’s office in South Carolina. As an assistant solicitor, he prosecuted domestic abuse, white-collar crime, and murder cases, and he helped create a central court for domestic violence cases in Greenville County. In 2016, he entered the political arena by challenging longtime state senator Mike Fair in the Republican primary. He finished first with 49.5% of the vote, then won the runoff with 65%, and faced no major-party opposition in the general election, beginning his run as a South Carolina state senator.
William Timmons Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
As a state senator from 2016 to 2018, Timmons represented a Greenville-area district and built a record as a conservative Republican legislator. During this period, he also continued his legal work and military training, balancing multiple responsibilities at once. His two years in the state Senate gave him a foundation in legislative work and constituent service that would soon support a move to federal office.
In 2018, Representative Trey Gowdy announced he would not seek re-election, opening South Carolina’s 4th congressional district. Timmons entered a crowded Republican primary and finished second in a 13-candidate field with 19.2% of the vote. Two weeks later, he defeated former state senator Lee Bright in the runoff with 54.2% of the vote, and he went on to beat Democrat Brandon Brown in November with 59.5% of the vote. He became one of the youngest U.S. representatives from South Carolina since 1972.
U.S. House of Representatives Breakthrough (2019–Present)
Timmons was sworn into office on January 3, 2019, even as a government shutdown was underway. From his first day in Congress, he focused on fiscal discipline, national defense, and conservative social policies. He cosponsored legislation to require a balanced federal budget, defund Planned Parenthood, support Gold Star Families, strengthen national defense, and promote school choice. His classmates selected him to represent the freshman class on the Republican Steering Committee.
On the Financial Services Committee, Timmons introduced legislation to counter China’s efforts to expand its 5G influence in countries receiving aid from international financial institutions. He also proposed a constitutional amendment to limit the number of consecutive terms a member of Congress may serve. In 2020, he supported President Donald Trump during the first impeachment inquiry and signed an amicus brief supporting Texas v. Pennsylvania, a Supreme Court case that challenged the 2020 presidential election results. He voted to object to the Electoral College certification in January 2021.
In July 2024, Timmons gained national attention when he questioned former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle at a House Oversight Committee hearing. His sharp questioning came during a tense session about security failures, and Cheatle resigned the following day. The moment placed Timmons in the national spotlight as a vocal oversight voice in Congress.
Committee Assignments and Recent Work
Timmons serves on the House Financial Services Committee, where he has focused on countering foreign economic influence and protecting U.S. financial systems. In 2025, he joined the House Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, supporting the work of the Department of Government Efficiency. These assignments reflect his interests in fiscal responsibility, technology, and government reform.
In 2024, Timmons faced state representative Adam Morgan in the Republican primary and won, then defeated his general election opponents to secure another term. He has continued to represent the Upstate region with a focus on conservative policy goals, including school choice, military readiness, and economic growth.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most memorable moments of Timmons’ career came during the 2024 House Oversight hearing on Secret Service operations, when his questioning of Director Kimberly Cheatle drew national coverage. He also counts his 2018 runoff victory, his freshman appointment to the Republican Steering Committee, and his term-limit amendment among his signature achievements. Each of these moments has shaped his reputation as an active and outspoken member of Congress.
William Timmons Career Wins
William Timmons has compiled a steady record of election victories since entering politics in 2016. He has won one state Senate race, four U.S. House general elections, and multiple contested Republican primaries. His ability to win tough runoffs and general elections has made him a reliable vote-getter in a heavily Republican district.
U.S. House Highlights
Timmons first won his U.S. House seat in 2018 with 59.5% of the vote, then won re-election in 2020 with 61.6% of the vote against Democrat Kim Nelson. In 2022, he won the Republican primary with 52.7% of the vote in a four-candidate field and was unopposed on the general election ballot after his Democratic opponent dropped out. In 2024, he defeated state representative Adam Morgan in the Republican primary before winning re-election in November.
Other Wins & Achievements
Before his time in Congress, Timmons won a South Carolina State Senate seat in 2016 by defeating longtime incumbent Mike Fair in a Republican runoff. He was also named the 2001 South Carolina Tennis Player of the Year and won an individual state tennis title in 2002 while at Christ Church Episcopal School. In his military career, he has risen to the rank of captain in the Air National Guard while serving as a judge advocate.
William Timmons Family
Family Background and Education
Timmons is a native of Greenville, South Carolina, and a graduate of Christ Church Episcopal School. He went on to attend George Washington University, the University of South Carolina, and New York University, building a strong academic record in international affairs, law, and cybersecurity. His education has played a central role in shaping his policy interests in national security and government reform.
Personal Life
On July 17, 2019, Timmons married Sarah Anderson on the balcony of the U.S. Capitol, with Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina officiating the ceremony. In 2022, the couple publicly acknowledged that they were working through difficulties in their marriage, and Sarah filed for marital separation in November 2022. The divorce was finalized by June 2024, and Timmons has stated that he and his former wife remain on good terms. He is a Protestant and a captain in the Air National Guard, where he has served as a JAG officer assigned to the 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command since 2018.