David Robinson II

David Robinson II was born in Columbia, South Carolina. Robinson served in the U.S. Army. His career experience includes working as an entrepreneur.[1]

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

It’s time to put people above political parties.

I’m running not as a career politician but as a fellow constituent who believes leadership must put people first. I’m a Democrat by values, but I’m running for everyone in South Carolina’s Congressional District 2; Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike.

My fight to find my missing son, Geologist Daniel Robinson, and my advocacy for all missing Americans have strengthened my commitment to service.

As a disabled wartime combat veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, my oath to this country never ends; it’s a lifelong promise to defend and serve the American people. I'm ready to raise my hand again in the US Congress.South Carolina has seven congressional districts—Republicans hold six, and Democrats hold one. In the State House, Republicans have maintained a supermajority for over 22 years. Congressional District 2 hasn’t elected a Democrat since 1965. Meanwhile, in 2025 South Carolina ranks 41st in K–12 education, 36th in infrastructure, 37th in healthcare access and affordability, and 49th in workers’ benefits and jobs. It shouldn’t take more than two decades to fix what affects our families every day. We cannot afford another 22 years of empty promises. I’m running to move us forward and bridge the divide between the people of South Carolina of all parties.I'm a native of Columbia who knows what it truly means to be a South Carolinian. I was raised by a single mother and worked from age seven through high school, earning minimum wage to help make ends meet. I carried college debt, became a single parent, and raised my children as a middle-class American.

I shop at our local grocery stores, live under retirement like many of you, and I'm tired of career politicians doing nothing for us.

I built my own trucking business, served our country after 9/11, and turned the pain of my son Daniel’s disappearance into advocacy through legislation I crafted the Please Help Find Missing Americans Act, the Daniel Robinson Law. I’ve lived your struggles, and I’ll fight for you in Congress.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m running on three core public policy priorities that reflect what I’m most passionate about: strengthening our economy, modernizing our infrastructure, and defending our democracy. I’m committed to lifting up rural communities, protecting the rights of every American, and expanding opportunities for working- and middle-class families.

I will champion entrepreneurship and small businesses growth, fight for accessible, affordable health care, and continue my work to bring missing Americans home; ensuring every family gets the attention and justice they deserve. I will plan and invest in our children’s future through educational initiatives designed to strengthen learning and expand opportunity.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm David Robinson II; many of you may know me as the father of missing Geologist Daniel Robinson (pleasehelpfinddaniel.com). I am searching for my son. I ACT. I am running to bring solutions to efforts to find missing Americans in this country. I am from Columbia, SC, born and raised.

I went to Midland Technical College majoring in Computer Engineering; a single parent, I put my dreams on hold to provide for my family. When the call came, I ACT! I went to truck driver school and later started my own business. I left my thriving business to join the US Army when our country was attacked on 911. When the call came, I ACT! I was part of a Combat Engineering Unit and was a trained Combat lifesaver. A combat soldier defending our freedoms, I was medically retired from injuries sustained during my deployment in Afghanistan.

My journey to Congress carries the 600,000 Americans who go missing every year. It carries the grassroots of Americans who stood beside me, no matter the race, color, or political ideologies, but as Americans. I witnessed first-hand what Americans can do when we work together. I'm taking that same energy to Congress.

As a constituent of SC, I lived in underrepresented districts. The cares of a party and self-interests outweigh the needs of the people represented. I am running to change that. As a constituent, I'm tired of being sick and tired; I had to act. To make change, be the change. I ACT when it matters most. I walk by Faith. I need your support.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

United we Stand

Unity is what drives our country. I saw it while fighting for our country in the desert of Afghanistan, I saw it again while fighting for my son in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, and I see it in this campaign where Americans take a sigh of relief knowing that a candidate who doesn't sow seeds of division but can unite Americans to stand up for our interests, freeing ourselves of being under-represented in the people's house. No matter our choice in political ideologies, religion, or preferences, we all have common things that matter most when putting food on our tables and a pathway to success in life; I want to make sure that we are focused on that. My campaign has your interests at heart. I believe in the spirit of unity.I advocate for robust Investment in Education, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Research, Safe Communities, and Safety Nets to secure our future. Valuing workers is paramount. This means fair wages, equal pay for equal work, and workers' rights. Moreover, the spending power of the working class and middle class plays a crucial role in driving economic growth by expanding the economy. When these segments of society have more disposable income, they spend more, stimulating demand for goods and services. This, in turn, benefits both people and businesses. The working and middle classes' spending power drives economic growth, benefiting all. It's not just about individual success; it's about creating a society where everyone can thrive.As a combat-wartime soldier after 9/11, I know firsthand the unwavering commitment it takes to serve the people of the United States. Just as I did in the deserts of Afghanistan, I must stand up and protect our democracy and constitution. In this pivotal moment, my focus extends beyond rhetoric to action—I vow to champion economic prosperity, defend our fundamental freedoms, and fortify the pillars of genuine democracy. We must protect the sacred right to vote and pledge to safeguard our environment for generations to come. Through smart, efficient, and proactive governance, we can pave the way for communities to thrive at every level, from local initiatives to state policies and national strategies. I represent the people I serve.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

It is important to have policies in place that ensure everyone has equal access to primary, secondary, and higher education. Climate Change is an existential threat not only to our economy but to our children's future. Clean water is a must! PFAs in our drinking water are not acceptable. Criminal Justice reform must continue. Investments in our infrastructure and Services to the public need to be streamlined, efficient, and modernized. Missing Americans. Over 200 - 750k Americans go missing every year, over 3,000 Americans go missing every day; over 2k of the daily missing are children. We must protect and find our missing Americans. Or rights and Democracy are being attacked, and as a sworn war-time soldier, I must defend our country.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An elected official must be able to anticipate and plan for long-term consequences and opportunities rather than solely focus on short-term gains. He or she must also have integrity and the courage to stand up for his principles when making tough decisions. He or she must be mindful of the needs, perspectives, and concerns of his or her constituents.

An official must be able to inspire and guide others toward common goals with vision, courage, and inclusivity. The official must be open-minded, receptive to diverse viewpoints, and willing to consider alternative perspectives. Integrity is most important. Being honest, transparent, and ethical is the door to taking responsibility for actions and decisions. An elected official must communicate with his constituents. He or She must effectively convey ideas, policies, and intentions. Also, an elected official must be willing to reach across the aisle to find solutions to common issues. Representing the people is not to be taken lightly; it's a duty and honor.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was the first in my immediate family to join the US Army during wartime. I had a thriving trucking business but decided to give it up to serve our country during the height of 9/11. As a truck driver in the civilian sector, I knew I could contribute in some way with my years of experience. My recruiter warned that 88M (Truck Drivers) were dying at a high rate and that I may want to choose a different MOS. I was concerned but knew our country needed me.

I decided to take that risk for our country and went in as a truck driver. However, I was never deployed to Iraq; instead, I was deployed to Afghanistan, fighting in the war Enduring Freedom.

I was assigned to a Combat Engineer Unit, 36 Engineers out of Fort Hood, TX. I drove a truck for the Army once but was assigned a gunner where we did convoys daily. I served our country with honor and would do it again. That's why I'm running for office.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was when I was 7 years old. My mother taught me that if I wanted something in life, I would have to work for it. You can't take it, but work for it with your hands.

My sister and I needed to help my mother. We didn't come from a wealthy home. She and I would walk through what we called then the Rich People's Neighborhood and find yards that needed to be raked. The catcher was that we didn't have a rake because we couldn't afford one. However, we were able to convince our customers to allow us to rake their yards using their rakes. That effort turned into purchasing a rake and expanding the yards we could rake in a week.

At 15, through an Urban League program, I worked for the BILO grocery store on Beltline Blvd in Columbia, SC, for a couple of years before moving on to greater things. I was one of the few high school students with a job. I gave up football, track and field, and basketball, which I was great at, for my job. I rather help provide by relieving some financial stress on my mother.

Campaign website

Robinson's campaign website stated the following:

Our Mission:

David Robinson II’s mission is simple and profound – he strives to fight tirelessly for the betterment of his community. He understands that his community faces different challenges and opportunities, and he is committed to ensuring that the voices of all residents are heard and their needs are met. Whether through improving public services or advocating for equitable policies, his aim is to create a thriving and harmonious community where everyone can flourish.

David Robinson II’s campaign highly values engaging with the community directly. David believes that the community itself often has the best solutions. Therefore, he is committed to actively listening to his constituents’ concerns, ideas, and aspirations. To achieve this, he plans to conduct town hall meetings, community forums, and door-to-door canvassing and use digital platforms to create meaningful dialogues and build strong partnerships with people from diverse backgrounds.

Listening and Action:

David Robinson II believes that listening is just the beginning and that taking action is what truly matters. That’s why he promises to not only listen to the concerns raised by our constituents but also to take concrete steps to address them. His commitment is to be proactive in addressing the issues that matter the most to our community, whether it’s advocating for improved infrastructure, fostering economic development, supporting education initiatives, or promoting environmental sustainability.

Inclusivity and Diversity:

David embraces the rich diversity of our community. He believes that diversity is our greatest strength and that inclusivity is essential for fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment among all residents. Regardless of background, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status, every member of our community deserves to have their voice heard and their needs respected.

We invite you to join us in our journey to create a brighter future for our community. Together, we can build a more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous community that we can all be proud to call home. Your support, input, and participation are invaluable as we work towards a shared vision of a better tomorrow.

Thank you for considering our campaign. Let’s make a difference and build a community where everyone thrives.

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—David Robinson II’s campaign website (2024)[3]