The Real Ralph Norman: Power, Profit, and Trumpism
- CUBNSC
- Jul 25
- 5 min read
By Javar Juarez | Columbia Urban Broadcast Network Op-Ed
When Congressman Ralph Norman announced his intention to run for governor in South Carolina’s 2026 election, the news was met with applause from far-right circles—and deep concern from communities already suffering under the weight of underinvestment, economic exploitation, and partisan division. Norman, a longtime real estate magnate turned MAGA loyalist, has spent his years in public office enriching his business empire while consistently voting against the interests of the very people he now seeks to lead.
His candidacy, cloaked in the language of “cleaning up Columbia,” represents something far more insidious: the consolidation of wealth, power, and extremism under the banner of governance. South Carolinians deserve to know the full picture.
The Wealth Behind the Man: Real Estate, Rental Profits, and Questionable Interests
Norman’s net worth is estimated at $66 million, placing him among the wealthiest members of Congress. His fortune stems largely from real estate, with disclosures revealing a portfolio worth $24.7M to $95M, including multiple rental properties and a self-directed IRA worth up to $25 million.
In 2022 alone, Norman earned between $2.1 million and $13 million from dividends, capital gains, and rental income. All the while, he continued voting on legislation that could directly affect real estate interests in South Carolina—including zoning laws, development subsidies, and federal tax structures. The conflict of interest is glaring: how can someone so deeply financially entangled in property development also claim to represent working-class South Carolinians?
Norman’s company, Norman Development, has long operated in York County, securing lucrative contracts and building assets while his constituents face rising housing costs and stagnant wages. This isn’t public service. It’s profiteering.
Ralph Norman: A January 6 Enabler! Martial Law and the MAGA Playbook
Norman’s political record reads like a cautionary tale of extremism. Just days before the January 6 insurrection, Norman texted then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows:
“Mark, in seeing what’s happening so quickly, and reading about the Dominion lawsuit in AZ, PA, etc. we are at a point of no return in saving our Republic!! Our LAST HOPE is invoking Marshall Law!! PLEASE URGE TO PRESIDENT TO DO SO!!”
Let’s be clear: this was a sitting Congressman advocating for the suspension of the Constitution. Despite being present when the Capitol was overrun, Norman refused to support awarding medals to the officers who defended lawmakers, some with their lives. He has yet to denounce the attack with any sincerity. Now he wants to run South Carolina?
From Loaded Guns to Misused Proxies: A Pattern of Poor Judgment
Norman has displayed a loaded handgun at a public event in front of constituents during a debate on gun violence. When confronted, he dismissed it as a “display of rights.” The fear and discomfort he inflicted on attendees, including survivors and advocates, didn’t seem to concern him.
In 2021, he misused a COVID-era proxy voting policy to attend CPAC, then voted from afar while vacationing with political allies. A formal ethics complaint was filed, alleging deception and misuse of congressional procedure for personal gain.
And in a stunt that exposed his disdain for public health, Norman refused to wear a mask on the House floor, was fined $500, and later sued Speaker Pelosi to have the fine revoked. The lawsuit failed.
Voting Against the People: The “Big Beautiful Bill”
Norman recently supported the controversial “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping piece of legislation that slashed support for Medicaid, food assistance programs, clean energy subsidies, and education funding, while boosting defense spending and border militarization.
This legislation is projected to:
Strip healthcare coverage from thousands of South Carolinians
Eliminate school meal programs for low-income districts
Roll back clean energy investments that could bring jobs to the Palmetto State
Despite clear warnings from economists and public policy experts, Norman backed the bill without hesitation. South Carolina has some of the highest poverty rates in the Southeast—his votes only deepen the divide.
No Help on Crime, No Plan for Safety
Norman postures as “tough on crime,” yet his record shows zero legislative initiatives to curb violence or invest in community safety. After being directly threatened on January 6, he still refused to support accountability for the attack or invest in law enforcement reforms.
South Carolina communities—especially those in Columbia, Rock Hill, and Charleston—need real solutions: funding for youth programs, mental health services, re-entry initiatives, and gun safety measures. Norman offers none of that. Just bluster.
The Panthers Stadium Fiasco: A Missed Opportunity
Though there is no confirmed evidence that Norman was directly involved in the failed Panthers stadium project in Rock Hill, the debacle casts a shadow over York County’s development leadership—a world Norman has long operated in.
The deal collapsed after the city halted funding over missed financial commitments. Hundreds of jobs and millions in infrastructure were lost. While Norman avoided direct blame, his silence on the issue—and deep ties to the real estate community—make his lack of advocacy all the more glaring.
The Wrong Direction for South Carolina
Ralph Norman is not a populist. He is not a champion of the people. He is a multi-millionaire real estate investor masquerading as a public servant, one who has actively worked to suppress democratic norms, deny essential services to his own state, and amplify Trumpism at every turn.
His gubernatorial run is not about progress—it’s about power.
South Carolina deserves better. We deserve leaders who believe in democracy, invest in people, and fight for equity—not just profit.
Works Cited
“Book Deals, Real Estate, Stocks: SC’s Members of Congress Report Their Finances.” SC Daily Gazette, 14 Nov. 2023, https://scdailygazette.com/2023/11/14/book-deals-real-estate-stocks-scs-members-of-congress-report-their-finances/. Accessed 25 July 2025.
Dale, Daniel. “Congressman Texted Meadows That Trump Should ‘Invoke Marshall Law’ to Stay in Power.” CNN, 11 Jan. 2022, https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/11/politics/ralph-norman-marshall-law-text/index.html. Accessed 25 July 2025.
Fung, Brian. “Republican Lawmaker Urged Trump to Declare ‘Marshall Law’ in Final Days of Presidency.” AP News, 13 Dec. 2022, https://apnews.com/article/a3175ade72b18813d47c9bdf6f4e568b. Accessed 25 July 2025.
Hutcheson, Scott. “Why Leaders Should Add Writing to Their Leadership Toolkit in 2025.” Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024, https://www.forbes.com/sites/scotthutcheson/2024/12/27/why-leaders-should-add-writing-to-their-leadership-toolkit-in-2025/. Accessed 25 July 2025.
“Net Worth Update: Representative Ralph Norman Lost Estimated $1.3M+ in Stock Market Last Month.” Nasdaq, https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/net-worth-update-representative-ralph-norman-lost-estimated-1307k-stock-market-last-month. Accessed 25 July 2025.
Norman, Ralph. Official Congressional Website. https://norman.house.gov/. Accessed 25 July 2025.
“Ralph Norman.” Ballotpedia, https://ballotpedia.org/Ralph_Norman. Accessed 25 July 2025.
“Ralph Norman.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Norman. Accessed 25 July 2025.
“Ralph Norman: Congressman Wanted Trump to Invoke ‘Marshall Law.’” The New Republic, 13 Dec. 2022, https://newrepublic.com/post/169465/ralph-norman-congressman-wanted-trump-invoke-marshall-law. Accessed 25 July 2025.
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