GOP members face tough crowds at town halls over House bill: 'They are getting heckled'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Rep. Ralph Norman, among House's most conservative, set to enter South Carolina governor's race
CHAPIN, S.C. (AP) — Rep. Ralph Norman, among the most conservative Republicans in the U.S. House, is entering South Carolina's 2026 governor's race. The wealthy real estate developer and longtime ally of former Gov. Nikki Haley is expected to file his candidacy paperwork with state officials on Friday, his campaign told The Associated Press. Norman has long been mulling a campaign for the state's highest office. But unlike several of his fellow candidates, he's not expected to seek the endorsement of the Republican whose backing in South Carolina GOP politics matters most: President Donald Trump. Norman, 72, joins several other announced candidates, including Attorney General Alan Wilson and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, in the race for next June's GOP primary, and Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina's 1st District is soon expected to announce her campaign. All three have touted their ties to Trump, who has maintained popularity in the state since his 2016 primary win there helped cement his status as the GOP presidential nominee. Representing South Carolina's 5th District, Norman stridently backed Trump during his first term, voting against both House impeachments of the president. During the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters, he urged the then-president to declare 'Marshall Law' in a text to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows — misstating the term martial law even as he called for upending the peaceful transfer of power. But in the 2024 presidential campaign, Norman was one of only two House members nationwide to endorse Haley's candidacy. The former South Carolina governor, who served as Trump's United Nations ambassador, was his last primary challenger to depart the race, and Norman frequently appeared with her along the campaign trail. Both elected to the state House in 2004, Norman and Haley became legislative allies, and Norman was among few elected officials who backed Haley's insurgent, and ultimately successful, 2010 gubernatorial bid. In the 2024 presidential campaign, Norman in part argued that Haley could serve two full terms, while Trump could only go on to serve one. Norman has frequently operated outside the mainstream even among his home state's GOP circles. In 2018, as Gov. Henry McMaster — with Trump's backing — faced several primary challengers as he sought his first full term in office after succeeding Haley as governor, Norman endorsed Catherine Templeton, an attorney who had served Haley's gubernatorial administration in several capacities. Norman has long been a member of the House Freedom Caucus, comprised of the chamber's most conservative members. According to the deficit hawk has traditionally ranked as the state's most conservative U.S. House member and among the top most conservative members nationwide, based on his legislative activity. He has been in the U.S. House since winning a 2017 special election to replace Mick Mulvaney, whom Trump appointed to lead the Office of Management and Budget. In 2018, South Carolina Democrats called for felony charges after Norman pulled out his own loaded handgun during a meeting with constituents to make a point about gun safety. Attorney General Alan Wilson — who is also seeking next year's GOP gubernatorial nomination — declined to press charges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Norman, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky were fined $500 apiece for not wearing face coverings on the House floor, which was a requirement at the time. They sued Democratic then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, subsequently losing an appeal over the incident.


Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Rep. Ralph Norman, among House's most conservative, set to enter South Carolina governor's race
CHAPIN, S.C. (AP) — Rep. Ralph Norman, among the most conservative Republicans in the U.S. House, is entering South Carolina's 2026 governor's race. The wealthy real estate developer and longtime ally of former Gov. Nikki Haley is expected to file his candidacy paperwork with state officials on Friday, his campaign told The Associated Press. Norman has long been mulling a campaign for the state's highest office. But unlike several of his fellow candidates, he's not expected to seek the endorsement of the Republican whose backing in South Carolina GOP politics matters most: President Donald Trump . Norman, 72, joins several other announced candidates, including Attorney General Alan Wilson and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette , in the race for next June's GOP primary, and Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina's 1st District is soon expected to announce her campaign. All three have touted their ties to Trump, who has maintained popularity in the state since his 2016 primary win there helped cement his status as the GOP presidential nominee. Representing South Carolina's 5th District, Norman stridently backed Trump during his first term, voting against both House impeachments of the president. During the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters , he urged the then-president to declare 'Marshall Law' in a text to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows — misstating the term martial law even as he called for upending the peaceful transfer of power . But in the 2024 presidential campaign, Norman was one of only two House members nationwide to endorse Haley's candidacy. The former South Carolina governor, who served as Trump's United Nations ambassador, was his last primary challenger to depart the race, and Norman frequently appeared with her along the campaign trail. Both elected to the state House in 2004, Norman and Haley became legislative allies, and Norman was among few elected officials who backed Haley's insurgent, and ultimately successful, 2010 gubernatorial bid. In the 2024 presidential campaign, Norman in part argued that Haley could serve two full terms, while Trump could only go on to serve one. Norman has frequently operated outside the mainstream even among his home state's GOP circles. In 2018, as Gov. Henry McMaster — with Trump's backing — faced several primary challengers as he sought his first full term in office after succeeding Haley as governor, Norman endorsed Catherine Templeton , an attorney who had served Haley's gubernatorial administration in several capacities. Norman has long been a member of the House Freedom Caucus, comprised of the chamber's most conservative members. According to , the deficit hawk has traditionally ranked as the state's most conservative U.S. House member and among the top most conservative members nationwide, based on his legislative activity. He has been in the U.S. House since winning a 2017 special election to replace Mick Mulvaney, whom Trump appointed to lead the Office of Management and Budget. In 2018, South Carolina Democrats called for felony charges after Norman pulled out his own loaded handgun during a meeting with constituents to make a point about gun safety. Attorney General Alan Wilson — who is also seeking next year's GOP gubernatorial nomination — declined to press charges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Norman, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky were fined $500 apiece for not wearing face coverings on the House floor, which was a requirement at the time. They sued Democratic then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, subsequently losing an appeal over the incident. ___ Kinnard can be reached at . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .


Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Bloomberg
Congress Showed What's Coming Next in Five Key Moments
As lawmakers head off for their August recess, what they did and didn't do over the past seven months tells us a lot about what will happen over the next 17. The GOP-controlled Congress operated as an extension of President Donald Trump, with pockets of (performative) resistance that always folded to his demands. Democrats could do little to block Trump's transformative agenda as he upended the federal government, shuttered federal agencies and rewrote policy with a stroke of his pen. This has all set up the stakes and strategy for the midterms in 2026, a preview of which will likely unfold as lawmakers hear from their constituents over the next four weeks. In particular, there were five telling moments over the first seven months of the 119th Congress that tell us a lot about what to expect next: