Adding himself to the growing list of Republicans hoping to grab the party banner from former President Donald Trump is the U.S. Senate’s lone Black GOP member, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott. While Scott hasn’t made an official announcement, the Wall Street Journal quoted people familiar with his plans.

Growing Republican sentiment is hoping to move on from the Trump era, and Scott is trying out a message of togetherness and hope with GOP voters in critical early states. Known for his inflammatory and often divisive rhetoric, Trump is running for president in the 2024 election.

According to Scott senior adviser Jennifer DeCasper, the candidate is "eager to convey his message of hope and opportunity and hear the American people's response." What isn't yet evident, according to some close to Mr. Scott, is whether the GOP base that eagerly embraced Mr. Trump and often overtly racist messages is interested in hearing a message of unity- particularly from a Black man.

Despite having one of the most conservative voting records in the Senate, Scott has made it a priority to establish himself as a leading Republican voice on some of the most pressing issues confronting the United States today, such as ending police brutality and expanding economic opportunities for minorities. However, he is still largely unknown to the voting public and faces stiff competition from Trump and other contenders hoping to lead the country into the next generation.

Rob Collins, the former chairman of the National Republican Senate Committee, and former head of the National Republican Senate Committee, Cory Gardner, have been appointed by Scott to serve as co-chairs of a new super PAC.

Scott often speaks of his tough childhood and academic struggles. He credits his mother and a restaurant owner with helping him turn around and find success. Scott told the Journal that it’s his priority to help people escape from poverty and disadvantaged neighborhoods. He has advocated for legislation to expand parents' ability to use public school funding to send their children to private schools of their choice, despite criticism that these programs take money away from public schools

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One key aspect of his platform is an opportunity-zone program that was enacted as part of the Republican tax code in 2017. The program is meant to entice private investment in low-income areas by lowering the barriers to entry in certain sectors.

Despite his best intentions and his political success, those close to Scott, according to the Journal is raising his profile in a Republican primary that also features Trump and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.  Many polls of the prospective GOP field have Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis either top or second, after Mr. Trump, and he is anticipated to enter the nomination contest when his state's legislative session ends in May.

Some Republicans have argued it's time to move on from Mr. Trump after the party's lackluster showings in the 2018 midterm elections, as well as losing the 2020 presidential race. All but one of the candidates who endorsed Mr. Trump and his baseless and repeatedly disproven charges of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election lost their close elections. Scott voted to officially declare Joe Biden the president after the 2020 election.

For years, Scott has been considered for the presidency. He was the 2021 Republican nominee who was selected to answer to then Vice President Joe Biden's address to Congress. During his last tenure, he earned almost $51 million. During the 2022 election cycle, Mr. Scott helped build bridges within the party by supporting and funding the campaigns of other party members.

There is likely to be intense pressure on both Scott and Haley to succeed in the primary election in their home state. Despite falling influence, the twice-impeached Trump has managed to win over many influential people, including the Republican governor of the state, Senator Lindsey Graham, and several members of Congress.

At Trump's launch ceremony in South Carolina last month, Republican Rep. Russell Fry said, "South Carolina wants Donald J. Trump back in the White House." In the district's conservative coastal area, where many still support Trump and parrot his messages, Fry handily defeated former Rep. Tom Rice, a Republican who voted to impeach Trump.

The Wall Street Journal initially reported that Scott was the major Republican senator involved in unsuccessful policing-overhaul negotiations in 2021. Scott, Sen. Cory Booker, and former Rep. Karen Bass, now mayor of Los Angeles, could not come to an agreement on how police officers should be prosecuted and held liable, including whether to change or eliminate a legal doctrine known as qualified immunity that shields officers from lawsuits.

After the publication of the video of the traffic stop that led to the beating and murder of Tyre Nichols, Biden and other Democrats have renewed their calls for legislative action. Booker has said that he and Scott have recently discussed potential next steps. Scott has expressed hope for future legislation but has been dismissive of the proposals made by Democrats in the past.

However, passing any police reform legislation is a tall order from this politically divided Congress.