# Richard Cash (politician)

Richard J. Cash (born March 31, 1960) is an American businessman and politician serving as a member of the South Carolina Senate from the 3rd district since 2017. A member of the Republican Party, Cash is known for his conservative stances on sanctity of marriage and sanctity of life.

## Early life and education

Cash was born on March 31, 1960 in Jacksonville, Florida to Thomas and Audrey Cash. He graduated magna cum laude from Furman University in 1982 with a BA in business management. While there, he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. In 1990, he received a Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

## S.C. Senate

Since 2017, Cash has represented the 3rd Senate district (northern Anderson County) in the South Carolina Senate. He was first elected during a special election to fill the unexpired term of Kevin L. Bryant, who vacated the seat and succeeded to the position of Lt. Governor of South Carolina.

### LGBT rights

Cash has an established history of anti-LGBT views. He has opposed hate crime bills because of the inclusion of gender and sexual identities. He consistently sponsors legislation to restrict the rights of transgender youth. In March 2024, Cash outright dismissed the concept of gender and affirmative care, claiming that children can only be transgender because their peers pressure them into it.

### Reproductive rights

Cash is known as one of South Carolina's most staunch abortion foes. For example, when he opposed Lindsey Graham from the right in 2014, his ads touted numerous arrests for protesting abortion and criticized Graham for his positions on abortion.
In 2023, Cash was one of the main Senators to push for tighter abortion restrictions in the state, opposing the 'Sister Senators', the five women who worked together across party lines to resist the bill. The Senate ultimately passed a six-week abortion law that year.

## Endorsements
### U.S. House of Representatives

* In 2024, Cash endorsed Stewart Jones of the House Freedom Caucus for South Carolina's 3rd congressional district after Congressman Jeff Duncan announced he would not run for re-election.

## Personal life

Cash is a Presbyterian, and a member of Christ Church, EPC in Anderson. He is an owner and manager of rental properties.

## Electoral history

| Year | Office | Type | Party | Party | Main opponent | Party | Party | Votes for Cash | Votes for Cash | Votes for Cash | Votes for Cash | Result | Swing | Swing | Ref. | Ref. |
| Year | Office | Type | Party | Party | Main opponent | Party | Party | Total | % | P. | ±% | Result | Swing | Swing | Ref. | Ref. |
| 2010 | U.S. Representative | Rep. primary | | Republican | Jeff Duncan | | Republican | 20,923 | 25.35% | 1st | N/A | Runoff | N/A | N/A | |
| 2010 | U.S. Representative | Rep. primary runoff | | Republican | Jeff Duncan | | Republican | 35,129 | 48.50% | 2nd | N/A | Lost | N/A | N/A | |
| 2014 | Senator | Rep. primary | | Republican | Lindsey Graham | | Republican | 26,325 | 8.30% | 3rd | N/A | Lost | N/A | N/A | |
| 2017 | S.C. Senator | Rep. primary | | Republican | Carol Burdette | | Republican | 2,032 | 25.82% | 2nd | N/A | Runoff | N/A | N/A | |
| 2017 | S.C. Senator | Rep. primary runoff | | Republican | Carol Burdette | | Republican | 4,869 | 54.40% | 1st | N/A | Won | N/A | N/A | |
| 2017 | S.C. Senator | Special | | Republican | Write-in | | N/A | 3,035 | 81.70% | 1st | N/A | Won | | Hold | |
| 2020 | S.C. Senator | Rep. primary | | Republican | Craig Wooten | | Republican | 9,411 | 56.76% | 1st | N/A | Now | N/A | N/A | |
| 2020 | S.C. Senator | General | | Republican | Judith Polson | | Democratic | 44,446 | 74.03% | 1st | N/A | Now | | Hold | |
* In 2017, Cash received several endorsements, including from Lt. Governor Bryant, Representative Jonathan D. Hill, and the Club for Growth.
* In 2020, Cash was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund, Republican Liberty Caucus, and South Carolina Citizens for Life.