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.
South Carolina House of Representatives
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]
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]
2018
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]
2020
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]
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]
Kavanaugh hearings joke
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]
Firearm incident
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-caliberSmith & Wessonhandgun 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]
Conservative Political Action Conference attendance
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 SpeakerPelosi 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]
Federal loans
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]
Biden impeachment inquiry
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]
Political positions
Steve King
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.
Donald Trump
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]
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]
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]
Juneteenth
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]
Afghanistan
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]
Ukraine
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]
Syria
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]
Somalia
In 2023, Norman was among 52 Republicans that voted in favor H.Con.Res. 30, which would remove American troops from Somalia.[75][76]