RUSSELL FRY STOPS BY THIS MONDAY MORNING (PRIMARIES TOMORROW) 8/11/26

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:24

Yeah, it was great seeing you there last night. Uh we saw you at the um Audrey Benton's uh event to salute to veterans and uh you gave a really uh great uh little chat there with everybody about the importance of being a veteran and what you do at your office.

SPEAKER_04 0:41

Yeah, no, it's it's you know, it's it's it's always very I say very touching in an event like that because the vets are one, they're just cool to hang around, right? I mean, they just the stories that they have, the appreciation for the country. And uh, you know, I just wanted to you know remind people too, because there's a lot of veterans in there that you know they don't like they don't like asking for help. They they're they're can-do uh kind of guys and girls, and they they are used to just doing it themselves. And uh look, we're here to help. I mean, that's you know, that's that's what we do. We've we've helped out, I think, nearly 1,500 veterans uh successfully since I've been in Congress and returned at least to the veteran population themselves, about three million bucks back to them uh in direct payments. And so it's just been uh, you know, we're here to help. We want to be uh we want to be part of a solution for our veteran community.

SPEAKER_02 1:30

Absolutely. Okay, as you this is a really I mean you signed on to a really tight race here, and there's multiple people in this primary. Tomorrow is election day, there's no more early voting. Uh when you're crisscrossing the state in this compressed manner, what are some of the things that you're hearing people are concerned about?

SPEAKER_04 1:50

Well, a few things. I think when they look to this, when they look to the future uh of who's going to represent them, the this wonderful state in the United States Senate, they want a fighter. They want somebody who's have got a little bit of grit to them. They want a conservative. Uh, if you look at my record by every conservative organization out there, you know, we're the one of the most conservative members of Congress. They want somebody who works with President Trump, right? And that's the frustration that I hear from voters routinely is why won't you guys stand together? Why can't you work together? Uh, I've got a record of doing that. I don't grandstand and poke, you know, you know, poke the president in the eye or delay the agenda. I think we're there for a purpose. We've been given this wonderful opportunity to govern. Let's go do it. Uh, I I hear people talk about, you know, the future, what that looks like. Uh certainly, you know, our senator was 71 years old. Um, I'm 41, and people want fresh energy, fresh conservative energy to kind of take the fight. Um, and people really want to return and focus on, you know, the economic message, right? What is going on? How do we and not just highlighting the problem? What are the solutions that you're gonna do? We're the only ones actually talking about that. It's like it's one thing to talk and use the word affordability, but what does that translate to and how do we fix it? And not just, you know, fix it for tomorrow, fix it for years. Like what are the what are the problems in the country structurally that we can tackle from a conservative bend to really make sure that the middle class is thriving on a more permanent basis, right? That they're not uh that we're not worried about like the cost of heating your home. How does this look? And so I I think the you know, yeah, my my passion has always been just how I grew up, how are people surviving? How are they thriving? What does the economy look like? Are there opportunities for you and your family and your children and uh for the next generation? What does that look like? And that's really kind of what I hear. And and honestly, you know, sleep, sleep schedule notwithstanding, uh it's been really energetic uh and been fun. And um, and for that I'm grateful. There's been a ton of people around the state who have just really opened up their doors in businesses and you know um, they want to hear from people.

SPEAKER_02 4:03

Uh you know, they want to hear from the candidates because we have, you know, uh we've had the same senator for quite some time, and many people observing um what Lindsey Graham has done as senator, you know, he they felt maybe he was a little bit too focused on foreign affairs or but uh but um what can you do uh for the state of uh of South Carolina in that set of position, like you said, a lot of people talk about the affordability issue. But you know what? It's it's a narrative that is going on, that there's a lot of truth to it, but kids are picking up on it, and I by kids I mean people in their twenties and thirties, and they're they're turning to socialism because of it.

SPEAKER_04 4:46

So I had a young voter ask me, and and it was kind of a really cool conversation. It was in uh I think Greenville, and he said, What's the biggest challenge uh for my generation? I said, actually, I said, I said, look, man, I'm a I'm a millennial, I'm an older millennial, but I'm a millennial. I said, your challenge is to convince your uh classmates and peers um that socialism is not the right way, that it's never worked before, that it replaces uh God with government, that it destroys economic uh opportunities for families. I said, you have to point to history to do that. And I said, look, I'm younger, I'd be like the third youngest senator if I was elected. But I want to be part of that. I mean, the the new generation, these are the ones that are going to inherit the things that they think about today and how that is shaped, um, that's really gonna, you know, lay the path on what the future of the country looks like. So uh look, people want that fight. They want that, you know, when when I go toe-to-toe with somebody like Jasmine Crockett, they want that. But they also want a record of getting things done. And I don't just bloviate and grandstand. I'm always trying to tinker with stuff. Um, you know, we had great success with a human trafficking bill this year. I've actually passed legislation, unlike anybody else in this race, in furtherance of the president's agenda. So these are these are crucial things um that people want. They want effectiveness, they want a fighter, they want somebody who's conservative, uh, and they want you to, you know, they want you to get things done back home for South Carolina, um, but also legislatively in in Washington.

SPEAKER_02 6:20

So we're looking at um uh, you know, kind of like a three-way race here right now for a runoff. I mean, uh I'm just wondering w, you know, where your head's at at this point and where do you feel the momentum because uh, you know, a couple of things that people say and maybe you can talk about it. They feel uh, you know, hey, listen to the election tomorrow for you've worked on this, which is getting unknown recognition in areas outside of District 7. And the other thing people have uh have raised concerns is that you're going to by running for this office, and if you get it, we're gonna be abandoned in the House for five months. So maybe you can explain um because we've you've done it before, but maybe for people who haven't heard it, explain that.

SPEAKER_04 7:05

Well, the the the second the second part is a pure distraction. And the and the reason why people are peddling it is because it's advantageous to them and it's confusing and they're trying to confuse voters. The legislature says that they got this process, that they're gonna make sure that that doesn't happen. They want a full uh deck of cards ready to go on on January or in January when when we all start. And we have to trust the Republican legislature who's made that commitment not once but twice now publicly. We have to trust that they're gonna do that. And uh so people use process all the time to like, oh, it's not you, it's a process, and not just me. I mean, heck, there were people thrown off the ballot in this race because other campaigns were using process to squeeze a field. I don't think at my core that the prerequisite to running for this Senate seat should be that you lost a race for governor. I just don't think that, right? Like that you must have lost a race just two months ago and now you're running for this. I don't think that most people subscribe to that. Um, and uh, but what I hear from people is, and this is the cool thing, is you know, the challenge was can you become a statewide candidate um in three weeks? Can a can a congressman do that? Uh because it is a very compressed time frame, and that conversation has dramatically shifted, and you know it, uh, because you know, people are starting to throw a little shade, right? That's they're strict, they're trying to, they're trying to kind of undercut you. Um, but we have. And it's because of the message and the capabilities, uh, the fresh conservative energy, the fight that we bring, um, it really has kind of taken traction, and I think it's taken a lot of these other campaigns by by surprise. Uh because they're they're looking around and going, whoa, this guy's like, he's, you know, he wasn't ever supposed to break out of uh of the seventh. But um, look, we did 30 events last week alone. I don't even know how many interviews I've done, but 30 events themselves, we've crisscrossed the state, fueled by Celsius energy drink and pure adrenaline. Uh but the one thing that always gives me a boost in energy is when you talk when you're talking to people and they're excited. There's like a little bit of optimism. It's like, okay, we got this. We're gonna send a fighter to Washington. Uh, we're we're done with people who go up there and vote the right way or not and become part of the furniture. We're tired of that. We want somebody who's and I just point to what I've done here, like in this area. I'm like, these are the things that that I represent. These are the votes that I've cast, these are the conservative scorecards that measure all of us and say he's one of the most conservative members, he's one of us, but he's actually getting some stuff done. What a refreshing change uh in the way that the normal way that things are done in Washington, D.C. So it's been really, really cool.

SPEAKER_02 9:48

Speaking of Celsius, a lot of people were picking on you about the look you had in your eyes during that first debate. Um, how did you leave those uh debates? How did you feel about your performance there, or what did you learn from that experience?

SPEAKER_04 10:05

I felt really good. The first one was great. I mean, the answers were good. Yeah, the the lighting's weird or whatever, and like the first one, everyone's kind of getting a feel for stuff. And so uh yeah, I loosened up a little bit. Second debate was like rock solid, but both of them, I think, by all biometrics and analysis that were out there, we felt good about it. And I was prepared, right? I took time to prepare and make sure, you know, that that the message, you know, wanted to convey it correctly, wanted to kind of harmonize how we tackle, you know, affordability. People kind of wander off and like, I don't I I'm curious if some people even prepared. I felt really good. And at the heart of it was a recognition that, you know, here's what I think that this looks like. Here's what I here's how I think that we can achieve economic success. And it's not just you know, my idea, you gotta have the ability to work with people. Again, I go back to um uh what I hear from your listeners and uh people really uh all around the state is why can't conservatives stick together? Democrats do this all the time, they stick together, and Republicans are wandering around, you know, fighting with each other and not getting anything done. And they're right, right? I mean, but but what I always try to do, and I'll challenge my own side. I mean, I've done that a lot, but what I always try to do at my core is like pull these people in, let's assemble a team, let's assemble a game plan, and let's go execute, execute, execute. And if you do that, then you'll be successful. You don't have to have your name at the top of a bill, you don't have to be the center of attention, and who cares if you are? If you're impacting uh the lives of the people that you represent in a good way, then you've done your job, and it doesn't matter to credit. Uh so I think I mean it's been a it's been a wonderful journey in three weeks is to sprint, and um, and uh, you know, the debate performances felt good about, and honestly, I kept hearing that from people in other parts of the state is we saw the debate, we listened to debate, you were prepared, you knew what you were talking about, we were undecided, and we watched the debate, and now we're for you. I mean, I we got a lot of I'd say anecdotal validation at some of these public events that we did, um, you know, with the other candidates. They'd come up to you at like a stump meeting where all the other candidates are also speaking, and they'd tell you this and you go, All right, we're the there's some traction and momentum, and people are paying attention. Uh, they want conservative solutions, they want a conservative fighter. Uh, and um, you know, they're picking, they're picking us.

SPEAKER_02 12:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 12:40

Which is uh which is fun and great.

SPEAKER_02 12:42

You know, um I was I was looking through, you know, things that Trump um has been saying every every day. You know, I'm always checking in and seeing what's going on now. Um and one of the things uh we saw was uh Trump doubling down in his support for for Lindsey Graham's character. Um and uh you know a lot of people are saying, hey, I love Trump. I don't understand why he keeps putting his thumb on the scale for South Carolina politics. We don't need any help over here. Uh but I I just don't understand why he's supporting her. I mean, is it just sheer love and devotion to Lindsey Graham?

SPEAKER_04 13:24

Because Liz, I think that's a big, big um something part of it. Lindsey had an outsized relationship with the president. And uh um but what I hear you know people say is that they love the president, but they're gonna make their own choice too. And what one of the things I think that frustrated that I hear I've heard a ton in this race is that if you commit to being a a uh fill-in senator, and then you reverse course um after you've achieved that position for the six months of the remainder of the term, and you've changed your mind. That's a fatal defect. Uh uh that the first act that you've done as an elected, not elected, but a selected senator is is uh to to to reverse course instead of the side.

SPEAKER_02 14:08

I'm so mad that she did this. I'm so angry.

SPEAKER_04 14:13

Um, we've never elected a placeholder senator ever in the history of South Carolina. Uh there's been two instances. Um and I think people, what I hear from people overall, whether they're supporting me or somebody else, is we don't want a senator who is selected. We want a senator who is elected. And uh and we're gonna make our choice. We're not gonna let, you know, the the DC lobbyists and the uh consultant class decide who is South Carolina's next senator. We will make that choice ourselves. And I think that's the onus on everybody in the race is uh do you want that? Do you want your senator selected for you, or do you want to go and have your stamp on this, your choice uh in in picking who that person is that represents you and your family and the future of this country?

SPEAKER_02 15:00

Russell, uh, we're speaking with Congressman Russell Fry, and tomorrow's election day for the Senate seat nomination. I wanted to just play for you this one little clip of a woman that was being interviewed um at a at an event, and I don't know who she's voting for, but this is exactly how I feel. Let me play it.

SPEAKER_00 15:17

I don't know for that. I did not mean anything or whatever anyway. Like I said, I did not work.

SPEAKER_02 15:27

Um and I love that sound bite because uh I think that's a lot of people they scratch their heads at who Trump endorses a lot of times. You have to make your own decisions.

SPEAKER_04 15:39

Right. And I think people um people love the president, right? I mean, Trump on the campaign for hill, people love President Trump. They love his tenacity in his fight, um, but they want to have their own say. They wanna they want to pick uh their own their own senator. And um you're hearing that a lot. And and two so two things can be true. Certainly he's his endorsement is, I mean, it helps me greatly. Um, you know, but I always think that an endorsement helps, but it doesn't win the race for you. You gotta go win your own race, and you gotta talk about your qualifications for running, uh, what background you bring to a particular, you know, thing that you're running for, and how that's gonna be successful. You gotta go sell yourself too. The validators, right? The the the the endorsements, they matter, but you can't just sit back and go, I've been endorsed by such and such, I've been endorsed by such and such. Um endorsements are a key compart, you know, part of a campaign, but they're not they're not the only thing that matters. You still gotta go win your race and you win it on capabilities and you win it on ideas.

SPEAKER_02 16:44

We have a quick comment on the budget blinds text line for you, Russell Fry.

SPEAKER_01 16:48

Yeah, Russell, um uh the pontificator's got a question for you. He wants to know Um, is a balanced federal budget a priority for you, and do you have a strategy for tackling the overspending?

SPEAKER_04 16:59

Uh yes. I think if we're gonna uh in in if I could wave my perfect, if I was king for a day and I could wave my wand, here's what I would do. One, you need a balanced budget amendment. I voted on this in committee, but what that does is it put guard it puts guardrails on existing federal outlays from the treasury. You've got to have those those uh those guardrails put on so that future Congresses don't decide to deviate from it. South Carolina, for example, in their General Assembly, they cannot pass a budget in the House until it is certified by the Board of Economic Advisors that it is in balance. You've got to be able to have those guardrails. The second thing is I think you tackle the waste, fraud, and abuse. What does that look like? Look, $500 billion every year goes out of our federal treasury in waste, fraud, and abuse. That's not me saying this. This is the GAO, which is the government accountability office. So as we look at deficit spending and what that looks like, that is the easiest thing in my mind to go tackle. For instance, of that $500 billion, $162 billion is improper payments, right? Improper payments that should have never been paid out of the treasury or are paid to the wrong entity or the wrong person. That is an easy way. Go target that. Again, it doesn't cure the problem, but $500 billion a year is $5 trillion over $10 billion. Um a third so you've got to be able to cut your way out of this and reform structurally your way out of this. But the third component, too, is growth in the economy, growth in the economic success of working families in South Carolina actually allows you to grow your way out. So you have to have common sense um uh regulations, get rid of the bureaucratic states. You've got to have a tax policy that makes sense, allow the economic winds to push the sales of the American worker. And when you do this and you have a combination of the three, you start to tackle the debt. So uh totally part of it, um, I think about the value of a dollar and how hard people work for it. And if we continue to print money the way that we are and have, then um we're gonna keep seeing the same result, which is that people feel further and further behind.

SPEAKER_02 19:11

All right. Thank you so much, uh, Congressman Russell Fry. I hope to talk to you on uh Wednesday. Hopefully there's some exciting news to share that morning. Maybe tomorrow. Okay, yeah, tomorrow's the vote election day and uh pencil attendance or later discussion about the speaker afterwards and