Senator Jim DeMint, a Republican who emerged as a favorite of the Tea Party movement advocating small government and lower taxes, will retire in January to head the Heritage Foundation.
“It’s been an honor to serve the people of South Carolina in United States Senate for the past eight years, but now it’s time for me to pass the torch to someone else and take on a new role in the fight for America’s future,” DeMint, 61, said in a statement released Thursday.
The firebrand two-term conservative from the southern state of South Carolina has been a staunch opponent of President Barack Obama, particularly on issues such as taxes and Obama’s landmark health care reform law.
Current Heritage president Edwin Feulner, who had announced his intention to step down, said he was reassured that the largest US conservative think tank would be in the hands of a “principled leader” like DeMint.
“His conservative credentials are sterling,” Feulner said in a statement, noting that National Journal recently ranked DeMint as the most conservative member of the 100-seat Senate.
“He is a favorite of the Tea Party, and he has earned a tremendous 99 percent rating from Heritage Action for America.”
Conservative DeMint leaving US Senate to run Heritage
