Stephen Goldfinch

{{Short description|American politician (born 1982)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Stephen Goldfinch | state_senate = South Carolina | district = 34th | term_start = November 14, 2016 | term_end = | predecessor = Raymond Cleary | successor = | state_house1 = South Carolina | district1 = 108th | term_start1 = November 2012 | term_end1 = November 14, 2016 | predecessor1 = Kevin R. Ryan | successor1 = Lee Hewitt | birth_date = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1982|11|19}}}} | birth_place = Conway, South Carolina, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | education = The Citadel (BS, MBA)<br>Charleston School of Law (JD) }} '''Stephen L. Goldfinch Jr.''' (born November 19, 1982) is an American politician. He is a member of the Republican party.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Voter's Self Defense System |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/139491/stephen-goldfinch-jr |website=Vote Smart |accessdate=June 4, 2020}}</ref>

== Career == Goldfinch, is a businessman and serial entrepreneur. Over the years he has owned or been a partner in a number of businesses from the bio technology space to the legal services space. He is currently invested in a law firm, a timber company, a podcast, a radio show, a magazine, a charter boat company and is a member of the SC National Guard.

== Political career ==

=== South Carolina House of Representatives === Goldfinch served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2012 to 2016.

=== South Carolina Senate === Goldfinch is a member of the South Carolina Senate from the 34th District, serving in the legislature since 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography |url=https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0682386282 |accessdate=June 4, 2020 |website=www.scstatehouse.gov}}</ref> Goldfinch serves on the Senate Finance, Fish Game and Forestry, Rules, and Agriculture and Natural Resources committees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography |url=https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0682386282 |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=www.scstatehouse.gov}}</ref>

==== 2024 Presidential Election Endorsement ==== In June 2023, Goldfinch endorsed Tim Scott in the 2024 United States presidential election.<ref>Sen. Tim Scott in Spartanburg to announce campaign endorsements". ''FOX Carolina''. June 12, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.</ref>

=== 2026 South Carolina Attorney General Election === {{Main|2026 United States attorney general elections}}

Goldfinch expressed his interest in running for Attorney General of South Carolina, as incumbent Alan Wilson considered a run for Governor in 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reynolds |first=Nick |date=2025-05-20 |title=Leader in effort to oust state treasurer says he's exploring run for SC attorney general |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/south-carolina-attorney-general-stephen-goldfinch/article_a08ebae6-e7d3-49a6-9382-14afdd3fecf7.html |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Post and Courier |language=en}}</ref> In July 2025, Goldfinch officially announced his run for the office.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holdman |first=Jessica |date=2025-07-07 |title=SC GOP senator launches bid for state attorney general • SC Daily Gazette |url=https://scdailygazette.com/2025/07/07/sc-gop-senator-launches-bid-for-state-attorney-general/ |access-date=2025-08-24 |website=SC Daily Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Patrick |date=2025-07-08 |title=Lowcountry state senator announces run for attorney general |url=https://www.live5news.com/2025/07/08/lowcountry-state-senator-announces-run-attorney-general/ |access-date=2025-08-24 |website=WCSC-TV |language=en}}</ref> His campaign platform emphasizes addressing government overreach, pursuing violent crime, and supporting law enforcement, with particular focus on combating fentanyl trafficking and organized crime.<ref>{{cite web |title=Goldfinch for Attorney General – Official Campaign Website |url=https://www.goldfinchforag.com/ |website=Stephen Goldfinch for Attorney General |access-date=October 6, 2025}}</ref>

== Personal life == As a captain in the National Guard, Goldfinch was reported injured on August 1, 2023, during a deployment to Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti Africa. He was transported to Landstuhl Germany for surgery and a Soldier Recovery Unit at Ft Stewart for rehabilitation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Adcox |first=Seanna |date=August 1, 2023 |title=SC senator injured in Africa while deployed with National Guard is expected to recover |work=The Post and Courier |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/sc-senator-injured-in-africa-while-deployed-with-national-guard-is-expected-to-recover/article_ea9561c6-311d-11ee-a9cb-ab66edc1acde.html |access-date=August 2, 2023}}</ref>

South Carolina Congressman Russell Fry posted about the incident on social media.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rowles |first=Courtney |date=August 2, 2023 |title=SC senator injured during National Guard deployment in Africa |work=WPDE-TV |url=https://wpde.com/news/local/stephen-goldfinch-south-carolina-senator-injured-africa-national-guard-recovery-representative-russell-fry-august-2-2023 |access-date=August 2, 2023}}</ref> Later, reporters uncovered that the injury occurred after Goldfinch fell in a bunker. The next day during a physical training session at the base he reportedly tore his pectoral muscle and rotator cuff.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sen. Stephen Goldfinch's Gym Injuries – Grand Strand Daily |url=https://www.grandstranddaily.com/sen-stephen-goldfinchs-gym-injuries/ |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=www.grandstranddaily.com}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0682386282 Senator Stephen L. Goldfinch]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Goldfinch, Stephen L.}} Category:1982 births Category:21st-century American lawyers Category:21st-century members of the South Carolina General Assembly Category:Living people Category:People from Conway, South Carolina Category:Republican Party members of the South Carolina House of Representatives Category:Republican Party South Carolina state senators Category:South Carolina lawyers Category:The Citadel alumni