Bruce Chadwick Connelly (born August 22, 1963) is an American politician who served as chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party from May 2011 until June 2013, when he resigned to take a senior role at the Republican National Committee.[1][2]
Chad Connelly | |
|---|---|
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| Chair of the South Carolina Republican Party | |
| In office May 7, 2011 – June 8, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Karen Floyd |
| Succeeded by | Matt Moore |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bruce Chadwick Connelly August 22, 1963 Prosperity, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Dana Connelly |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Clemson University |
| Occupation | Self-employed |
| Website | www |
In early 2016, he was a candidate for U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 5th congressional district.[3] He came in 4th place out of 7 candidates in the Republican Primary, receiving 5,546 votes or 14.1% out of the 39,270 votes. That election was later won by Ralph Norman.
Biography
editEarly life
editHe graduated from Clemson University, where he earned a degree in civil engineering in 1985.
Career
editHe began his career as an engineer but later started his own business.[1]
He was elected chairman on May 7, 2011.[4] He had previously occupied various positions in the party including chairman of the Newberry County Republican Party and delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention.[1] In the run-up to the 2012 Republican primary season, Connelly argued against an early primary in Florida.[5] Ultimately, South Carolina held its primary on January 21, ten days before the primary in Florida. On May 4, 2013, Connelly was re-elected to a second two-year term.[6]
After his re-election, Reince Priebus tapped him to become the first-ever National Director of Faith Engagement for the RNC. From July 2013 through the 2016 elections, he traveled to 42 states and spoke to over 82,000 pastors, priests, and faith leaders about the importance of their involvement in the public arena. He resigned the RNC position in Fall 2017 to go back to run his own ministry organization, Faith Wins.
He is the author of Freedom Tide (ISBN 978-0937539682), a book dedicated to inspiring Americans about the true Christian heritage of the nation.[7]
He is the founder and president of the Faith Wins, a Christian-based 501 c3 organization dedicated to educating and mobilizing pastors and faith leaders to become involved in the public arena and insure that their congregations vote Biblical values. He was a frequent speaker at Tea Party events.[8] He is a regular commentator on Fox News Channel, MSNBC, CNN, CNBC, and NPR as well as many other outlets in the United States.[citation needed] He serves on the board of the Palmetto Family Council and the South Carolina Citizens for Life.[citation needed]
Personal life
editHe lives in Prosperity, South Carolina with his wife Dana and their four children.[7] His previous wife of 18 years, Michelle, committed suicide in 2006. His faith wavered when he found her “in a pool of blood” but friends supported him and introduced him to a widow.[9][10]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Chairman Chad Connelly (biography)". South Carolina Republican Party. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
- ^ "Republican Party to step up outreach to evangelicals". politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com. CNN. June 8, 2013. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
- ^ "Chad Connelly announces plans to run for Mulvaney's seat". GoUpstate.com. GateHouse Media LLC. June 8, 2013. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
- ^ Angel, Ashley. "South Carolina Republicans Elect Chad Connelly as the New Chairman". WLTX. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
- ^ Gibson, Jake (September 29, 2011). "South Carolina and Florida Face Off in Presidential Primary Calendar Chaos". Fox News. Archived from the original on November 18, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
- ^ "Connelly re-elected as chairman of SC Republicans". The Charlotte Observer. Associated Press. May 4, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "Chad's Biography". Official website of Chad Connelly. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
- ^ Brody, David (2012). The Teavangelicals: The Inside Story of How the Evangelicals and the Tea Party are Taking Back America. Zondervan. pp. 99. ISBN 9780310335627. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
- ^ Alberta, Tim (December 1, 2023). "The Bogus Historians Who Teach Evangelicals They Live in a Theocracy". POLITICO. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
- ^ "Michelle Connelly Obituary". The Augusta Chronicle. August 1, 2006. Retrieved December 6, 2023.