Conservative Maverick Rep Throws Hat In Ring For Wide Open Gov Race

Republican South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman, a prominent member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, is set to announce that he is stepping into his state’s 2026 gubernatorial race on Friday.

Norman has already launched his campaign website, writing that while it has been an “honor” for him to serve in Congress, “the time is now to return to my home state where I was born and raised to protect the fabric of our state.” Norman added that he believes Americans “need a businessman” to serve as South Carolina’s next governor.

“I do not view 🏛️Politics as a career,” Norman wrote in a statement posted to his campaign website. “I am a businessman who went into 🏛️Politics to make a difference for ‘We the People.’ America has a businessman in the White House, and I believe we need a businessman as Governor of South Carolina.”

“I have a vision for South Carolina – one where we fix our roads, improve our schools, and get South Carolina prepared for a tremendous opportunity,” Norman wrote further. “But that won’t happen if we don’t fix a system that is rotten to its core. I am running for Governor to shake things up, clean up Columbia, and knock down the corrupt political establishment once and for all.”

Norman is expected to file his official candidacy paperwork sometime on Friday, his campaign confirmed to the Associated Press. He is also