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American politician (born 1953) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ralph Warren Norman Jr. (born June 20, 1953) is an American real estate developer and politician who has served as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 5th congressional district since 2017.[1] His district includes most of the South Carolina side of the Charlotte metropolitan area, along with outer portions of the Upstate and Midlands. A member of the Republican Party, Norman served as the South Carolina state representative for the 48th district from 2005 to 2007 and from 2009 to 2017.
Ralph Norman | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2017 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 5th district | |
| Assumed office June 20, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Mick Mulvaney |
| Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 48th district | |
| In office November 3, 2009 – February 16, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Carl Gullick |
| Succeeded by | Bruce M. Bryant |
| In office January 2005 – January 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Becky Richardson |
| Succeeded by | Carl Gullick |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ralph Warren Norman Jr. June 20, 1953 Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Elaine Rice (m. 1974) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Presbyterian College (BS) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | House website |
Norman won a special election after Mick Mulvaney vacated his seat in Congress upon being appointed director of the Office of Management and Budget by President Donald Trump. As of 2019, with a net worth of $18.3 million, Norman is the 28th wealthiest member of Congress.[2] Govtrack.us ranked Norman as the most conservative member of the 117th Congress as of February 2023.[3]
He advocated for the implementation of martial law to prevent the peaceful transfer of power to President-elect Joe Biden in January 2021.[4][5]
Norman was born in York County, South Carolina. He received a bachelor's degree in business from Presbyterian College in 1975.
Norman resides in Rock Hill, where he is a real estate developer at the Warren Norman Company, a business founded by and named after Norman's father.
In 2004, Norman was elected to serve District 48 in the South Carolina House of Representatives, winning a three-way Republican primary outright with 52% of the vote. After one term, Norman chose not to run for reelection so he could become the 2006 Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in South Carolina's 5th congressional district against John Spratt.[6] He lost to Spratt.
On November 3, 2009, Norman defeated Democrat Kathy Cantrell in a special election to reclaim his old seat.[7]
In December 2016, President Donald Trump nominated Mick Mulvaney for Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).[8] At the time, Mulvaney represented South Carolina's 5th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. Shortly after the nomination, and in anticipation that Mulvaney's seat in Congress would be vacated once the United States Senate confirmed him, Norman announced his intention to resign from the South Carolina House of Representatives to run for Congress.[9][10][11]
On May 16, 2017, Norman won a Republican primary runoff election against Tommy Pope by a margin of 0.6%, triggering an automatic recount per South Carolina state law.[12][13] Following that recount, the South Carolina State Election Commission certified Norman as the Republican nominee on May 19, 2017. With 35,425 votes cast, Norman received 17,823 to Pope's 17,602, a 221-vote difference.[14]
Having secured the Republican nomination, Norman faced Democratic nominee Sumter attorney Archie Parnell in a special election on June 20. Norman received 51.0% of the vote to Parnell's 47.9%.[15]
Norman was sworn into office on June 26, 2017.[16]
On March 19, 2018, Norman filed for reelection with the South Carolina Election Commission.[17] Facing no primary challengers, he secured the Republican party nomination after the primary election on June 12.[18]
Meanwhile, Parnell chose to run again for South Carolina's 5th Congressional District seat.[19] He defeated three opponents to win the Democratic nomination, and faced Norman again in the general election.[20]
The general election was on November 6. Norman was reelected with 57.0% of the vote to Parnell's 41.5%.[21] State and national Democrats had distanced themselves from Parnell after news broke that he had abused his first wife.[22]
Norman filed for reelection on March 16, 2020.[23] He secured the Republican nomination after facing no Republican challengers in the primary election on June 12.[24]
Norman went on to defeat Democrat Mauricus "Moe" Brown in the general election on November 3. He received 60.1% of the vote to Brown's 39.9%.[25]
As of the 117th Congress, Norman voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 2% of the time according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.[26]
In 2024 he became the target of protests from members of his district over the controversial plan for Canadian solar panel manufacturer Silfab Solar Inc. to build a solar panel manufacturing plant in Norman's district.[27] The controversy stems around the Canadian company's plan to use the toxic gas Silane at a site zoned by the York County Zoning Board as "Light Industrial". The proposed site sits adjacent to an elementary and middle school,[28] prompting fears there would not be time to evacuate thousands of children in time.[29] The York County Board of Zoning Appeals ruled unanimously that York County staff erred and solar panel and cell manufacturing is prohibited, reversing York County staff’s interpretation on May 9, 2024. Silfab appealed the York zoning vote, though the county has asserted they don't have to, in violation of the order of the Board of Zoning appeals decision.[30][31]
Norman became a target of the protest due to his founding of The Bipartisan Congressional Solar Caucus with Illinois Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi.[32]
On September 20, 2018, at an election debate for the Republican nomination, Norman joked about sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. He kicked off the debate by asking the audience, "Did y'all hear this latest late-breaking news on the Kavanaugh hearings? ... Ruth Bader Ginsburg came out saying she was groped by Abraham Lincoln."[33]
At a public meeting for constituents on April 6, 2018, Norman engaged in a conversation with representatives from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America (MDA).[34] During that conversation, he placed his .38-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun on the table to illustrate his belief that "gun violence is a spiritual, mental or people issue, not a gun issue."[34] According to Norman, the loaded firearm was visible for "maybe a minute, or two minutes" and was never pointed at any individual,[35][36] but MDA representatives who were seated at the table with Norman said the firearm was visible for "five to 10 minutes" and that they felt unsafe.[36][37] Norman holds a concealed weapons permit issued by South Carolina.[38]
The incident sparked widespread criticism of Norman.[39] On April 9, 2018, South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Trav Robertson wrote the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division a letter requesting felony charges against Norman for his conduct.[40] The case was originally assigned to South Carolina 16th Solicitor Kevin Brackett, but Brackett recused himself, citing a "personal friendship" with Norman.[41] The issue was then forwarded to South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who declined to press charges, stating that Norman's actions did not "warrant a criminal investigation" or constitute "a prosecutable offense."[42][43]
In late February 2021, Norman and a dozen other Republican House members skipped votes and enlisted others to vote for them, citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But he and the other members were actually attending the Conservative Political Action Conference, which was held at the same time as their slated absences.[44] In response, the Campaign for Accountability, an ethics watchdog group, filed a complaint with the House Committee on Ethics and requested an investigation into Norman and the other lawmakers.[45]
In 2021, Norman was elected chair of the Conservative Opportunity Society.[46]
In 2021, Norman violated House rules by not wearing a face mask in the House Chamber and was fined $500 as provided by the rules. Despite committing the infraction, he and two other Republican lawmakers sued Speaker Pelosi over the incident. Norman tested positive for COVID-19 on August 5, 2021, and reported that he had been fully vaccinated and had only mild symptoms.[47]
In August 2022, Norman criticized President Joe Biden for forgiving up to $10,000 of student loan debt for eligible borrowers. Norman was criticized for hypocrisy because he had $306,520 of debt from his PPP loan forgiven.[48]
Norman supported the inquiry into an impeachment of Joe Biden, and said on the House floor that Biden would need to "prove" his innocence, which runs counter to the long held American legal principle of "innocent until proven guilty":
The evidence, I think, as things come out, will finally show what the trail is, and the fact that there are consequences. You cannot just say you are innocent and not have to prove it.[49]
In 2019, Norman joined a small group of House Republicans who sought to reinstate Representative Steve King on House committees.[50] King had lost his committee positions due to a series of racist and white nationalist remarks.[51] The group included Louie Gohmert and Paul Gosar.[50] King was not reinstated.
Norman was described as a Trump ally during Donald Trump's presidency.[52] After Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election and Trump made claims of election fraud, Norman called for an investigation into fraud.[53]
In December 2020, Norman was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated Trump.[54] The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[55][56][57]
On October 31, 2019, Norman voted with his fellow Republicans in opposition to a resolution outlining rules for then-ongoing impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump.[58][59] On December 18, 2019, Norman voted against both of the articles of impeachment of the first impeachment of President Trump.[60][61]
After Trump was impeached for his alleged incitement of a pro-Trump mob to storm the U.S. Capitol over false claims of election fraud, Norman criticized Representative Liz Cheney for voting to impeach Trump. Norman said he was "bothered by Cheney's attitude".[62] Norman himself voted against the second impeachment of Trump.[63] On January 17, 2021, Norman sent a text message to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows asking him to urge President Trump to invoke martial law (misspelling it 'Marshall Law') to prevent the inauguration of Joe Biden.[64][5]
However, Norman endorsed longtime ally Nikki Haley for president over Trump in the 2024 Republican primaries.
Norman is a supporter of efforts to impeach President Biden. During the 117th United States Congress, he co-sponsored two resolutions to impeach Biden.[65][66] He also co-sponsored resolutions to impeach Vice President Kamala Harris,[67] Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas,[68] and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.[63]
In June 2021, Norman was one of 21 House Republicans to vote against a resolution to give the Congressional Gold Medal to police officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on January 6.[69]
In June 2021, Norman was one of 14 House Republicans to vote against legislation to establish June 19, or Juneteenth, as a federal holiday.[70]
In July 2021, Norman was one of five House Republicans to vote against a bill that clears $2.1 billion for Afghan visas and Capitol Hill security.[71]
In February 2022, Norman co-sponsored the Secure America's Borders First Act, which would prohibit the expenditure or obligation of military and security assistance to Kyiv over the U.S. border with Mexico.[72]
In 2023, Norman was among 47 Republicans to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.[73][74]
In 2023, Norman was among 52 Republicans that voted in favor H.Con.Res. 30, which would remove American troops from Somalia.[75][76]
Norman was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[77]
Norman and his wife, Elaine, have four children and 17 grandchildren.[87]
Norman is a Presbyterian.[88]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tommy Pope | 11,943 | 30.4% | |
| Republican | Ralph Norman | 11,808 | 30.1% | |
| Republican | Tom Mullikin | 7,759 | 19.8% | |
| Republican | Chad Connelly | 5,546 | 14.1% | |
| Republican | Sheri Few | 1,930 | 4.9% | |
| Republican | Kris Wampler | 197 | 0.5% | |
| Republican | Ray Craig | 87 | 0.2% | |
| Total votes | 39,270 | 100.0% | ||
| Runoff election | ||||
| Republican | Ralph Norman | 17,823 | 50.3% | |
| Republican | Tommy Pope | 17,602 | 49.7% | |
| Total votes | 35,425 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ralph Norman | 45,076 | 51.0% | −8.0% | |
| Democratic | Archie Parnell | 42,341 | 47.9% | +9.2% | |
| American | Josh Thornton | 319 | 0.4% | −1.7% | |
| Libertarian | Victor Kocher | 273 | 0.3% | N/A | |
| Green | David Kulma | 242 | 0.3% | N/A | |
| Write-In | Write-in | 65 | 0.1% | +0.3% | |
| Total votes | 88,316 | 100.0% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Ralph Norman (incumbent) | 141,757 | 57.0 | |
| Democratic | Archie Parnell | 103,129 | 41.5 | |
| Constitution | Michael Chandler | 3,443 | 1.4 | |
| n/a | Write-ins | 250 | 0.1 | |
| Total votes | 248,579 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
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