Rep. Ralph Norman calls for closed primaries in South Carolina

GOP candidate for SC governor demands closed primaries. Gov. McMaster threatens a veto.

U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman speaks during a news conference on closed primaries at the Statehouse in Columbia, South Carolina on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Ashford/SC Daily Gazette)COLUMBIA — A GOP congressman in a five-way race for governor is demanding that legislators close South Carolina’s primaries so that only registered Republicans can decide the party’s winner. A hearing on two House proposals on primary voting is re-scheduled …

Should South Carolina close party primaries only to bona fide party members? That fight is back.

South Carolina Republicans are split over a proposal to “close” its primaries to standing members of the party. Not all are in agreement on how to do that, while Gov. Henry McMaster said he’d oppose either plan.

Rep. Ralph Norman calls for closed primaries in South Carolina

Rep. Ralph Norman advocates for closed primaries in South Carolina, pushing House Bill 3310 to restrict voting to registered party members.

New closed primaries bill brings mixed reactions from lawmakers, governor

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — A group of Republican lawmakers is promoting a new bill that would implement closed primaries across South Carolina. Should the bill pass, only registered members of a political party would be able to vote in that party’s primary. H.3310 was introduced by Representative Mike Burns and is backed by candidate for governor, Representative Ralph Norman. “You’ve got such a diversion between the two parties. And to have close ele…