South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has tapped Rep. Tim Scott to replace retiring Senator Jim DeMint.

The New York times reported that three Republican officials confirmed Gov. Haley’s choice to The New York Times on terms of annonimity.

The announcement was finally made today that Scott was chosen over Jenny Sanford, the ex-wife of former Gov. Mark Sanford and a few other less preferred options.

Scott is known for his conservative, republican voting record, Scott will start his term on January 3 and will be the only African American in U.S. Senate. There has not been a Black senator since November of 2010 and Scott is only the seventh African American to serve in the U.S. Senate in history.

Past Black United States Senators:

  1. Hiram Rhodes Revels: Mississippi in 1870-1871. Served as a Republican.
  2. Blanche Bruce: Mississippi 1875 to 1881. Republican.
  3. Edward Brooke:Massachusetts 1966-1978. Republican
  4. Carol Moseley Braun: Illinois 1993-1999. Democrat
  5. Barack Obama: Illinois 2005-2008. Democrat
  6. Roland Burris:Illinois 2009-2010. Democrat