A lawmaker in the conservative House Freedom Caucus is launching his campaign to be governor of South Carolina.

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., who came to Congress in 2017, kicked off his Palmetto State bid with a Rock Hill campaign rally on Sunday.

«I am running for governor to shake things up, clean up Columbia, and finally take down the corrupt political establishment once and for all,» Norman is telling voters, according to prepared remarks obtained by Fox News Digital. «I owe nothing to the lobbyists. I owe nothing to the Columbia bureaucratic elite. My allegiance is to you, the people of South Carolina.»

As part of his campaign platform, Norman is promising to establish a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) «commission» in the state «that roots out waste, fraud, and abuse.»

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Norman is also running on the promise of fixing South Carolina’s infrastructure, implementing term limits for state lawmakers, tort reform, and pledging to «let the people vote on judges.»

Currently, a majority of state judgeships in South Carolina are decided by the General Assembly. Some positions, including magistrate judges, are appointed by the governor.

Norman is also promising «to use the bully pulpit to bring my case directly to the people» and to «use the veto pen.»

His campaign speech also touches on socially conservative goals like advocating for school choice, and restricting school bathrooms by gender at birth.

«And if that all doesn’t work, I’m telling you now that any so-called «Republican» RINO legislator that doesn’t stand for reforms the people are calling for doesn’t deserve to be in office and we’ll beat them in Republican primaries if that’s what it takes,» Norman’s speech says.

Norman is joining a crowded Republican primary field with his Sunday announcement. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and state Sen. Josh Kimbrell are also in the race.

Meanwhile, Norman’s House colleague, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., is also said to be considering a campaign for governor.

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Current Gov. Henry McMaster is term-limited (Joshua Boucher/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

And in a state that President Donald Trump won by nearly 20 points in 2024, the commander-in-chief’s endorsement – both in the primary and general election – will likely be critical.

Norman pointed out in his speech that both he and Trump have a background in real estate; both men led development companies that were founded by their fathers.

«We need business leaders – people who have signed both the front and the back of a paycheck. Folks who have built something, taken risks, made money, and yes, lost money too,» Norman said. «Thankfully, we have a great businessman – and fellow developer – back in the White House! Just look what a difference President Trump has made in six months.»

He also cast himself as a disruptor who helped move «the needle by making our budget more conservative,» in reference to the House Freedom Caucus’s push to move Trump’s «big, beautiful bill» to the right.

And while the group was successful in doing that in the House, the Senate watered down several of those wins during its time considering the bill. The Senate version ultimately passed the House, with Norman and other Freedom Caucus members voting in support.

«Some say I have earned a reputation of being uncompromising, always trying to make a bill more conservative,» Norman’s speech says. «Well folks, I’ll take that as a compliment and I am proud of it.»

As a member of Congress, Norman sits on the House Committee on Financial Services, House Budget Committee, and House Rules Committee.

President Donald Trump’s endorsement will be critical in the race (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

A longtime ally of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Norman was the only House Republican to formally endorse her before Haley dropped out of the race, after which Norman backed Trump.

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He told Fox News Digital of his endorsement in January 2024, «When I supported Nikki Haley, I had the respect of Donald Trump to call him, and I told him what I was gonna do, and I decided I was going to do it.»

It’s worth noting, however, that Norman had been a vocal supporter of Trump since Haley’s exit – and unlike other House Freedom Caucus allies, he did not incur Trump’s wrath for his loyalty to Haley.

He was most recently at the White House earlier this week with other House Republicans for a reception celebrating their legislative successes.

The South Carolina gubernatorial general election will take place in November 2026.

Donald Trump anunció este domingo que llegó a un acuerdo comercial con la presidenta de la Unión Europea, Ursula von der Leyen.

“Hemos llegado a un acuerdo. Es un buen acuerdo para todos», dijo el presidente de Estados Unidos a los periodistas tras las conversaciones con la jefa de la Comisión Europea, en su complejo de golf en Turnberry, Escocia.

Von der Leyen también lo calificó como un “buen acuerdo”.

Asimismo, Trump confirmó que la UE se comprometió a 750.000 millones de dólares de compra de energía y a 600.000 millones en inversiones suplementarias en Estados Unidos.

La diplomática alemana se congratuló por el “buen acuerdo, que dará estabilidad y previsibilidad” a ambos lados del Atlántico.

El pacto, firmado en Turnberry, desactiva la amenaza de Washington, que había otorgado a Bruselas como plazo máximo el 1 de agosto para evitar que Estados Unidos aplicara un 30% de aranceles generalizados a las exportaciones europeas a partir de esa fecha.

Desde abril, Estados Unidos mantiene un arancel mínimo del 10% a las exportaciones europeas, una cifra que inicialmente iba a ser del 20%, pero que la administración estadounidense redujo a la mitad como gesto de tregua durante la negociación. Los detalles económicos del nuevo acuerdo todavía no se han difundido.

En la reunión previa al acuerdo, Trump dejó en claro que los aranceles europeos no quedarían por debajo del 15%, una posición que las autoridades comunitarias ya contemplaban como posible.

Trump también señaló que los productos farmacéuticos quedarían excluidos del acuerdo porque, en sus palabras: “Tenemos que fabricarlos en Estados Unidos”.

Estados Unidos mantiene el 1 de agosto como fecha límite para la entrada en vigor de los nuevos aranceles aplicados a decenas de socios comerciales. Howard Lutnick, secretario de Comercio, reafirmó la decisión del gobierno estadounidense el domingo y descartó cualquier prórroga.

“No habrá prórrogas ni más períodos de gracia. El 1 de agosto se fijarán los aranceles. Entrarán en vigor. Las aduanas comenzarán a recaudar el dinero y ya está”, afirmó a Fox News, confirmando que la administración actual no contempla extender el plazo para alcanzar acuerdos bilaterales previos a la imposición de estas tarifas.

La Casa Blanca notificó oficialmente a los líderes de numerosas naciones acerca de la inminente medida. A partir del 1 de agosto, productos importados de países como Canadá, México, Japón, Brasil, Corea del Sur, Camboya y Bangladesh enfrentarán tarifas diferenciadas, con gravámenes que varían entre el 25% y hasta el 50%, de acuerdo con el país y el sector. El propósito, según explicaron funcionarios estadounidenses, consiste en incentivar la firma de acuerdos comerciales individualizados que, si se concretan antes de la fecha límite, permitirán condiciones preferentes frente a los aranceles anunciados, como el caso de la Unión Europea tras el reciente anuncio de Washington y Bruselas.

Lutnick aclaró, no obstante, que la entrada en vigor de los aranceles no eliminará la posibilidad de negociaciones futuras. Sostuvo que el presidente Trump mantiene su disposición a concretar acuerdos aun después del 1 de agosto, especialmente con aquellos países dispuestos a modificar prácticas comerciales consideradas desleales por la administración estadounidense.

Hasta este domingo solo Gran Bretaña, Vietnam, Indonesia, Filipinas y Japón habían firmado acuerdos comerciales con Estados Unidos, aceptando niveles arancelarios superiores al 10% general, aunque lejos de los máximos previstos para naciones que no logran pactos.

El esquema gubernamental prevé aranceles del 50% para Brasil, 35% para Canadá, 30% para México, y 25% para Japón y Corea del Sur. Por su parte, Camboya y Bangladesh, proveedores clave de ropa, se encontrarán con tarifas del 36% y 35%, respectivamente. La portavoz de la Casa Blanca, Karoline Leavitt, indicó que el objetivo es presionar para la firma de acuerdos bilaterales bajo los términos estadounidenses. “El presidente y su equipo comercial quieren lograr los mejores acuerdos para el pueblo estadounidense y el trabajador estadounidense”, sostuvo Leavitt.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Sunday that Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell deserves a life sentence, rejecting the idea of a potential pardon for the convicted sex trafficker.  

In an appearance on NBC’s «Meet the Press,» Johnson was asked if he supported a pardon for Maxwell, but the speaker emphasized that the decision ultimately belongs to President Donald Trump. 

«I think 20 years was a pittance,» Johnson said of Maxwell’s time behind bars. «I think she should have a life sentence, at least. I mean, think of all these unspeakable crimes.» 

«I mean it’s hard to put into words how evil this was and that she orchestrated it and was a big part of it, at least under the criminal sanction, I think is an unforgivable thing,» Johnson added, acknowledging that federal prosecutors identified more than 1,000 victims, many of whom were underage. «So again, not my decision, but I have great pause about that as any reasonable person would.» 

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While leaving the White House on Friday en route for Scotland, Trump was asked if he considered a pardon or clemency for Maxwell. The president left the door open, responding: «I’m allowed to do it, but it’s something I have not thought about.»

Johnson said he supports the position of the president, the FBI and the Justice Department that «all credible evidence and information» be released, but emphasized the need for safeguards to protect victims’ identities. As for Maxwell, she was questioned by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche at federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida, for two consecutive days last week. Her lawyer told reporters she answered questions on about 100 potential Epstein associates as she angles for clemency. 

«That’s a decision of the president,» Johnson said of a potential Maxwell pardon. «He said he had not adequately considered that. I won’t get in front of him. That’s not my lane. My lane is to help direct and control the House of Representatives and to use every tool within our arsenal to get to the truth. I’m going to say this as clearly and plainly and repeatedly as I can over and over. We are for maximum disclosure. We want all transparency. I trust the American people. I and the House Republicans believe that they should have all this information to be able to determine what they will. But we have to protect the innocent. And that’s the only safeguard here that we’ve got to be diligent about, and I’m insistent upon doing so.» 

Acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York points to a photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell during a news conference on July 2, 2020.  (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

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Johnson criticized a petition for the release of all the Epstein files brought by Reps. Thomas Massie, R-W.Va., and Ro Khanna, D-Penn., as «reckless» and poorly drafted, arguing that it ignored federal rules protecting grand jury materials and «would require the DOJ and FBI to release information that they know is false, that is based on lies and rumors and was not even credible enough to be entered into the court proceedings.» 

The speaker said the petition also lacked safeguards for minor victims who were subjected to «unspeakable crimes, abject evil» and who risk being «unmasked.» Johnson said Massie and Khanna «cite that they don’t want child abuse, sex abuse information uncovered, but they cite the wrong provision of the federal code, and so it makes it unworkable.» The speaker argued Republicans on the House Rules Committee are committed to a better drafted approach that will protect the innocent. 

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., arrives for the House Republican Conference caucus meeting in the Capitol on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Asked about a potential pardon for Maxwell, Massie told NBC’s Kristen Welker earlier in the program that it «would be up to the president, but if she has information that could help us, I think that she should testify.» 

«Let’s get that out there, and whatever they need to do to compel that testimony, as long as it’s truthful, I would be in favor of,» Massie said. 

Khanna said he did not believe Maxwell’s sentence should be commuted and that he was concerned that Blanche was meeting with her. He said he agreed with Massie that Maxwell should testify but noted she has been indicted twice for perjury.

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«This is why we need the files. This is why we need independent evidence,» Khanna said.