Editing Jim DeMint (section)

==U.S. House of Representatives==
===Elections===
DeMint's first involvement in politics began in 1992, when he was hired by Republican Representative [[Bob Inglis]] to work on his campaign for South Carolina's Fourth Congressional District. Inglis defeated three-term incumbent Democrat [[Liz J. Patterson]], and DeMint performed message-testing and marketing for Inglis through two more successful elections.<ref name=Weigel>{{cite news | title=How Jim DeMint Changed the Senate| first=Dave | last=Weigel | url= http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/12/jim_demint_to_heritage_foundation_the_conservative_south_carolina_senator.single.html | work=Slate| date=December 6, 2012 | access-date= April 3, 2013}}</ref>

In 1998, Inglis ran for the U.S. Senate instead of seeking re-election to the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]. DeMint left his firm to run for Inglis' House seat.<ref name=Rettig/><ref name=Weigel/> The district was considered the most Republican in the state, and it was understood that whoever won the primary would be heavily favored to be the district's next congressman.{{Citation needed|date=May 2019}} DeMint finished second in the Republican primary behind [[South Carolina Senate|State Senator]] and fellow Greenville resident [[Michael L. Fair|Michael Fair]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=83888|title=Our Campaigns - SC District 4 - R Primary Race - Jun 09, 1998|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref> In the runoff, DeMint narrowly defeated Fair by 2,030 votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=83889|title=Our Campaigns - SC District 4 - R Runoff Race - Jun 23, 1998|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref> He then defeated Democratic State Senator [[Glenn G. Reese|Glenn Reese]] with 57 percent of the vote to Reese's 40 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=30887|title=Our Campaigns - SC District 4 Race - Nov 03, 1998|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref> DeMint faced no major-party opposition in 2000, and defeated an underfunded Democrat in 2002.{{Citation needed|date=May 2019}}

===Tenure===
DeMint was elected president of the freshman class of House Republicans.<ref name=Slate>{{cite news | title=How Jim DeMint Changed the Senate
| first=Dave | last=Weigel | url= http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/12/jim_demint_to_heritage_foundation_the_conservative_south_carolina_senator.single.html | work=Slate| date=December 6, 2012 | access-date=April 3, 2013}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite news | title=Sen. Jim DeMint (R) |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2010/person/jim-demint-sc/ | work=National Journal|access-date= April 3, 2013}}</ref> DeMint pledged to serve only three terms in the House.<ref name=NationalJournal/>

''The Washington Post'' and ''The Christian Post'' have described DeMint as a "staunch conservative", based on his actions during his time in the House.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sen. Jim DeMint, Tea Party Leader Leaving to Run Conservative Think Tank |first= Paul |last= Stanley |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/sen-jim-demint-tea-party-leader-leaving-to-run-conservative-think-tank-86197/#ovSw781etArmQ3xZ.99 |work=The Christian Post |date=December 6, 2012 |access-date=June 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Jim DeMint leaving the Senate |first= Rachel |last= Weiner |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2012/12/06/jim-demint-leaving-the-senate/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 6, 2012 |access-date=June 17, 2013}}</ref> He broke rank with his party and powerful state interests several times: DeMint was one of 34 Republicans to oppose President Bush's [[No Child Left Behind]] program and one of 25 to oppose [[Medicare Part D]].<ref name=Slate/> He sought to replace No Child Left Behind with a state-based block-grant program for schools.<ref name=NationalJournal/> DeMint also worked to privatize [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] by allowing the creation of individual investment accounts in the federal program. In 2003, DeMint sponsored legislation to allow people under the age of 55 to set aside 3 percent to 8 percent of their Social Security withholding income in personal investment accounts.<ref name=NationalJournal/> DeMint was also the only South Carolina House member to vote for normalizing trade relations with China, arguing in favor of free trade between the countries. He also provided a crucial swing vote on a free trade bill regarding Caribbean countries. His votes led South Carolina's influential textile industry to heavily oppose him in his subsequent House and Senate races.<ref name=NewYorkTimes>{{cite news | title=Wheeling, Dealing and Making Side Deals; Vow to Scrap Latin Textile Deals Wins Vote on Bush Trade Powers |first=Joseph |last=Kahn |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/08/business/wheeling-dealing-making-side-deals-vow-scrap-latin-textile-deals-wins-vote-bush.html?n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fT%2fTextiles |work=New York Times |date=December 8, 2001 |access-date=April 3, 2013}}</ref><ref name=NewYorkTimes2>{{cite news | title=Business; A Cloth Man With an Iron Will on Trade Policy |first=Jane |last=Tanner |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/09/business/business-a-cloth-man-with-an-iron-will-on-trade-policy.html?n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fT%2fTextiles |work=New York Times |date= June 9, 2002 |access-date= April 3, 2013}}</ref>