Roger Nutt

{{short description|American politician (born 1965)}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Roger Nutt | image = | alt = | district = 12th | term_start = November 11, 2024 | term_end = January 5, 2026 | predecessor = Scott Talley | successor = Lee Bright | office1 = Member of the<br>SC House of Representatives<br>from the 34th district | term_start1 = 2020 | term_end1 = 2024 | predecessor1 = Michael Forrester (politician) | successor1 = Sarita Edgerton | prior_term = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|9|20}} | birth_place = Johnson City, Tennessee, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | profession = Engineer | spouse = {{marriage|Tracy Fennell|June 25, 2001}} | children = 3 | alma_mater = Tennessee Technological University (BS) | party = Republican | state_senate = South Carolina }} '''Roger A. Nutt''' is an American engineer and politician. He is a former member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 12 district from 2024 to 2026. He previously served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2020 to 2024. He is a member of the Republican Party.<ref>{{cite web |title=South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography |url=https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=1424999829 |website=www.scstatehouse.gov |access-date=December 20, 2020}}</ref>

== Political career ==

=== 2020 South Carolina House race === In 2020, Nutt announced his bid for the State House after serving on Spartanburg County Council for 10 years. Nutt ran uncontested and served 2 terms as a Representative for House District 34.

=== 2024 South Carolina Senate race === In 2023, Nutt announced his run for the State Senate seat held by retiring incumbent Scott Talley.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Montgomery |first=Bob |date=May 4, 2023 |title=Republican state Rep. Roger Nutt at peace with decision to run for state Senate seat |url=https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/local/2023/05/04/roger-nutt-seeks-sc-senate-seat-scott-talley-spartanburg/70178808007/ |access-date=April 24, 2024 |work=Go Upstate}}</ref> Nutt, businessman Skip Davenport, former Spartanburg County Clerk of Court Hope Blackley, and former State Senator Lee Bright faced each other in the Republican primary.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Swann |first=Samantha |date=January 30, 2024 |title=Former Spartanburg County Clerk of Court Hope Blackley to run for SC Senate in District 12 |url=https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/2024/01/30/hope-blackley-to-run-for-south-carolina-senate-district-12-in-spartanburg-county/72406175007/ |access-date=April 24, 2024 |work=Spartanburg Herald-Journal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Swann |first=Samantha |date=March 13, 2024 |title=Greer businessman Skip Davenport to run for SC Senate in District 12 |url=https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/2024/03/13/greer-businessman-skip-davenport-to-run-for-sc-senate-in-district-12/72955274007/ |access-date=April 24, 2024 |work=Go Upstate}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=Candidate listing |url=https://vrems.scvotes.sc.gov/Candidate/CandidateSearch?electionId=22114 |access-date=April 24, 2024 |website=South Carolina State Election Commission}}</ref> Nutt bested Bright in the Republican primary runoff, and became the Republican nominee.<ref>Kenmore, Abraham (June 25, 2024). "SC Senate could have no GOP women after only chairwoman ousted in runoff". ''The South Carolina Daily Gazette''. Retrieved June 26, 2024.</ref> He won the State Senate seat over physician and Democratic nominee Octavia Amaechi in the general election.<ref>Savannah Moss, and Samantha Swann (April 1, 2024). "Candidate filings close. Who's on ballot? Contested races in Upstate in June, November". ''The Greenville News''. Retrieved June 26, 2024.</ref>

Nutt serves on the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources, Education, Family and Veterans' Services; Fish, Game and Forestry and Judiciary committees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Carolina Legislature Online - Committee |url=https://www.scstatehouse.gov/committee.php?chamber=S |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=www.scstatehouse.gov}}</ref>

In August 2025 Nutt announced his resignation from the Senate, effective in January 2026, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nutt |first=Roger |date=August 11, 2025 |title=SC senator resigns seat following Alzheimer's diagnosis |url=https://scdailygazette.com/2025/08/11/sc-senator-resigns-seat-following-alzheimers-diagnosis/ |access-date=August 11, 2025 |work=South Carolina Daily Gazette}}</ref> A special election for his seat was scheduled for December 23, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Catalano |first=John |date=2025-08-11 |title=State Senate District 12 Special Election |url=https://scvotes.gov/state-senate-district-12-special-election/ |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=SC Votes - South Carolina Election Commission |language=en-US}}</ref> Former State Senator Lee Bright, who won the Republican Primary, had no Democratic opposition and won the seat.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holdman |first=Jessica |date=2025-10-22 |title=Firebrand former SC senator wins back Upstate seat in special election • SC Daily Gazette |url=https://scdailygazette.com/2025/10/22/firebrand-former-sc-senator-wins-back-upstate-seat-in-special-election/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=SC Daily Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://rogernutt.com/ Roger Nutt State Senate campaign website] * [https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=1424999829 Senator Roger A. Nutt]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nutt, Roger A.}} Category:Living people Category:Republican Party members of the South Carolina House of Representatives Category:Tennessee Technological University alumni Category:People from Johnson City, Tennessee Category:Engineers from South Carolina Category:1965 births Category:21st-century members of the South Carolina General Assembly Category:Republican Party South Carolina state senators