South Carolina Rep Explains Why He’s Exiting Congress to Run for Governor

Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina will have to leave Capitol Hill behind to run for governor in his home state, but he says the work he would do in the state capital, Columbia, would build off his conservative record in Congress.

“I see the challenges coming to South Carolina … . We need to keep it great. We’re at a pivotal point, and my services are needed in South Carolina more so than in Congress,” Norman told The Daily Signal on Saturday at the State Freedom Caucus Network’s summit in Irving, Texas.

“I’ve served in Congress eight years. We’ve done a great job with conservatism, with bending the curve toward less government, less taxes, less regulations,” Norman said. “In South Carolina, If we don’t have that, we’ll become like California. You saw it under [Ronald] Reagan in the ’70s, then it deteriorated to what it is now, which is just a cesspool of drugs, crimes, and you name it.”

But as Norman presents himself as the candidate to save South Carolina, it raises a question: Shouldn’t a state that is dominated by Republicans on every level of government already be conservative?

“You’ve got Republicans masquerading as conservatives just to get elected,” says Norman of his home state’s government. “I want to root that out and get true conservatives in South Carolina. As an example, the last 10 years we’ve increased spending, increased government. That’s not true conservatism, and that’s what I want to change.”

In Congress, Norman united with fellow House Freedom Caucus members to demand that spending cuts be instituted in the “big, beautiful” budget reconciliation bill to offset potential revenue decreases from tax cuts.

In South Carolina, Norman is once again pushing for spending cuts to always accompany tax cuts.

“What everybody is saying is, ‘cut taxes.’ I will say, we will cut taxes. We’re going to cut spending as well,” Norman told The Daily Signal, adding:

 “The real test comes with really cutting government, cutting regulations. Anybody can say, ‘I’m going to cut your taxes.’ What are you going to replace it with? When that call comes from that entity that says, ‘You’re cutting my program,’ you’ve got to have the spine and the willpower to say, ’Wait a minute. We can’t make the case for why this is growing government, which I’m just not going to do,’” Norman said.

Outside of the downsizing of the government, Norman considers improving the state’s infrastructure a “No. 1” priority.

“That and tort reform is No. 1,” Norman added, contending that South Carolina’s legal system is hampering business development.

“Every doctor, every businessperson is worried about a frivolous lawsuit. I’m going to put ‘loser pays’ in, where if you file a suit and lose, you’re going to pay the attorney fees. That’s the only thing that’s going to crack it.”

Norman is one of five members of the House Freedom Caucus leaving Washington in pursuit of higher offices in their home states. 

“I will increase the number of Freedom Caucus members in South Carolina and around the country,” Norman said bluntly when asked whether the departures of lawmakers would change how the caucus operates in Washington. “I’ll go anywhere to recruit people.”

Norman is among five Republicans running to replace term-limited GOP Gov. Henry McMaster. The others are Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, state Attorney General Alan Wilson, Rep. Nancy Mace, and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell.