Ralph Norman

Ralph Norman is a Republican politician and businessman serving as the U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 5th congressional district. A lifelong resident of Rock Hill, South Carolina, he graduated from Rock Hill High School in 1971 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Presbyterian College in 1975. Following his education, he joined his family’s real estate and construction business, the Warren Norman Company, which he helped expand into a prominent commercial development firm in the region. Norman's political career began in the South Carolina House of Representatives, where he served from 2005 to 2007 and again from 2009 until 2017. He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election on June 20, 2017, to fill the seat vacated by Mick Mulvaney. In Congress, he has been a member of the House Freedom Caucus and has served on committees such as the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Rules. In 2025, he announced a bid for the governorship of South Carolina but was unsuccessful in the June 2026 Republican primary.

Representative Norman is a staunch fiscal conservative who emphasizes reducing federal spending and balancing the national budget. He has consistently advocated for a seven-year path to a balanced budget and the elimination of earmarks. On immigration, he strongly supports finishing the border wall, ending 'catch and release' policies, and reimplementing the 'Remain in Mexico' program to curb illegal crossings. He is a supporter of American energy independence, advocating for increased domestic production of oil and gas to lower costs. Norman holds firm pro-life views and has sponsored legislation to improve the accuracy of abortion data reporting. He is a vocal defender of the Second Amendment and has opposed federal measures that he views as infringements on the right to bear arms. In education, he supports parental rights and has been critical of 'woke' curricula in public schools. His foreign policy stance generally favors a strong national defense and support for Israel, though he has expressed skepticism toward large, non-offset foreign aid packages, particularly regarding some funding for Ukraine.