Ralph Norman, a five-term U.S. congressman from South Carolina, is hoping to win the favor of voters and claim the Senate seat left vacant by the sudden death of Sen. Graham. Norman says his tenure in the House has given him the experience needed to continue supporting conservative legislation in the upper chamber. ‘They want to do away with our borders. They want to do away with our branches of government, starting with the Senate. We can’t have that,’ he warns. ‘It’s time to fight, and I will lead the fight for that.’
That’s Norman’s stark warning against the Democratic Party taking control of Washington this November. He positions himself as a budget hawk, pointing to the nation’s financial condition. ‘Last time I checked, this country is not in the best financial condition. I will be a budget hawk to make sure that we are living in our means,’ he said. The seat is up for grabs after Graham’s death, and Norman reflects on the late senator’s legacy: a love for politics, South Carolina, and the country.
Norman first entered the House of Representatives in 2017 and served five terms. In 2026, he ran for South Carolina governor to replace term-limited Henry McMaster, finishing third in the Republican primary. That setback hasn’t dampened his drive. ‘I voted for the things that will keep this country great and keep South Carolina, in particular, great, because we got a lot of challenges coming our way. I want to be at the table to make those decisions, and now’s the time to do it,’ he said. ‘Our runway is short with America, and other countries are counting on us, and I will lead the way for that.’
He serves on the House Rules Committee and Budget Committee, as well as the House Committee on Financial Services, where he’s part of subcommittees on Financial Institutions and on Housing and Insurance. Norman touts his conservative credentials, claiming he’s the only proven conservative in the race with a track record rooted in the America First agenda. ‘It starts with the America First agenda, which are, per of the Constitution, securing our borders, supporting our law enforcement, energy independence, and a big, big part of what we’re dealing with now is the Secure [SAVE] America Act, which is secure in our elections, is very simple,’ he said.
Norman also wants to eliminate the Senate filibuster, calling it a major obstacle to getting legislation to the president’s desk. He specifically points to tougher voter ID laws. ‘Should you have to show proof of that with a photo ID? Yes. That’s front and center stage with me. I will lead the way in the Senate to nuke the filibuster. That’s what’s keeping that from getting the necessary votes. We’re not going to get 60 votes now. So, we got to nuke the filibuster,’ he said. Early voting for the special primary election starts on August 5th, and Election Day is August 11th.
