Polling Average
20%15%10%5%0%
17.1%
12.1%
Republican
Ralph Norman
Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in South Carolina
South Carolina Republican Senate special primary: 1st place (1st round)
$65.2K
AUG 12, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Live Odds
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
Ralph Norman is trading at 24% to win the South Carolina Republican Senate special primary: 1st place (1st round) on prediction markets.
Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleU.S. Representative
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age73 years old (Jun 20, 1953)
GenderMale
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LocationSouth Carolina
BackgroundPolitician
EducationPresbyterian College — B.S., Business (1975)
Notable personal detailsRalph Warren Norman Jr. is an American politician and real estate developer who has served as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 5th congressional district since 2017. Before Congress, he served multiple terms in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He earned a B.S. in Business from Presbyterian College in 1975 and worked in his family’s construction and commercial real estate business.
SourcesShowHide
norman.house.govclerk.house.goven.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orgralphnormanforgovernor.comlcv.orgiwv.orgelectionhistory.scvotes.govscdailygazette.comyahoo.comsc.onair.ccclubforgrowth.orgflvoicenews.comcongress.govontheissues.orgreproductivefreedomforall.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgoversight.house.govnrapvf.orgtime.comapnews.comwistv.comdcnewsnow.comabccolumbia.comfacebook.comheraldonline.comabcnews4.comwfae.orgpostandcourier.comwcnc.comqcnews.comwrdw.comrollcall.comgoogle.comyoutube.comhistory.house.govhouse.govrules.house.govpacificislandscaucus-case.house.govbudget.house.govcha.house.govcapac.house.govprogressives.house.govziplook.house.gov
Political Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Ralph Norman supports pro-growth tax cuts and smaller government spending, backing the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and promoting reduced taxation for families and businesses. His campaign and voting record emphasize fiscal conservatism, regulatory rollback, and accountability to limit government waste.
Healthcare
Supports repealing the Affordable Care Act and replacing it with market-based reforms that reduce federal involvement, expand health savings accounts, and return choice to patients. Advocates structural Medicaid reform and policies that reduce federal spending and mandates in health programs. Has spoken in favor of cutting or restructuring federal Medicaid/ACA funding as part of broader fiscal reductions.
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Immigration & Border
Supports aggressive border-security and enforcement measures, including construction of a border wall, expanded detention/deportation capacity, and policies to tighten asylum/entry processing. Has authored and promoted legislation and letters aimed at increasing enforcement, criticized the Biden administration’s border policies, and backed expanded roles for ICE and DHS.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Ralph Norman has a consistently pro-life record and promotes restrictions on abortion. He has sponsored and supported measures recognizing the sanctity of life, received high ratings from anti-abortion organizations, and has a legislative record opposing reproductive-freedom measures.
Climate & Energy
Opposes Green New Deal–style sweeping federal climate mandates and emphasizes continued use and development of U.S. fossil fuel resources alongside market-driven innovation and targeted clean-energy investment; frames affordable, reliable energy and energy independence as priorities and criticizes aggressive government-led climate policies as harmful to jobs and the economy.
Public Safety & Guns
Opposes new gun-control measures and supports broad Second Amendment and carry rights; has publicly argued that guns are not the root cause of gun violence and carries a concealed weapon. Has an A rating and endorsement from the NRA and has voted against legislation to require background checks for all firearm sales.
Latest News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 29, 2026
Ralph Norman has entered the South Carolina Republican Senate primary, saying he will run for the U.S. Senate seat in the special election. The race opened after Lindsey Graham’s death, and Norman is now one of several Republicans competing for the nomination. Recent polling cited in coverage showed Norman leading potential candidates, and he had previously been active in the South Carolina governor race before shifting to the Senate contest.
norman.house.gov+43
Articles
PTPittsburgh Tribune-Review9 days ago
Lindsey Graham returns home 1 last time for his funeral in South Carolina
Neutral
BNBreitbart News Network19 days ago
Rep. Ralph Norman Launches Run for Lindsey Graham's Senate Seat
Neutral
BBenzinga19 days ago
Rep. Ralph Norman Announces Run for Lindsey Graham's Senate Seat, Calls Himself 'Another Proven America F
Positive
TDThe Daily Beast2 months ago
Nancy Mace Hit With Total Embarrassment During CNN Segment
Positive
Latest Polls
Recent polling results and the candidate's current average in the race.
Ralph Norman currently averages 17.1%, ranking first in this race, 5.0 points ahead of the nearest opponent.
Polling average: 17.1%Position: firstMargin: +5.0 ptsLatest poll: 15.0% (Jul 28 - 30)Polls included: 8
Average recalculated from polls through Jul 28 - 30.
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Endorsers of Ralph Norman for South Carolina Republican Senate special primary winner?
Jim DeMint
Public endorsement
Jim DeMint endorsed Ralph Norman for the U.S. Senate special election.
Nancy Mace
Public figure
Nancy Mace endorsed Ralph Norman for the U.S. Senate special election.
Campaign Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Campaign finance totals from the latest available reporting period.
Total raisedCash on hand
$890.6K
$667.9K
$445.3K
$222.6K
$0
2022
2024
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2022
$890.6K
$531.5K
$1.1M
$45.3K
Cycle 2024
$397.5K
$594.6K
$334.5K
$13.9K
Cycle 2026
$101.1K
$90.3K
$605.4K
$33.6K
Source: FEC