# Tom Corbin

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**Thomas D. Corbin** (born January 11, 1965) is an American businessman and politician. Since 2012, he has served as a member of the [South Carolina Senate](/source/South_Carolina_Senate) from the 5th District. Prior to that, he served for two years as a member in the [South Carolina House of Representatives](/source/South_Carolina_House_of_Representatives) from the 17th District. He is a member of the [Republican party](/source/South_Carolina_Republican_Party).

## Early life and education

Tom Corbin was born on January 11, 1965, in [Greenville, South Carolina](/source/Greenville,_South_Carolina) to Barbee and Gail McCarty Corbin. He attended [Clemson University](/source/Clemson_University), graduating in 1987 with a [Bachelor of Science](/source/Bachelor_of_Science) in ornamental [horticulture](/source/Horticulture).[1]

## S.C. House of Representatives (2010-2012)

Corbin was first elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2010 when he defeated Republican [incumbent](/source/Incumbent) [Harry Cato](/source/Harry_Cato), who was seeking an eleventh term.[2]

After serving his first term, Corbin ran for reelection in the House uncontested. After Corbin qualified for the general election, it was announced that incumbent State Sen. [Phillip Shoopman](/source/Phillip_Shoopman) would step down, leaving the seat open. As a result, Corbin ran concurrently in both races.[3] After winning both races, Corbin resigned his House seat, triggering a special election that was won by [Mike Burns](/source/Mike_Burns_(politician)).[4]

## S.C. Senate

Since 2012, Corbin has represented South Carolina's 5th Senate district covering parts of [Greenville](/source/Greenville_County,_South_Carolina) and [Spartanburg Counties](/source/Spartanburg_County,_South_Carolina).[5] He was elected after Republican [Phillip Shoopman](/source/Phillip_Shoopman) announced he would not seek re-election.[3]

Corbin formerly served on the Senate's general and judiciary committees, and currently serves on the finance; fish, game and forestry; labor, commerce and industry; medical affairs; and rules committees, as well as serving on the subcommittee on natural resources and the transportation and regulatory subcommittee.[1]

Corbin is a [conservative](/source/Conservative) and a member of the [Republican Party](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)). As of 2018, he holds a 54% lifetime rating from the [American Conservative Union](/source/American_Conservative_Union).[6] As is listed on his 2020 campaign website, Corbin is [pro-life](/source/Anti-abortion_movement), and supports [gun rights](/source/Right_to_keep_and_bear_arms), lowering taxes, and cutting [government spending](/source/Government_spending).[7]

## Political positions

### Marijuana

Corbin has generally been against the legalization of [medicinal marijuana](/source/Medical_cannabis), consistently voting against advancing the legislation out of sub-committees and committees he sits on.[8][9][10] In a new round of legalization proposals in 2024, Corbin got the senate to adopt his amendment that would allow landlords and property owners to prohibit vaping cannabis products in their homes.[11]

## Controversy

Corbin has been involved in controversy regarding comments he has made about women. In 2015, in a comment directed at South Carolina Sen. [Katrina Shealy](/source/Katrina_Shealy), the lone female senator at the time, Corbin said, "Well, you know God created man first. Then he took the rib out of man to make woman. And you know, a rib is a lesser cut of meat." Corbin later apologized, claiming that the comment was made "in jest", and that Shealy "chose to be offended and make a big deal out of all this".[12] Although accepting his apology, Shealy later responded that "whether the person speaking them thinks they are in jest or not, these words are hurtful and disrespectful."[12]

Corbin has also allegedly remarked that women "do not belong in the South Carolina General Assembly", but rather "at home baking cookies" or "barefoot and pregnant".[13]

## Personal life

Corbin is married to Leann Robertson, with whom he has two children.[5] The family currently resides in [Travelers Rest](/source/Travelers_Rest,_South_Carolina). Corbin is a [Baptist](/source/Baptists), and serves as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Clearview Baptist Church. He has served as vice president and president of the Burban Creek Plantation, a hunting reserve located in [Taylors, South Carolina](/source/Taylors,_South_Carolina).[5]

## Electoral history

Year Office Type Party Main opponent Party Votes for Corbin Result Swing Ref. Total % . 2010 S.C. Representative Rep. primary Republican Harry Cato[a] Republican 3,379 59.46% 1st N/A N/A [2][14][15] General Republican Stephen Salter Democratic 8,817 81.38% 1st N/A Hold [16] 2012 General Republican Write-in N/A 13,137 98.74% 1st +39.28% Hold [4][17] S.C. Senator Rep. primary Republican Amanda Tieder Somers Republican 3,050 65.37% 1st N/A N/A [4][18] General Republican Write-in N/A 33,491 98.80% 1st N/A Hold [19] 2016 Rep. primary Republican John B. White Republican 5,442 51.54% 1st -13.83% N/A [20][21] General Republican Write-in N/A 39,364 98.89% 1st +0.09% Hold [22][23] 2020 Rep. primary Republican Dave Edwards Republican 9,254 70.37% 1st +18.83% N/A [24][25] General Republican Michael McCord Democratic 44,808 76.13% 1st -22.76% Hold [26]

## References

1. ["The Voter's Self Defense System"](https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/121705/tom-corbin). *Vote Smart*. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

1. ["Let the (election) season begin"](https://greenvillejournal.com/news/let-the-election-season-begin/). *Greenville Journal*. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

1. Doughman, Andrew (2012-04-16). ["Sen. Shoopman not seeking re-election; SC GOP re-opens filing for seat"](https://www.goupstate.com/story/news/2012/04/16/sen-shoopman-not-seeking-re-election-sc-gop-re-opens-filing-for-seat/29990930007/). *Spartanburg Herald Journal*. Retrieved 2024-07-04.

1. ["Burns files for House District 17 special election"](http://greertoday.com/greer-sc/burns-files-for-house-district-17-special-election/2012/11/30/). *GreerToday.com*. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

1. ["South Carolina Legislature Online – Member Biography"](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0402272679). *www.scstatehouse.gov*. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

1. ["2018 Ratings of South Carolina"](http://acuratings.conservative.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/10/South-Carolina_2018_web-1.pdf). American Conservative Union Foundation. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

1. ["Platform | Tom Corbin for State Senate"](https://www.senatorcorbin.com/platform). *www.senatorcorbin.com*. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

1. ["South Carolina Senate Medical Cannabis Voter Guide"](https://www.mpp.org/assets/pdf/states/south-carolina/south-carolina-senate-medical-cannabis-voter-guide.pdf). *Marijuana Policy Project*. June 9, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2024.

1. Wilkinson, Jeff (March 20, 2019). ["Medical marijuana advances in SC Senate"](https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article228172059.html). *The State*. Retrieved April 21, 2024.

1. Brown, Kirk (March 29, 2018). ["Medical marijuana bill advances in SC but has little chance to pass this year"](https://www.independentmail.com/story/news/local/2018/03/29/s-c-medical-marijuana-bill-advances-but-has-little-chance-passage-year/469403002/). *Independent Mail*. Retrieved 2024-04-22.

1. Brams, Sophie (2024-02-07). ["Medical marijuana bill under consideration again in South Carolina"](https://www.counton2.com/news/south-carolina-news/medical-marijuana-bill-under-consideration-again-in-south-carolina/). *WCBD News 2*. Retrieved 2024-04-22.

1. ["'A lesser cut of meat'?"](http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/lesser-cut-meat). *MSNBC*. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

1. Matney, Mandy (June 10, 2020). ["SC Senator Known For Calling Women 'A Lesser Cut Of Meat' Won Primary"](https://www.fitsnews.com/2020/06/10/sc-senator-known-for-calling-women-a-lesser-cut-of-meat-won-primary/). *FitsNews*. Retrieved June 13, 2020.

1. ["SC House top officer, 2 other GOP members lose"](https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/politics/sc-house-top-officer-2-other-gop-members-lose/275-374365822). *wcnc.com*. June 9, 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

1. ["South Carolina 2010 Republican and Democratic Primary: State House of Representatives District 17 - REP"](https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/16117/28318/en/md.html?cid=116). *South Carolina Election Commission*. 2010-06-22. Retrieved 2024-07-04.

1. ["South Carolina 2010 General Election: State House of Representatives District 17"](https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/19077/40477/en/md.html?cid=265). *South Carolina Election Commission*. 2010-11-18. Retrieved 2024-07-04.

1. ["South Carolina 2012 General Election: State House of Representatives District 17"](https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/42513/116143/en/md.html?cid=1250). *South Carolina Election Commission*. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2024-07-04.

1. ["South Carolina 2012 Republican and Democratic Primary: State Senate District 5 - REP"](https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/39142/93326/en/md.html?cid=145). *South Carolina Election Commission*. 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2024-07-04.

1. ["South Carolina 2012 General Election: State Senate District 5"](https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/42513/116143/en/md.html?cid=710). *South Carolina Election Commission*. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2024-07-04.

1. Fair, Jim. ["Tom Corbin edges John White by 321 votes in Senate District 5 race"](https://greertoday.com/greer-sc/tom-corbin-edges-john-white-by-321-votes-in-senate-district-5-race/2016/06/15/). *GreerToday.com*. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

1. ["South Carolina 2016 Republican and Democratic Primary: State Senate, District 5 - REP"](https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/62359/173759/en/md.html?cid=27511). *South Carolina Election Commission*. 2016-07-26. Retrieved 2024-07-04.

1. ["Candidate Listing"](https://info.scvotes.sc.gov/Eng/Candidate/CandidateSearch.aspx?ElectionId=20026&QSHelperHash=8665765C53B5B7B5B0C52FEEDD145CD792A4A273). *info.scvotes.sc.gov*. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

1. ["South Carolina 2016 Statewide General Election: State Senate, District 5"](https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/64658/316617/en/md.html?cid=27510). *South Carolina Election Commission*. 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2024-07-04.

1. Cary, Nathaniel. ["Rep. Bill Chumley, Chris Bennett in runoff in House District 35. Other incumbents sweep"](https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/10/rep-bill-chumley-faces-runoff-chris-bennett-house-district-35/5328006002/). *The Greenville News*. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

1. ["South Carolina 2020 Statewide Primaries: State Senate, District 5 - REP"](https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/103402/Web02-state.250556/#/cid/27511). *South Carolina Election Commission*. 2020-06-12. Retrieved 2024-07-04.

1. ["South Carolina 2020 Statewide General Election: State Senate, District 5"](https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/106502/Web02-state.264691/#/cid/27510?undefined). *South Carolina Election Commission*. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2024-07-04.

## External links

- [Tom Corbin for State Senate](https://www.senatorcorbin.com/)
- [Thomas D. "Tom" Corbin – South Carolina Senator – Open States](https://openstates.org/person/thomas-d-tom-corbin-18KGLeYh8LQCToLVfYoMyp/)

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1. Incumbent seeking re-election.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tom Corbin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Corbin) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Corbin?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.