View source for Joe Wilson

{{Short description|American politician (born 1947)}}
{{for|others with similar names|Joseph Wilson (disambiguation)}}
{{pp-move}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Joe Wilson
| image               = Joe Wilson official congressional photo (4x5).jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2015
| state               = [[South Carolina]]
| district            = {{ushr|SC|2|2nd}}
| term_start          = December 18, 2001
| term_end            = 
| predecessor         = [[Floyd Spence]]
| successor           = 
| state_senate1       = South Carolina
| district1           = 23rd
| term_start1         = January 8, 1985
| term_end1           = December 18, 2001
| predecessor1        = Constituency established
| successor1          = [[Jake Knotts]]
| birth_name          = Addison Graves Wilson Sr.
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1947|7|31}}
| birth_place         = [[Charleston, South Carolina]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Roxanne McCrory|1978}}
| children            = 4, including [[Alan Wilson (South Carolina politician)|Alan]]
| education           = [[Washington and Lee University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[University of South Carolina]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| website             = {{url|joewilson.house.gov|House website}}<br>{{url|joemeansjobs.com|Campaign website}}
| branch              = {{tree list}}
*{{flag|United States Army}}
**[[United States Army Reserve|Army Reserve]]
{{tree list/end}}
| serviceyears        = {{ubl |1972–1975 (reserve) |1975–2003 (guard)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ausa.org/legislation/congressionalinfo/Documents/OAS%20112th%20Congress.pdf |title=Once a Soldier ... Always a Soldier |author=Staff |work=Legislative Agenda |publisher=[[Association of the United States Army]] |access-date=January 28, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021200011/http://www.ausa.org/legislation/congressionalinfo/Documents/OAS%20112th%20Congress.pdf |archive-date=October 21, 2013 }}</ref>}}
| rank                = [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]]
| unit                = [[South Carolina Army National Guard]]<br>[[218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade|218th Mechanized Infantry Brigade]]
|module      = {{Listen
|pos         = center
|embed       = yes
|filename    = Joe Wilson speaks on the Abraham Accords.ogg
|title       = Wilson's voice
|type        = speech
|description = Wilson on the [[Abraham Accords]].<br>Recorded September 16, 2020}}
}}
'''Addison Graves "Joe" Wilson Sr.''' (born July 31, 1947) is an American politician and attorney serving as the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. representative]] for {{ushr|SC|2}} since 2001. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], his district stretches from [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]] to the Georgia–South Carolina border. He served as the [[South Carolina Senate|South Carolina state senator]] from the 23rd district from 1985 to 2001.

Wilson is a member of the [[Steering and Policy Committee of the United States House of Representatives|House Republican Policy Committee]] and an assistant Republican [[Whip (politics)|whip]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joewilson.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=34 |title=Joe Wilson – Congressman Joe Wilson's Biography |publisher=Joewilson.house.gov |date=July 31, 1947 |access-date=December 8, 2009 |archive-date=December 2, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202043001/http://www.joewilson.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=34 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In September 2009, Wilson interrupted a [[Barack Obama speech to joint session of Congress, September 2009|speech by U.S. President Barack Obama]] to a [[Joint session of the United States Congress|joint session of Congress]], shouting, "You lie!"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/09/joe.wilson/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914045428/http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/09/joe.wilson/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 14, 2009 |title=CNN, Politics, retrieved 14 September 2009 |publisher=Cnn.com |date=September 10, 2009 |access-date=September 16, 2009}}</ref> The incident [[List of United States Representatives expelled, censured, or reprimanded#Reprimanded representatives|resulted in a reprimand]] by the House of Representatives.<ref name=nyt20090915>{{cite news|last=Phillips |first=Kate |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/15/blogging-the-house-action-on-wilson/ |title=House Admonishes Wilson on Outburst|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 9, 2009 |access-date=August 22, 2011}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Wilson was born in [[Charleston, South Carolina]], the son of Wray (née Graves) and Hugh deVeaux Wilson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/wilsonjoe.htm |title=Joe Wilson |website=Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com |access-date=January 16, 2017}}</ref> In 1969 he obtained a bachelor's degree in political science from [[Washington and Lee University]], where he joined [[Sigma Nu]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sigmanu.wlu.edu/famousalum.html |title=Sigma Nu |website=Sigmanu.wlu.edu |access-date=January 16, 2017}}</ref> He obtained his [[Juris Doctor]] ([[Juris Doctor|J.D.]]) degree from the [[University of South Carolina School of Law]] in 1972.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/w000795/ |title=Joe Wilson &#124; Congressional votes database |publisher=Projects.washingtonpost.com |access-date=December 8, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106082505/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/w000795/ |archive-date=January 6, 2010  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Joe Wilson's Biography|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/3985/joe-wilson-sr#.VIdSRDHF-Tt|website=Project Vote Smart|access-date=December 9, 2014}}</ref>

== Early career ==
From 1972 to 1975, Wilson served in the [[United States Army Reserve]]. Thereafter, he was a Staff Judge Advocate in the [[South Carolina Army National Guard]] assigned to the [[218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade|218th Mechanized Infantry Brigade]] until retiring from military service as a [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]] in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joewilson.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=40 |title=Joe Wilson – Congressman Joe Wilson's Biography |publisher=Joewilson.house.gov |date=July 31, 1947 |access-date=December 8, 2009 |archive-date=December 2, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202042524/http://www.joewilson.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=40 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

A real estate attorney, Wilson co-accounted the law firm Kirkland, Wilson, Moore, Taylor & Thomas<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=3985 |title=Project Vote Smart – Representative Addison Graves 'Joe' Wilson Sr. – Biography |publisher=Votesmart.org |date=July 31, 1947 |access-date=September 16, 2009}}</ref> in [[West Columbia, South Carolina|West Columbia]], where he practiced for over 25 years. He was also a municipal judge in [[Springdale, Lexington County, South Carolina|Springdale, South Carolina]].<ref name="ourcampaigns">{{cite web|title=Wilson, Addison Graves "Joe" |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=2083 |date= September 10, 2009 |publisher= Our Campaigns |access-date=September 12, 2009}}</ref>

Wilson was active in South Carolina Republican politics when the party barely existed in the state. He took part in his first Republican campaign in 1962, when he was 15 years old. He served as an aide to [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Strom Thurmond]] and to his district's congressman, [[Floyd Spence]].

In 1981 and 1982, during the first term of the [[Reagan Administration|Reagan administration]], Wilson served as deputy general counsel for former governor [[James B. Edwards|Jim Edwards]] at the [[U.S. Department of Energy]]. Wilson is also a graduate of [[Morton Blackwell]]'s [[Leadership Institute]] in Arlington, Virginia.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.thenation.com/blog/right-goes-viral |title=The Right Goes Viral |magazine=The Nation |date=October 21, 2009 |access-date=October 7, 2010}}</ref>

===South Carolina Senate===
Wilson was elected to the [[South Carolina Senate]] in 1984 as a Republican from [[Lexington County, South Carolina|Lexington County]] and reelected four times, the last three times unopposed. By this time, Lexington County had become one of the most Republican counties in the state. He never missed a regular legislative session in 17 years. After the Republicans gained control of the chamber in 1996, Wilson became the first Republican to chair the Senate Transportation Committee. He was a member of [[Columbia College (Columbia, South Carolina)|Columbia College]]'s board of visitors and [[Coker College]]'s board of trustees.

During his tenure in the South Carolina Senate, Wilson was the primary sponsor of bills including the following: establishing a National Guard license plate,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess113_1999-2000/bills/150.htm |title=South Carolina General Assembly Bill S0150 |publisher=Scstatehouse.gov |access-date=September 16, 2009}}</ref> providing paid leave for state employees to perform disaster relief services,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess113_1999-2000/bills/283.htm |title=South Carolina General Assembly Bill S0283 |publisher=Scstatehouse.gov |access-date=September 16, 2009}}</ref> and requiring men aged 18–26 to register for the [[Selective Service System]] when applying for a driver's license.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess114_2001-2002/bills/634.htm |title=South Carolina General Assembly Bill S0634 |publisher=Scstatehouse.gov |access-date=September 16, 2009}}</ref> In 2000, Wilson was one of seven senators to vote against removing the [[Confederate battle flag]] from being displayed over the state house.<ref>{{cite web | title = Rep. Joe Wilson said "the Confederate heritage is very honorable" during SC flag dispute | work = Facing South | publisher = The Institute for Southern Studies |url=http://www.southernstudies.org/2009/09/rep-joe-wilson-said-the-confederate-heritage-is-very-honorable-in-1999.html | access-date = September 11, 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914035345/http://www.southernstudies.org/2009/09/rep-joe-wilson-said-the-confederate-heritage-is-very-honorable-in-1999.html | archive-date = September 14, 2009 | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

==U.S. House of Representatives==
===Committee assignments===
[[File:Joe Wilson, official photo portrait, color.jpg|upright|thumb|Official House photo portrait ([[109th United States Congress|109th Congress]])]]
[[File:George W. Bush and Joe Wilson.png|thumb|Wilson with [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]] in 2002]]
[[File:Congressional Delegation led by Rep. Joe Wilson visits Kyiv, Ukraine, May 5, 2023 - 52886942033.jpg|thumb|Wilson with Ukrainian President [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] in Kyiv, Ukraine, May 5, 2023]]
As of the 118th Congress, Wilson served on three [[standing committees]] and various subcommittees overseeing specific areas of legislation. He serves on the [[United States House Committee on Armed Services|Committee on Armed Services]], for which he is also a member of the [[United States House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness|Subcommittee on Readiness]] and [[United States House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces|Subcommittee on Strategic Forces]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Armed Services Committee – Strategic Forces |url=http://armedservices.house.gov/index.cfm/strategic-forces |work=house.gov |publisher=House Armed Services Committee |date=January 13, 2013 |access-date=June 5, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218141321/http://armedservices.house.gov/index.cfm/strategic-forces |archive-date=February 18, 2013  }}</ref> He serves on the [[United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce|Committee on Education and the Workforce]], for which he also is a member of the [[United States House Education Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions|Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Members, Subcommittees & Jurisdictions |url=http://edworkforce.house.gov/committee/subcommitteesjurisdictions.htm |work=house.gov |publisher=Education & the Workforce Committee |access-date=June 5, 2013 |archive-date=May 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512105329/http://edworkforce.house.gov/committee/subcommitteesjurisdictions.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a member of the [[United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs|Committee on Foreign Affairs]], Wilson serves on the [[United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe|Subcommittee on Europe]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Subcommittee on Europe |url=http://www.internationalrelations.house.gov/subcommittees.asp?committee=4 |work=house.gov |publisher=United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs |access-date=September 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091104091803/http://internationalrelations.house.gov/subcommittees.asp?committee=4 |archive-date=November 4, 2009  }}</ref> and Chairs the [[United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia|Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia |url=http://www.internationalrelations.house.gov/subcommittees.asp?committee=7 |work=house.gov |publisher=United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs |access-date=September 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007052622/http://www.internationalrelations.house.gov/subcommittees.asp?committee=7 |archive-date=October 7, 2009  }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 17, 2023 |title=Congressman Wilson Receives Congressional Assignments for 118th Congress |url=https://joewilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-wilson-receives-congressional-assignments-for-118th-congress |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=Representative Joe Wilson |language=en}}</ref> Wilson serves as the Chair of the [[Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe|U.S. Helsinki Commission]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 9, 2023 |title=Representative Joe Wilson |url=https://www.csce.gov/representative-joe-wilson |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=CSCE |language=en}}</ref> Wilson is a member of the [[Republican Study Committee]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Member List|url=https://rsc-walker.house.gov/|publisher=Republican Study Committee|access-date=January 22, 2018|archive-date=January 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101195017/https://rsc-walker.house.gov/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Chair of the RSC National Security and Foreign Affairs Task Force,<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 9, 2023 |title=Wilson to Lead RSC National Security Task Force |url=https://joewilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wilson-to-lead-rsc-national-security-task-force |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=Representative Joe Wilson |language=en}}</ref> and a member of the [[Tea Party Caucus]].

On June 27, 2024, Wilson announced he will run for the Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/1806417480124170415|title=x.com}}</ref>

===Caucus memberships===
* Composites Caucus (co-chair)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Congressional Composites Caucus |url=https://acmanet.org/congressional-composites-caucus/ |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=American Composites Manufacturers Association |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Counter-Kleptocracy Caucus (co-chair)<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 30, 2023 |title=Representatives Wilson, Cohen, Keating, and Salazar Introduce the Combating Global Corruption Act |url=https://joewilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/representatives-wilson-cohen-keating-and-salazar-introduce-the-combating |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=Representative Joe Wilson |language=en}}</ref>
* Congressional United Kingdom Caucus (co-chair)<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 9, 2022 |title=UK Caucus Co-Chairs Wilson, Kind, Rouzer, and Kilmer Mourn Passing of Queen Elizabeth II |url=https://joewilson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/uk-caucus-co-chairs-wilson-kind-rouzer-and-kilmer-mourn-passing-of-queen |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=Representative Joe Wilson |language=en}}</ref>
* Congressional French Caucus (co-chair)<ref>{{Cite web  |date=January 25, 2023 |title=Ambassador Philippe Etienne and the U.S. Congressional French Caucus - Media Library – France in the United States % |url=https://media.franceintheus.org/10094/ |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=Media Library – France in the United States |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* European Union Caucus (founder and co-chair)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=December 11, 2012 |title=Biography |url=https://joewilson.house.gov/about/biography |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=Representative Joe Wilson |language=en}}</ref>
* Congressional Caucus on Korea (co-chair)<ref name=":0" />
* [[Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members of the Caucus on U.S. - Türkiye Relations & Turkish Americans|author=|url=https://www.tc-america.org/in-congress/caucus.htm|publisher=Turkish Coalition of America|date=|accessdate=September 25, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Congressional Ukraine Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members |author=|url=https://ukrainecaucus-kaptur.house.gov/members|format=|publisher=Congressional Ukraine Caucus|date=|accessdate=11 November 2025}}</ref>
* House Ethiopian-American Caucus (co-chair)<ref name=":0" />
* Bulgaria Caucus (co-chair)<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 1, 2014 |title=Bulgaria Caucus |url=https://joewilson.house.gov/caucus/bulgariacaucus |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=Representative Joe Wilson |language=en}}</ref>
* Friends of Belarus Caucus (co-chair)<ref name=":0" />
* Congressional Caucus on U.S.-Türkiye Relations and Turkish Americans (co-chair)<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 27, 2022 |title=TURKEY CAUCUS CO-CHAIRS STATEMENT ON REPUBLIC DAY |url=http://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/turkey-caucus-co-chairs-statement-republic-day |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=Congressman Steve Cohen |language=en}}</ref>
* Congressional Bangladesh Caucus (co-chair)<ref name=":0" />
* Congressional Afghan Caucus (co-chair)<ref name=":0" />
* Congressional Caucus on Qatari-American Strategic Relationships (co-chair)<ref name=":0" />
* House Republican Israel Caucus (co-chair)<ref name=":0" />
* Diabetes Caucus
* Global Health Caucus
* India Caucus
*[[United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Members|url=https://royce.house.gov/internationalconservation/members.html|publisher=U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus|access-date=August 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801155201/https://royce.house.gov/internationalconservation/members.html|archive-date=August 1, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Congressional Taiwan Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Congressional Taiwan Caucus|date=August 16, 2022 |url=https://sherman.house.gov/taiwancaucus| publisher=Congressman Brad Sherman|access-date=21 August 2025}}</ref>
* Israel Allies Caucus
* Russia Democracy Caucus
* Sportsmen's Caucus
* [[Steering and Policy Committee of the United States House of Representatives|House Republican Policy Committee]]
* [[Tea Party Caucus]]
* [[Congressional Arts Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Membership|url=https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|publisher=Congressional Arts Caucus|access-date=March 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140644/https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Congressional Constitution Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=https://congressionalconstitutioncaucus-garrett.house.gov/about-us/membership|publisher=Congressional Constitution Caucus|access-date=May 8, 2018|archive-date=January 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122135023/https://congressionalconstitutioncaucus-garrett.house.gov/about-us/membership|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Afterschool Caucuses]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/policyCongressionalCaucuses.cfm|publisher=Afterschool Alliance|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=http://www.ng911institute.org/about-the-congressional-nextgen-9-1-1-caucus|publisher=Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus|access-date=June 8, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142643/http://www.ng911institute.org/about-the-congressional-nextgen-9-1-1-caucus|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Congressional Motorcycle Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://americanmotorcyclist.com/congressional-motorcycle-caucus-continues-to-take-shape/ |title=Congressional Motorcycle Caucus Continues to Take Shape|publisher=American Motorcyclist Association|access-date=18 November 2025}}</ref>
* [[Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Strengthening Conservation Advocacy: Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus Expansion & Reconstitution|author=|url=https://www.refugeassociation.org/news/2023/12/18/strengthening-conservation-advocacy-congressional-wildlife-refuge-caucus-expansion-amp-reconstitution |format=|publisher=National Wildlife Refuge Association|date=|accessdate=February 12, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Rare Disease Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Rare Disease Congressional Caucus|author=|url=https://everylifefoundation.org/rare-advocates/rarecaucus/rarecaucus-members/|format=|publisher=Every Life Foundation for Rare Diseases|date=|accessdate=January 15, 2025}}</ref>
*[[Republican Study Committee]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Member List|url=https://rsc-walker.house.gov/|access-date=December 21, 2017|publisher=Republican Study Committee|archive-date=January 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101195017/https://rsc-walker.house.gov/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Like his former boss, Spence, Wilson is an ardent social and fiscal conservative.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=BS021931 |title=Project Vote Smart – Representative Addison Graves 'Joe' Wilson Sr. – Interest Group Ratings |publisher=Votesmart.org |date=December 18, 2001 |access-date=December 8, 2009}}</ref>

In 2003, Wilson voted for the [[Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act]], including its Section 1011 authorizing $250,000 annually of taxpayer money to reimburse hospitals for treatment of illegal immigrants. In 2009, he changed to his current position of opposing public funds for health care of illegal immigrants.<ref>{{cite web |last= Shaw |first= Donny |title= Joe Wilson Voted to Provide Taxpayer Money for Illegal Immigrants' Healthcare |url=http://www.opencongress.org/articles/view/1219-Joe-Wilson-Voted-to-Provide-Taxpayer-Money-for-Illegal-Immigrants-Healthcare |date= September 11, 2009 |publisher= OpenCongress.org |access-date= September 12, 2009 |url-status= dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912223059/http://www.opencongress.org/articles/view/1219-Joe-Wilson-Voted-to-Provide-Taxpayer-Money-for-Illegal-Immigrants-Healthcare |archive-date= September 12, 2009 |df= mdy-all }}</ref>

===Legislation===
[[File:U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson, U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (2025).jpg|thumb|Wilson, U.S. Senator [[Jeanne Shaheen]], U.S. envoy to Syria [[Tom Barrack]], met with Syrian President [[Ahmed al-Sharaa]], August 2025]]
Wilson has sponsored and co-sponsored a number of bills concerning teacher recruitment and retention, college campus fire safety, National Guard troop levels, arming airline pilots, tax credits for adoptions, tax credits for living organ donors, and state defense forces. As of January 2006, eight bills he co-sponsored have passed the House,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=400433 |title=Addison (Joe) Wilson |work=GovTrack.us |access-date=November 2, 2009 }}</ref> including H.R. 1973, the [[Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005]], making safe water and sanitation an objective of U.S. assistance to developing countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR01973:@@@P: |title=Thomas (Library of Congress): H.R. 1973 |publisher=Thomas.loc.gov |access-date=September 16, 2009 |archive-date=January 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108194706/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR01973:@@@P: |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Wilson is a staunch advocate of a federal prohibition of online [[poker]]. In 2006, he co-sponsored H.R. 4411, the [[Goodlatte]]-Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04411: |title=Thomas (Library of Congress): HR 4411 |publisher=Thomas.loc.gov |access-date=September 16, 2009 |archive-date=November 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081125231725/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04411: |url-status=dead }}</ref> and H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04777: |title=Thomas (Library of Congress): HR 4777 |publisher=Thomas.loc.gov |access-date=September 16, 2009 |archive-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018013459/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04777: |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Wilson initiated the Drafting Business Expensing Act of 2003, which allows businesses to immediately write off 50% of the cost of business equipment and machinery. This bonus [[depreciation]] provision was extended for 2008 and 2009 in two separate stimulus bills.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-110publ185/content-detail.html |title=Public Law 110-185 – Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 |date=February 13, 2008 |publisher=gpo.gov |access-date=November 21, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/Public_Law-111-5.pdf |title=PUBLIC LAW 111–5— |date=February 17, 2009 |publisher=[[White House]] |access-date=November 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014112424/http://www.whitehouse.gov/%2fassets%2fdocuments%2fPublic_Law-111-5.pdf |archive-date=October 14, 2009  }}</ref> He also spearheaded the Drafting Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act of 2003, which offers higher education loan forgiveness to math, science and special education teachers in schools with predominantly low-income student populations.<ref name="statebio">{{cite web |author1=Rosen, James |url=http://www.thestate.com/news-extras/story/936307.html |title=Joe Wilson Biography| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912085107/http://www.thestate.com/news-extras/story/936307.html |archive-date=September 12, 2009 | website=[[The State (newspaper)|The State]] |date=September 10, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He cites as his most important vote the [[Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003]].<ref name="statebio" />

In 2015, Wilson cosponsored a resolution to [[Federal Marriage Amendment|amend the Constitution to ban same-sex marriage]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Huelskamp |first=Tim |date=February 12, 2015 |title=Cosponsors - H.J.Res.32 - 114th Congress (2015-2016): Marriage Protection Amendment |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-joint-resolution/32/cosponsors |access-date=April 10, 2022 |website=www.congress.gov}}</ref>

Wilson sponsored H.R. 6202, the American Tech Workforce Act of 2021, introduced by Representative [[Jim Banks]]. The legislation would establish a wage floor for the high-skill H-1B visa program, thereby significantly reducing employer dependence on the program. The bill would also eliminate the Optional Practical Training program that allows foreign graduates to stay and work in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6206/cosponsors?r=11&s=7 |title=Cosponsors - H.R.6206 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): American Tech Workforce Act of 2021 &#124; Congress.gov &#124; Library of Congress |publisher=U.S. Congress |date= December 9, 2021|access-date=July 3, 2022}}</ref>

In 2023, Wilson introduced H.R. 3202, the Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act of 2023. The act would extend the [[Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act|Caesar sanctions]] until 2032 and prevent the United States from recognizing or dealing with [[Ba'athist Syria]]. The act was passed by the House in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |title=US lawmakers pass anti-Assad Syria Anti-Normalisation Act |url=https://www.newarab.com/news/us-lawmakers-pass-anti-assad-syria-anti-normalisation-act |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250107093530/https://www.newarab.com/news/us-lawmakers-pass-anti-assad-syria-anti-normalisation-act |archive-date=January 7, 2025 |access-date=February 9, 2025 |work=The New Arab |language=en-EN}}</ref> Following the [[fall of the Assad regime]], Wilson called for the lifting of sanctions related to the economy, investment, and reconstruction.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US lawmaker who spearheaded Syria sanctions calls for them to be lifted for investment, reconstruction |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/us-lawmaker-who-spearheaded-syria-sanctions-calls-them-be-lifted |access-date=February 9, 2025 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}</ref>

=== Political positions ===
Wilson has criticized the Iraqi judiciary for being controlled by "Iranian puppets," specifically referring to Judge [[Faiq Zaidan]]. He questioned the legitimacy of Zaidan's rulings within the Iraqi Constitution and called for Iraq's liberation from Iranian influence. These claims came after the arrest warrant issued by Faiq Zaidan against the United States President, [[Donald Trump]], and the amendment proposed by [[Mike Waltz]], labeling Zaidan as a tool of Iranian influence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joe Wilson comments on US border security and Iraqi judiciary |url=https://aikentimes.com/stories/669904501-joe-wilson-comments-on-us-border-security-and-iraqi-judiciary |access-date=March 17, 2025 |website=Aiken Times |language=en}}</ref>

==="You lie!" outburst during Obama address===
[[File:Joe Wilson's You Lie interruption.theora.ogv|thumb|Wilson's interruption of President Obama's address (at 00:15)]]
On September 9, 2009, during a nationally televised joint address to Congress by President [[Barack Obama]], Wilson shouted "You lie!"<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/sep/10/you-lie-joe-wilson-obama-speech| author=Batty, David |title='You lie': Republican Joe Wilson's outburst at Obama health speech  |date=September 10, 2009 |access-date=June 3, 2013|newspaper=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref><ref>[https://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2009/09/a-voice-from-the-floor-on-illegal-immigrants-you-lie-021237 Politico:"A voice from the floor on illegal immigrants: 'Lie'"]. Retrieved September 9, 2009.</ref><ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/09/gop-rep-wilson-yells-out_n_281480.html "The Huffington Post: "GOP Rep Joe Wilson Yells Out "Lie" During Obama Health Care Speech To Congress (VIDEO)"]. Retrieved September 9, 2009.</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Alex|last=Spillius|title=Barack Obama health care speech: Republican calls president a liar|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6165489/Barack-Obama-health-care-speech-Republican-calls-president-a-liar.html|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=September 10, 2009|access-date=September 9, 2009 | location=London}}</ref> after Obama, while outlining his proposal for [[Health care reform in the United States|reforming health care]], said, "There are also those who claim that our reform effort will insure illegal immigrants. This, too, is false—the reforms I'm proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/us/politics/10obama.text.html?pagewanted=print |title=Obama's Health Care Speech to Congress |date=September 9, 2009 |newspaper=New York Times | access-date=May 6, 2010}}</ref>

Obama's chief of staff [[Rahm Emanuel]] immediately approached senior Republican lawmakers and asked them to identify the heckler and urge him to apologize immediately.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/11/us/politics/11Wilson.html | work=The New York Times | first=Carl | last=Hulse | title=In Lawmaker's Outburst, a Rare Breach of Protocol | date=September 11, 2009}}</ref> Members of Congress from both parties condemned the outburst. "Totally disrespectful", said Senator [[John McCain]] of Wilson's utterance. "No place for it in that setting or any other and he should apologize immediately."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0909/09/lkl.01.html |title=CNN.com – Transcripts |publisher=Transcripts.cnn.com |date=September 9, 2009 |access-date=September 16, 2009}}</ref><ref>[http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/2009/09/south-carolina-rep-joe-wilson-002258.php ''The Daily Voice'': "South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson calls the President a liar during speech"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913123238/http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/2009/09/south-carolina-rep-joe-wilson-002258.php |date=September 13, 2009 }}. Retrieved September 9, 2009.</ref> Wilson said later in a statement:

<blockquote>This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the President's remarks regarding the coverage of undocumented immigrants in the health care bill. While I disagree with the President's statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the President for this lack of civility.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090913034817/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/09/wilson-apologizes-i-let-my-emotions-get-the-best-of-me/ "Wilson apologizes: 'I let my emotions get the best of me'"]. Retrieved September 9, 2009.</ref></blockquote>

Obama accepted his apology. "I'm a big believer that we all make mistakes", he said. "He apologized quickly and without equivocation and I'm appreciative of that."<ref>{{cite news|last= Stolberg|first= Sheryl Gay|title= Obama Accepts Wilson's Apology|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/obama-accepts-wilsons-apology/?hp|date= September 10, 2009 |work= [[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 10, 2009}}</ref>

{{Wikisource|Raising a Question of the Privileges of the House|Raising a Question of the Privileges of the House (H. Res. 744)}}
House Democrats called on Wilson to issue a formal apology on the House floor.<ref name="reuters-not">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-politics-wilson/lawmaker-wont-apologize-to-obama-in-congress-idUSTRE58C14N20090913 |title=Lawmaker won't apologize to Obama in Congress |website=Reuters |date=September 13, 2009 |access-date=January 19, 2019}}</ref> House Majority Whip [[Jim Clyburn]] said, "This is about the rules of the House". House Majority Leader [[Steny Hoyer]] said, "What's at issue here is of importance to the House and of importance to the country ... This House cannot stay silent".

Wilson refused to apologize to the House of Representatives, saying in a televised interview, "I believe one apology is sufficient."<ref name="YouTube-interview">{{cite web|url=http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/DVS-Joe-Wilson-FF-/f56dbe6d8e72a00a0db9317083c75ab9 |title=Joe Wilson: 'One Apology Is Sufficient' |publisher=Associated Press |date=September 13, 2009 |access-date=January 19, 2019}}</ref> Congressional Republicans agreed, and opposed further action. Minority Leader [[John Boehner]] said, "I think this is a sad day for the House of Representatives ... I think this is a political stunt aimed at distracting the American people from what they really care about, which is health care."<ref>{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Soraghan |title=DeMint: No more apologizing for Wilson |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/50106-demint-no-more-apologizing-for-wilson/ |newspaper=The Hill |date=September 12, 2009 |access-date=September 22, 2009}}</ref> On September 15, the House approved a "resolution of disapproval" against Wilson by a 240–179 vote almost exactly along party lines.<ref>{{cite news |first=Alex |last=Isenstadt |title=House passes resolution of disapproval |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/09/resolution-of-disapproval-passed-027194 |newspaper=Politico |date=September 15, 2009 |access-date=September 15, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=H.Res.744 - Raising a question of the privileges of the House |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-resolution/744/text |website=Congress.gov |date=September 15, 2009 |access-date=March 7, 2025}}</ref>

Wilson said that his outburst reflected his view that Obama's bill would provide government-subsidized benefits to illegal immigrants.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,549243,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914110752/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,549243,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 14, 2009 |title=FOX News coverage of Wilson controversy |publisher=Foxnews.com |date=September 11, 2009 |access-date=September 16, 2009}}</ref> Several [[fact-checking]] organizations wrote that Wilson's view was inaccurate because [[America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009|HR 3200]] expressly excludes undocumented aliens from receiving government-subsidized "affordability credits".<ref name="Obama's Health Care Speech">{{cite web|url=http://www.factcheck.org/2009/09/obamas-health-care-speech/ |title=Obama's Health Care Speech |date=September 10, 2009 |publisher=FactCheck.org |access-date=September 16, 2009}}</ref><ref name="politifact">{{cite web|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/sep/09/joe-wilson/joe-wilson-south-carolina-said-obama-lied-he-didnt/ |title=Joe Wilson of South Carolina said Obama lied, but he didn't |publisher=PolitiFact |access-date=September 16, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/27/cnn-truth-squad-will-health-bill-pay-for-illegal-immigrants-an-update/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830111716/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/08/27/cnn-truth-squad-will-health-bill-pay-for-illegal-immigrants-an-update/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 30, 2009 |title=CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive – CNN Truth Squad: Will health bill pay for illegal immigrants? An update " – Blogs from CNN.com |publisher=Politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com |date=August 27, 2009 |access-date=September 16, 2009}}</ref> The nonpartisan [[Congressional Research Service]] agreed that people would need to be lawfully present in the U.S. in order to be eligible for the credits, but noted that the bill did not bar non-citizens from buying their own health insurance coverage through the [[health insurance exchange]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cis.org/articles/2009/CRS_Report_on_HR3200.pdf |title=Treatment of Noncitizens in H.R. 3200 |date=August 25, 2009 |work=CRS Report for Congress |publisher=Congressional Research Service |access-date=November 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118160833/http://www.cis.org/articles/2009/CRS_Report_on_HR3200.pdf |archive-date=January 18, 2010  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Republicans Cite Report To Support Illegal Alien Health Care Charge |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2009/09/republicans_cite_report_to_sup.html |date=September 10, 2009 |work=[[National Public Radio]] |access-date=September 10, 2009}}</ref> The Obama administration said that, in the final bill, undocumented immigrants would not be able to participate in the Exchange.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/11/illegal-immigrants-could-not-buy-insurance-on-new-exchange-white-house-says/|title=Illegal Immigrants Could Not Buy Insurance on New 'Exchange,' White House Says|date=September 11, 2009|access-date=September 12, 2009|work=The New York Times|author=Herszenhorn, David M.}}</ref> Such language was included in the [[Senate Finance Committee]]'s version of the bill, [[America's Healthy Future Act]].<ref>{{cite web|author=HealthiNation |url=http://health.yahoo.com/news/ap/us_health_care_overhaul.html |title=News on Yahoo! Health |publisher=Health.yahoo.com |access-date=August 29, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223021927/http://health.yahoo.com/news/ap/us_health_care_overhaul.html |archive-date=December 23, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/16/health.care.key.points/ | work=CNN | title=What's in Baucus' health care proposal? | access-date=May 6, 2010 | date=September 16, 2009}}</ref>

After the incident, Wilson and Democrat Rob Miller, his 2010 general election opponent, experienced a significant upswing in campaign donations. In the week after Wilson's outburst, Miller raised $1.6 million, about three times his 2008 donations,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=SC02&cycle=2008|title=Congressional Elections: South Carolina District 02 Race: 2008 Cycle|publisher=OpenSecrets|access-date=September 16, 2009}}</ref> while Wilson raised $1.8 million.<ref>{{cite news|first=Holly|last=Bailey|title=How Joe Wilson's Heckle Became a Campaign Cash Cow|url=https://www.newsweek.com/how-joe-wilsons-heckle-became-campaign-cash-cow-211742|newspaper=Newsweek|date=September 17, 2008|access-date=September 17, 2009}}</ref>

===Apology for remarks about hatred of America===
On a 2002 live broadcast of the [[C-SPAN]] talk show ''[[Washington Journal]]'', Wilson and Representative [[Bob Filner]] were discussing [[Iraq]]i [[weapons of mass destruction]]. When Filner noted that the U.S. provided Iraq with "chemical and biological weapons" in the 1980s, Wilson stated that this idea was "made up" and told Filner, "This hatred of America by some people is just outrageous. And you need to get over that." Wilson apologized for his remarks in statements to the press.<ref>"Wilson accuses California congressman of hating America", [[Associated Press]], September 26, 2002</ref><ref>[[Lloyd Grove]], "The Reliable Source", ''[[Washington Post]]'', September 25, 2002.</ref>

===Apology for remarks about Strom Thurmond's daughter===
In 2003, [[Essie Mae Washington-Williams]] revealed she was the daughter of Wilson's former employer, Senator [[Strom Thurmond]], and Thurmond's black maid. Wilson was among those who publicly doubted her assertion that Thurmond had a child [[out of wedlock]]. Wilson said even if her story were true, she should not have revealed it because "it's a [[Smear campaign|smear]]" on Thurmond's image and was a way to "diminish" Thurmond's legacy.<ref>Jennifer Talhelm, "Most Say Revelation Won't Alter Thurmond's Legacy", ''[[The State (newspaper)|The State]]'', December 14, 2003</ref> After Thurmond's family acknowledged the truth of Washington-Williams's revelation, Wilson apologized, but said that he still thought that she should not have revealed that Thurmond was her father.<ref>Jennifer Talhelm and Aaron Gould Shinin, "Critics of Thurmond's Daughter Change Tune", ''[[The State (newspaper)|The State]]'', December 19, 2003</ref>

===''Texas v. Pennsylvania''===
In December 2020, Wilson was one of 126 Republican members of the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] to sign an [[amicus brief]] in support of ''[[Texas v. Pennsylvania]]'', a lawsuit filed at the [[Supreme Court of the United States|United States Supreme Court]] contesting the results of the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]], in which [[Joe Biden]] defeated<ref>{{cite web|last1=Blood|first1=Michael R.|last2=Riccardi|first2=Nicholas|date=December 5, 2020|title=Biden officially secures enough electors to become president|url=https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-elections-electoral-college-3e0b852c3cfadf853b08aecbfc3569fa|url-status=live|access-date=December 12, 2020|website=[[Associated Press|AP News]]|archive-date=December 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208201209/https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-elections-electoral-college-3e0b852c3cfadf853b08aecbfc3569fa}}</ref> incumbent [[Donald Trump]]. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked [[Standing (law)|standing]] under [[Article Three of the United States Constitution|Article III of the Constitution]] to challenge the results of an election held by another state.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Liptak|first=Adam|author-link=Adam Liptak|date=December 11, 2020|title=Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/politics/supreme-court-election-texas.html|access-date=December 12, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=December 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211234955/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/politics/supreme-court-election-texas.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Order in Pending Case|url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/121120zr_p860.pdf|date=December 11, 2020|publisher=[[Supreme Court of the United States]]|access-date=December 11, 2020|archive-date=December 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211234004/https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/121120zr_p860.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/10/politics/read-house-republicans-texas-supreme-court/index.html|title=Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court|first=Daniella |last=Diaz|work=[[CNN]]|access-date=December 11, 2020|archive-date=December 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212000435/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/10/politics/read-house-republicans-texas-supreme-court/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Opposition to Georgian Dream ===
{{See also|2023–2024 Georgian protests|2024 Georgian parliamentary election|2024 Georgian post-election protests|2024 Georgian presidential election|2024 Georgian constitutional crisis}}
In May 2024, in response to the [[2023–2024 Georgian protests|Georgian protests of 2023-2024]], Wilson introduced the [[MEGOBARI Act]] in the [[United States House of Representatives]]. The act targets [[Georgian Dream]] party officials and others deemed responsible for undermining democracy in Georgia. It also tasks U.S. government agencies with reporting to Congress on improper influence, sanctions evasion, and the activities of Russian intelligence assets in Georgia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 27, 2024 |title="MEGOBARI Act" Envisages Sanctions for Undermining, Injuring Georgian Democracy |url=https://civil.ge/archives/609543 |access-date=January 1, 2025 |website=Civil Georgia |language=en-US}}</ref>

On December 26, 2024, Wilson wrote on [[Twitter|X]] that “President [[Donald Trump]] has made it very clear where he stands on the self-professed enemies of America. If [[Bidzina Ivanishvili]] goes through with his plan to destroy Georgian democracy on December 29, he should expect a response like he’s never imagined.”<ref>{{Cite web |title=Congressman Wilson: If Bidzina Ivanishvili goes through with his plan to destroy Georgian democracy on Dec 29, he should expect response like he's never imagined |url=https://1tv.ge/lang/en/news/congressman-wilson-if-bidzina-ivanishvili-goes-through-with-his-plan-to-destroy-georgian-democracy-on-dec-29-he-should-expect-response-like-hes-never-imagined/ |access-date=December 26, 2024 |website=1TV |language=en-US}}</ref> He also posted, “Corrupt Bidzina Ivanishvili, a lover of [[China]] & [[Iran]] and hater of America, is trying to transform Georgia from a democracy into a dictatorship. We must put America First and cut all [funding] to Georgia if that happens.”<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 26, 2024 |title=Joe Wilson: Corrupt Ivanishvili, a lover of China and Iran and hater of America, is trying to turn Georgia from a democracy into a dictatorship - we must put cut all funding to Georgia if that happens |url=https://www.interpressnews.ge/en/article/136470-joe-wilson-corrupt-ivanishvili-a-lover-of-china-and-iran-and-hater-of-america-is-trying-to-turn-georgia-from-a-democracy-into-a-dictatorship-we-must-put-cut-all-funding-to-georgia-if-that-happens/ |access-date=December 27, 2024 |website=www.interpressnews.ge |language=en}}</ref> and questioned Ivanishvili’s actions, writing, “Why did Georgia’s dictator-in-waiting Bidzina Ivanishvili give a contract to build the [[Anaklia#Anaklia Port Project|Anaklia Deep Sea Port]] to a sanctioned Chinese company? Are you ready for sanctions, Bidzina?”<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 26, 2024 |title="მზად ხარ სანქციებისთვის, ბიძინა?" {{!}} ჯო უილსონი |url=https://mtavari.tv/news/173745-mzad-khar-sanktsiebistvis-bidzina-jo-uilsoni |access-date=December 27, 2024 |website=[[Mtavari Arkhi]] |language=ka}}</ref>

On December 27, Wilson, extended an invitation to [[President of Georgia|President]] [[Salome Zourabichvili]], recognizing her as the sole legitimate leader of Georgia, to attend the [[Second inauguration of Donald Trump|inauguration of Donald Trump]]. He wrote on X: "As the only legitimate leader in Georgia, I am grateful to extend an invite to President Salome Zourabichvili to attend the inauguration of President Donald Trump. I am in awe of her courage in the face of the assault by [[Bidzina Ivanishvili|Ivanishvili]] and his friends in the [[Chinese Communist Party|CCP]] & [[Government of Iran|Iranian regime]]."<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 27, 2024 |title=კონგრესმენმა უილსონმა სალომე ზურაბიშვილი დონალდ ტრამპის ინაუგურაციაზე მიიწვია |trans-title=Congressman Wilson invited Salome Zourabichvili to Donald Trump’s inauguration. |url=https://www.radiotavisupleba.ge/a/33255421.html |access-date=December 27, 2024 |website=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |language=ka}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Opposition President of Georgia Zourabichvili invited to Trump's inauguration |url=https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/opposition-president-of-georgia-zourabichvili-1735377161.html |access-date=December 28, 2024 |website=RBC-Ukraine}}</ref>

On December 29, Wilson announced on X that he would introduce a bill in the U.S. Congress recognizing Salome Zourabichvili as the sole legitimate president of Georgia until fair re-elections are conducted in the country. He stated that the proposed legislation, titled the "Georgian Nightmare Non-Recognition Act", would prohibit U.S. recognition of the "illegal dictatorial regime" in Georgia and reaffirm Zourabichvili's legitimacy as the country's leader pending free and fair elections.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US recognizes Zourabichvili as only legitimate president of Georgia until re-election |url=https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/us-recognizes-zourabichvili-as-only-legitimate-1735427302.html |access-date=January 1, 2025 |website=RBC-Ukraine |language=en}}</ref>

===Other notable events===
[[File:Joe Wilson (25574795666).jpg|thumb|Wilson speaking at [[Conservative Political Action Conference|CPAC]], 2016.]]
[[File:Pelosi and Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Israel.jpg|thumb|Wilson (second from right) with [[Israel]]i Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] (fourth from right) and Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]] (third from left).]]
In November 2009, the ''[[New York Times]]'' reported that Wilson and Representative [[Blaine Luetkemeyer]] made identical written statements, reading, "One of the reasons I have long supported the U.S. biotechnology industry is that it is a homegrown success story that has been an engine of job creation in this country. Unfortunately, many of the largest companies that would seek to enter the [[biosimilar]] market have made their money by outsourcing their research to foreign countries like India." The statement was originally drafted by lobbyists for [[Genentech]], now a Swiss [[biotechnology]] firm, but founded and still headquartered in [[San Francisco, California]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pear|first1=Robert|title=In House, Many Spoke With One Voice: Lobbyists'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/us/politics/15health.html|access-date=April 12, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 15, 2009|page=A1}}</ref>

Wilson supported President Trump's 2017 [[Executive Order 13769|executive order]] to impose a temporary ban on entry to the U.S. to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, saying that the order would "secure our borders and keep American families safe from terrorist attacks."<ref name="Blake1">{{cite web|last1=Blake|first1=Aaron|title=Coffman, Gardner join Republicans against President Trump's travel ban; here's where the rest stand|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/29/heres-where-republicans-stand-on-president-trumps-controversial-travel-ban|newspaper=Washington Post|date=January 31, 2017}}</ref>

On April 10, 2017, a Wilson [[town hall meeting]] at [[Aiken Technical College]] in [[Graniteville, South Carolina]] was interrupted by activists chanting "you lie" as Wilson asserted that the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act|Affordable Care Act]] was causing people to be denied health services.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bromwich|first1=Jonah Engel|title=Congressman Who Shouted 'You Lie' at Obama Hears the Same From Constituents|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/us/politics/joe-wilson-you-lie-obama-town-hall.html|access-date=April 12, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 12, 2017|page=A15}}</ref>

In January 2023, Wilson proposed a bill to direct "the [[United States Commission of Fine Arts|Fine Arts Board]] to obtain a bust of the [[President of Ukraine]], [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]], for display in the House of Representatives wing of the United States Capitol".<ref>{{Cite web |title=H.Res. 10: Directing the Fine Arts Board to obtain a bust of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for display in the House of Representatives wing of the United States Capitol. |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/hres10/text |access-date=January 12, 2023 |website=[[GovTrack.us]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Alic |first=Haris |date=January 11, 2023 |title=House Republican proposes putting a bust of Ukraine leader in U.S. Capitol |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/jan/11/joe-wilson-wants-volodymyr-zelenskyy-bust-display-/ |access-date=January 12, 2023 |website=[[The Washington Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sabes |first=Adam |date=January 11, 2023 |title=South Carolina Republican Congressman introduces resolution to place Zelenskyy bust in US Capitol |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/south-carolina-republican-congressman-introduces-resolution-place-zelenskyy-bust-us-capitol |access-date=January 12, 2023 |website=[[Fox News]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

On October 30, 2024, Columbia Airport Expressway was renamed to the Congressman Joe Wilson Expressway. The sign unveiling was attended by South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) staff and other current and former elected officials present including [[Attorney General of South Carolina]] Alan Wilson, South Carolina Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell, U.S. Congressman [[Ralph Norman]], and [[Anton Gunn]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 31, 2024 |title=Columbia Airport Expressway named in honor of Congressman Joe Wilson |url=https://www.coladaily.com/communities/columbia-airport-expressway-named-in-honor-of-congressman-joe-wilson/article_4f29e42a-971d-11ef-ae6c-c3dc11d3ef40.html |access-date=October 31, 2024 |website=Cola Daily |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Connaughton |first=Kevin |date=October 31, 2024 |title=Columbia Airport Expressway renamed in honor of Rep. Joe Wilson |url=https://www.wistv.com/2024/10/31/columbia-airport-expressway-renamed-honor-rep-joe-wilson/ |access-date=October 31, 2024 |website=WIS-TV |language=en}}</ref>

In November 2025, Wilson stirred controversy again by attacking America's Orthodox Christian community as an "extension of the Russian state," and a group of American Orthodox leaders and faithful visiting the U.S. Congress as an "intelligence operation."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://x.com/RepJoeWilson/status/1990522621671453086 |access-date=November 19, 2025}}</ref> This resulted in an outcry from the Orthodox faithful, as well as critical responses from Congresswoman [[Anna Paulina Luna]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://x.com/RepLuna/status/1990887140176335272 |access-date=November 19, 2025}}</ref> and South Carolina state representative [[Thomas Beach (politician)|Thomas Beach]], who called the comments "a really ugly smear" and "beneath the office."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://x.com/ThomasBeach/status/1990615718220460257 |access-date=November 19, 2025}}</ref> In response to these criticisms, Wilson doubled down, singling out "the leadership of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia]] (ROCOR) operating under the umbrella of the Moscow Patriarchate," despite ROCOR being autonmous, headquartered in the United States, and under the primacy of an America-born metropolitan bishop.

==Personal life==
{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=300
| image1   = Stephen H. Boineau.png
| caption1 = Stephen H. Boineau
| image2   = Brig. Gen. David Addison Weisiger.jpg
| caption2 = [[David A. Weisiger]]
| footer = Wilson is descended from slave-owners Stephen H. Boineau and [[David A. Weisiger]] and was named after Weisiger.
}}

Wilson is the adoptive father of [[Alan Wilson (South Carolina politician)|Alan Wilson]], who has served as [[Attorney General of South Carolina]] since 2011.<ref name="Roig-Franzia">{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/20/AR2010062003065.html | title=Joe Wilson's stepson vs. insurance mogul's son-in-law in South Carolina runoff | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=June 21, 2010 | access-date=June 19, 2011 | author=Roig-Franzia, Manuel}}</ref><ref name = NBC>{{cite news|url = https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/republican-rep-joe-wilson-south-carolina-hospital-collapse-rcna170530|title = Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina in the hospital after collapse|last1 = Nobles|first1 = Ryan|last2 = Wong|first2 = Scott|date = September 10, 2024|accessdate = September 10, 2024|work = [[NBCNews.com]]}}</ref>

Wilson was named after Confederate brigadier general [[David A. Weisiger]], the uncle of his great-great-grandmother. Wilson stated that Weisiger "was not a plantation owner; he was a bank cashier", but Weisiger owned seven slaves in Virginia. His great-great-grandfather Stephen H. Boineau owned 16 slaves.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 27, 2023 |title=More than 100 U.S. political elites have family links to slavery |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-slavery-lawmakers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629131056/https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-slavery-lawmakers/ |archive-date=June 29, 2023}}</ref>

In a 2005 guest article on [[Rediff.com]], Wilson wrote that his father, Hugh, was a member of the [[Flying Tigers]] in World War II.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wilson|first=Joe|title=Where the world is without fear|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/dec/28joe.htm|date=September 28, 2005|publisher=Rediff|access-date=September 10, 2009}}</ref> The Wilson family attends First Presbyterian Church in Columbia.<ref name=FPC>{{cite web |url=http://www.firstprescola.com/590634 |title=Church History |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701004140/http://www.firstprescola.com/590634 |archive-date=July 1, 2013 |website=First Presbyterian of Columbia |access-date=January 16, 2017|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="ourcampaigns"/>

On September 10, 2024, Wilson was hospitalized in Washington after collapsing at an event. Alan Wilson said his father was being treated for "stroke-like symptoms".<ref name = NBC/>

== Electoral history ==
===South Carolina Senate (1984–2000)===
{{Election box begin no change |title= 1984 [[South Carolina Senate]] 23rd district election<ref>[https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Election_Report_1984-1985.pdf Election Report 1984–1985] scvotes.gov</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson
   |votes      = 19,144
   |percentage = 77.85%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Jim Leslie
   |votes      = 2,754
   |percentage = 11.20%
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Write-in
|candidate = [[Norma C. Russell|Norma Russell]]
|votes = 2,392
|percentage = 9.73%
}}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Jan L. Chapman
   |votes      = 298
   |percentage = 1.21%
 }}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  |votes      = 2
  |percentage = 0.01%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      24,590
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}

 {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title = 1988 [[South Carolina Senate]] 23rd district election<ref>[https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Election_Report_1988-1989.pdf Election Report 1988–1989] scvotes.gov</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 23,790
   |percentage = 83.28%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Frank A. Barton
   |votes      = 4,771
   |percentage = 16.70%
 }}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  |votes      = 4
  |percentage = 0.01%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      28,565
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
  |loser      = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title = 1992 [[South Carolina Senate]] 23rd district election<ref>[https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Election_Report_1992-1993.pdf Election Report 1992–1993] scvotes.gov</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 27,595
   |percentage = 99.87%
 }}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  |votes      = 36
  |percentage = 0.13%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      27,631
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title = 1996 [[South Carolina Senate]] 23rd district election<ref>[https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Election_Report_1995-1996.pdf Election Report 1995–1996] scvotes.gov</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 26,979
   |percentage = 100.00%
 }}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      26,979
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title = 2000 [[South Carolina Senate]] 23rd district election<ref>[https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Election_Report_2000.pdf Election Report 2000] scvotes.gov</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 35,241
   |percentage = 100.00%
 }}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      35,241
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

===United States House of Representatives (2001–2024)===

Wilson was elected in 2001 in a special election caused by the death of Floyd Spence, his former boss. Wilson once said that a dying Spence called him from his hospital bed and asked him to run.<ref>Philip Rucker and Ann Gerhart, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/10/AR2009091002051_pf.html "The Gentlemen From South Carolina: State Has a History of Rowdy Politics"], ''[[Washington Post]]'', September 11, 2009.</ref>

In a crowded five-way Republican primary—the real contest in this heavily Republican district—Wilson tallied 75% of the vote. He won the December 18 special election with 73% of the vote.<ref name="AP">[http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/external/pre-election/state_districts/SC.html?SITE=NCGRDELN&SECTION=POLITICS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP.org]; retrieved April 10, 2008.</ref>
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2001 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] special election Republican primary<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=162251 | title=Our Campaigns - SC District 2 - Special R Primary Race - Oct 30, 2001 }}</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson
   |votes      = 34,646
   |percentage = 75.51%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Grimaud
   |votes      = 6,784
   |percentage = 14.79%
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Stew Butler
|votes = 1,881
|percentage = 4.10%
}}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Richard Chalk
   |votes      = 1,455
   |percentage = 3.17%
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Clide T. Cobb
   |votes      = 1,115
   |percentage = 2.43%
 }}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      45,881
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}

 {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2001 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] special election<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=752 | title=Our Campaigns - SC District 2 - Special Race - Dec 18, 2001 }}</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson
   |votes      = 40,355
   |percentage = 73.09%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Brent Weaver
   |votes      = 14,035
   |percentage = 25.42%
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = Warren Eilertson
|votes = 420
|percentage = 0.76%
}}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Steve Lefemine
   |votes      = 404
   |percentage = 0.73%
 }}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  |votes      = 1
  |percentage = 0.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      55,214
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
 {{Election box end}}
Wilson won election to a full term in 2002 with 84% of the vote, facing four minor-party candidates.<ref name="AP"/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061031013017/http://www.scvotes.org/statistics/election_returns_from_primaries_and_general_elections_statewide South Carolina Election Commission official web site, go to the page for November 5, 2002 general election]; retrieved April 10, 2008.</ref>
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2002 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] election<ref>[https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Election_Report_2002.pdf Election Report 2002] scvotes.gov</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 144,149
   |percentage = 84.12%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = United Citizens Party
   |candidate  = Mark Whittington
   |votes      = 17,189
   |percentage = 10.03%
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = James A. Legg
|votes = 9,650
|percentage = 5.63%
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  |votes      = 371
  |percentage = 0.22%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      171,359
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
 {{Election box end}}
Wilson was mentioned as a possible candidate for retiring Senator [[Ernest Hollings|Fritz Hollings]]'s seat in 2004, but decided to run for a second House term. He defeated [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] nominee Michael Ellisor and [[Constitution Party (United States)|Constitution Party]] nominee Steve Lefemine with 65% of the vote.<ref name="AP"/> Wilson got 181,862 votes to Ellisor's 93,249 and Lefemine's 4,447, with 312 write-ins.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061031013017/http://www.scvotes.org/statistics/election_returns_from_primaries_and_general_elections_statewide South Carolina Election Commission official web site, go to the page for November 2, 2004 general election]; retrieved April 10, 2008.</ref>
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2004 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] election<ref>[https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Election_Report_2004.pdf Election Report 2004] scvotes.gov</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 181,862
   |percentage = 64.98%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Michael R. Ellisor
   |votes      = 93,249
   |percentage = 33.32%
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Constitution Party (United States)
|candidate = Steve Lefemine
|votes = 4,447
|percentage = 1.59%
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  |votes      = 312
  |percentage = 0.11%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      279,870
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
 {{Election box end}}
In 2006, Wilson defeated Ellisor again, with 62.7% of the vote.<ref>Wilson received 127,811 votes to Ellisor's 76,090 votes, with 151 write-ins. See [https://web.archive.org/web/20061031013017/http://www.scvotes.org/statistics/election_returns_from_primaries_and_general_elections_statewide South Carolina Election Commission official web site, go to the page for November 7, 2006 general election]. Retrieved April 10, 2008.</ref>
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2006 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] election<ref>[https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Election_Report_2006.pdf Election Report 2006] scvotes.gov</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 127,811
   |percentage = 62.64%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Michael R. Ellisor
   |votes      = 76,090
   |percentage = 37.29%
 }}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  |votes      = 151
  |percentage = 0.07%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      204,052
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
 {{Election box end}}
In 2008, Wilson was reelected, defeating the Democratic nominee, Iraq War veteran Rob Miller, 54% to 46%.<ref>{{cite news |title= U.S. House |newspaper= [[USA Today]] |page= A16|date= November 5, 2008 }}</ref> It was the closest race in the district in 20 years, and the closest race Wilson had faced in 24 years as an elected official. He survived by winning his native Lexington County by 33,000 votes, more than the overall margin of 26,000 votes.
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2008 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] Republican primary<ref name="scvotes.gov">[https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Election_Report_2008.pdf Election Report 2008] scvotes.gov</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 44,783
   |percentage = 85.12%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Phil Black
   |votes      = 7,831
   |percentage = 14.88%
 }}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      52,614
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
 {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2008 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] election<ref name="scvotes.gov"/>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 184,583
   |percentage = 53.74%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Rob Miller
   |votes      = 158,627
   |percentage = 46.18%
 }}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  |votes      = 276
  |percentage = 0.08%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      343,486
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
 {{Election box end}}
Challenged by Miller, Libertarian nominee Eddie McCain, and Constitution Party nominee Marc Beaman,<ref>[http://www.scvotes.org/files/2010%20GE%20Candidate%20Names%20by%20Office%20and%20Party%20Report.pdf Official candidate list] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418180209/http://www.scvotes.org/files/2010%20GE%20Candidate%20Names%20by%20Office%20and%20Party%20Report.pdf |date=April 18, 2014 }} SC Secretary of State</ref> Wilson was reelected in 2010 with 53% of the vote.
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2010 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] Republican primary<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/16117/28318/en/summary.html# | title=SC - Election Results }}</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 64,973
   |percentage = 83.41%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Phil Black
   |votes      = 12,923
   |percentage = 16.59%
 }}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      77,896
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
 {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2010 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] election<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/19077/40477/en/summary.html# | title=SC - Election Results }}</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 138,861
   |percentage = 53.48%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Rob Miller
   |votes      = 113,625
   |percentage = 43.76%
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Eddie McCain
   |votes      = 4,228
   |percentage = 1.63%
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Marc Beaman
   |votes      = 2,856
   |percentage = 1.10%
 }}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  |votes      = 102
  |percentage = 0.04%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      259,672
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
 {{Election box end}}
Redistricting made the 2nd somewhat more compact. It lost [[Beaufort, South Carolina|Beaufort]] and [[Hilton Head Island, South Carolina|Hilton Head Island]]. To make up for the loss in population, it absorbed all of [[Aiken County, South Carolina|Aiken County]] and a slice of [[Orangeburg County, South Carolina|Orangeburg County]].

In the general election, Wilson ran unopposed and was reelected with 96% of the vote.
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2012 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] Republican primary<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/39142/93326/en/summary.html | title=SC - Election Results }}</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 23,062
   |percentage = 80.58%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Phil Black
   |votes      = 5,557
   |percentage = 19.42%
 }}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      28,619
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
 {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2012 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] election<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/42513/116143/en/summary.html | title=SC - Election Results }}</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 196,116
   |percentage = 96.27%
 }}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  |votes      = 7,602
  |percentage = 3.73%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      203,718
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
 {{Election box end}}
Challenged by Democratic nominee Phil Black and Labor Party nominee Harold Geddings III,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/53424/149816/en/summary.html#|title=South Carolina Election Commission Official Results|publisher=South Carolina State Election Commission|date=November 4, 2014|access-date=January 8, 2015}}</ref> Wilson was reelected in 2014 with 62% of the vote.
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2014 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] Republican primary<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/51763/133986/en/summary.html# | title=SC - Election Results }}</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 43,687
   |percentage = 81.61%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Eddie McCain
   |votes      = 9,842
   |percentage = 18.39%
 }}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      53,529
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
 {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2014 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] election<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/53424/149816/en/summary.html# | title=SC - Election Results }}</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 121,649
   |percentage = 62.45%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Phil Black
   |votes      = 68,719
   |percentage = 35.28%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Labor Party (United States, 1996)
   |candidate  = Harold Geddings III
   |votes      = 4,158
   |percentage = 2.13%
 }}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  |votes      = 282
  |percentage = 0.14%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      194,808
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
 {{Election box end}}
Challenged by Democratic nominee Arik Bjorn and American Party nominee Eddie McCain,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ballotpedia.org/South_Carolina's_2nd_Congressional_District_election,_2016|title=South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District election, 2016 - Ballotpedia|work=Ballotpedia|access-date=November 22, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Wilson was reelected in 2016 with 62% of the vote.
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2016 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] election<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/64658/316617/en/summary.html | title=SC - Election Results }}</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 183,746
   |percentage = 60.25%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate  = ''Arik Bjorn''
   |votes      = 105,306
   |percentage = 34.53%	
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Green Party (United States)
   |candidate  = ''Arik Bjorn''
   |votes      = 4,146
   |percentage = 1.36%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate no change
   |party      = Total
   |candidate  = Arik Bjorn
   |votes      = 109,452
   |percentage = 35.89%
 }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = American Party of South Carolina
   |candidate  = Eddie McCain
   |votes      = 11,444
   |percentage = 3.75%
 }}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  |votes      = 354
  |percentage = 0.12%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      304,996
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
 {{Election box end}}
Challenged by Democratic nominee Sean Carrigan and American Party candidate Sonny Narang, Wilson was reelected in 2018 with 56.3% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ballotpedia.org/South_Carolina's_2nd_Congressional_District_election,_2018|title=South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District election, 2018 - Ballotpedia|work=Ballotpedia|access-date=February 28, 2019|language=en-US}}</ref>
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2018 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] election<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/92124/Web02-state.222648/#/ | title=Election Night Reporting }}</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 144,642
   |percentage = 56.25%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Sean Carrigan
   |votes      = 109,199
   |percentage = 42.47%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = American Party of South Carolina
   |candidate  = Sonny Narang
   |votes      = 3,111
   |percentage = 1.21%
 }}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  |votes      = 187
  |percentage = 0.07%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      257,139
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
 {{Election box end}}
Challenged by Democratic nominee [[Adair Ford Boroughs]] and Constitution Party candidate Kathleen K Wright, Wilson was reelected in 2020 with 55.66% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/106502/Web02-state.264691/#/|title=2020 Statewide General Election Election Night Reporting|access-date=April 14, 2021|language=en-US}}</ref>
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2020 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] Republican primary<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/103402/Web02-state.250556/#/ | title=Election Night Reporting }}</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 55,557
   |percentage = 74.12%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Michael Bishop
   |votes      = 19,397
   |percentage = 25.88%
 }}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      74,954
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
 {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2020 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] election<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/106502/Web02-state.264691/#/?undefined | title=Election Night Reporting }}</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 202,715
   |percentage = 55.66%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate  = [[Adair Ford Boroughs]]
   |votes      = 155,118
   |percentage = 42.59%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Kathleen K. Wright
   |votes      = 6,163
   |percentage = 1.69%
 }}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  |votes      = 219
  |percentage = 0.06%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      364,215
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
 {{Election box end}}
Challenged by Democratic nominee Judd Larkins, Wilson was reelected in 2022 with 60.1% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 8, 2022 |title=South Carolina Second Congressional District Election Results |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/11/08/us/elections/results-south-carolina-us-house-district-2.html |access-date=November 14, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2022 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] election<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/115412/Web02-state.307150/#/?undefined | title=Election Night Reporting }}</ref>}}
 {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Republican Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Joe Wilson (incumbent)
   |votes      = 147,699
   |percentage = 60.01%
 }}
 {{Election box candidate with party link no change
   |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
   |candidate  = Judd Larkins
   |votes      = 98,081
   |percentage = 39.85%
 }}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
  |votes      = 346
  |percentage = 0.14%
}}
{{Election box total no change
  |votes =      246,126
  |percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
 {{Election box end}}
Challenged by Democratic nominee David Robinson, Wilson was reelected in 2024 with 59.5% of the vote.
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2024 [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]] election<ref>{{cite web |title=2024 STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION November 5, 2024 |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/122436/web.345435/#/summary |publisher=South Carolina Election Commission |access-date=February 3, 2025}}</ref>
}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=[[Joe Wilson (American politician)|Joe Wilson]] (incumbent)|votes=211,514|percentage=59.5}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate  = David Robinson
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 142,985
| percentage =40.3
}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=786|percentage=0.2}}{{Election box total no change
| votes      =355,285
| percentage =100.0
}}{{Election box hold with party link without swing
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

==See also==
* [[List of United States representatives expelled, censured, or reprimanded]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==

{{commons category}}

{{wikisource|works=or}}
* [http://joewilson.house.gov/ Congressman Joe Wilson] official U.S. House website
* [http://www.joewilsonforcongress.com/ Joe Wilson for U.S. Congress]
* {{CongLinks | congbio=W000795 | votesmart=3985 | fec=H2SC02059 | congress=joe-wilson/1688 }}
* {{C-SPAN|1002567}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071010201801/http://www.medillnewsdc.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=next_topic&f=6&t=000127&go=newer "Congressman with military ties backs Iraq war"] Darran Simon, ''Medill News Service'', February 18, 2004
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080207112049/http://www.palmettoscoop.com/2008/02/03/dont-turn-back-the-page-on-border-security/ "Don’t Turn Back the Page on Border Security"] Op-ed by Joe Wilson, ''Palmetto Scoop'', February 3, 2008

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Floyd Spence]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from South Carolina|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[South Carolina's 2nd congressional district]]|years=2001–present}}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Ben Cardin]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe|Joint Helsinki Commission]]|years=2023–2025}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Roger Wicker]]}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Stephen F. Lynch|Stephen Lynch]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Seniority in the United States House of Representatives|United States representatives by seniority]]|years=36th}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John Carter (Texas politician)|John Carter]]}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[David Scott (Georgia politician)|David Scott]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{USJointChairs}}
{{SC-FedRep}}
{{USHouseCurrent}}
{{USCongRep-start |congresses=107th–present [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[United States congressional delegations from South Carolina|South Carolina]]}}
{{USCongRep/SC/107}}
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{{USCongRep-end}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Joe}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the South Carolina General Assembly]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the South Carolina General Assembly]]
[[Category:21st-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church]]
[[Category:Censured or reprimanded United States representatives]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Charleston, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of Sons of Confederate Veterans]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Charleston, South Carolina]]
[[Category:National Guard (United States) colonels]]
[[Category:People from West Columbia, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Politicians from Charleston, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Presbyterians from South Carolina]]
[[Category:Reagan administration personnel]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina]]
[[Category:Republican Party South Carolina state senators]]
[[Category:South Carolina lawyers]]
[[Category:South Carolina National Guard personnel]]
[[Category:Tea Party movement activists]]
[[Category:United States Army officers]]
[[Category:United States Army reservists]]
[[Category:University of South Carolina alumni]]
[[Category:Washington and Lee University alumni]]