When Alan Wilson began his service as South Carolina’s Attorney General in 2011, he was the youngest holding that position in the nation. He was re-elected in 2014, 2018, and 2022. His tenure has emphasized public safety, constitutional defense, and multi-state litigation.
Key Achievements
Established the SC Human Trafficking Task Force: Chaired by Wilson’s office, this effort transformed South Carolina’s human trafficking laws from among the nation’s weakest to one of the strongest through legislative advocacy in 2012.
Led Coalition for Safer Communities: Formed an unprecedented partnership with the State Law Enforcement Division, all 46 SC SC county sheriffs, the Police Chiefs Association, and 16 solicitors to pass key legislation, including:
- Emma’s Law (2013): Enhances monitoring and treatment for sex offenders to prevent recidivism.
- Ashley Hall Bill (2019): Strengthens penalties for crimes against children and improves victim protections.
Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force: Expanded collaborations with federal agencies and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to combat online child exploitation.
Constitutional and Multi-State Litigation: Led 26-State Challenge to Obamacare: Co-led efforts to invalidate the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate, contributing to landmark Supreme Court cases.
Defended State Laws in Court: Successfully upheld South Carolina’s voter ID law and immigration enforcement measures against federal challenges; protected right-to-work status.
Challenged Federal Overreach: Joined or led lawsuits against EPA regulations (e.g., Clean Power Plan, Waters of the U.S.), Dodd-Frank provisions, and Biden administration policies, filing hundreds of suits to safeguard state interests.
Opposed DACA and Other Policies: Part of a 2017 multi-state effort to litigate against Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
Leadership in National Organizations: Wilson served as Chairman of the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA): Elected in 2013, coordinating conservative legal strategies across states on issues like religious freedom, Yucca Mountain nuclear storage, and the MOX Facility.
Other Notable Efforts:
- Judicial Reform: Wilson advanced reforms more significantly than in the prior 30 years, improving court efficiency and accountability.
- Victim Services and Prosecution: Oversaw an office managing ~8,000 cases annually, with a focus on violent crimes, public corruption, and domestic violence, building on his prior experience as an Assistant Solicitor and Attorney General.
Wilson’s military service as a Colonel in the South Carolina Army National Guard, including an Iraq deployment, has informed his prosecutorial approach. These accomplishments reflect a conservative focus on law enforcement and states’ rights.
This article was written by the Voter Education Staff of the Saluda County Republican Party with research help from AI.