Thomas Ravenel is gearing up for another political campaign, as he announces his intention to run for Governor of South Carolina in the 2026 race. The 62-year-old former reality TV star and politician shared his intentions via a post on social media on February 6. In his message, he confidently declared that he is ready to take on the current candidates, referring to them as “lightweights” and hinting that he has a transformative message not just for South Carolina, but for the entire nation.
Ravenel is no stranger to politics, having made several attempts to seek public office in the past. His political journey began in 2004 when he ran in the Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat. However, that campaign ended with controversy, leading to a fine from the Federal Election Commission for irregularities in his reporting.
He briefly served as the state’s treasurer in 2007, but his tenure ended abruptly when he was indicted for drug-related charges. After spending time in rehab and serving a prison sentence, Ravenel’s political aspirations seemed to take a back seat.
In 2014, while appearing on the reality show “Southern Charm,” he attempted a comeback by running as an independent candidate for the Senate against incumbent Lindsey Graham, but finished with only a small percentage of the vote.
Over the years, Ravenel has faced various personal and legal challenges, including allegations of assault and other offenses, which have added complexity to his public image.
Despite his past, Ravenel has remained vocal about his political beliefs and had publicly supported Donald Trump in 2016, urging his followers to focus on the issues he believes are important to the country.
As he prepares for his latest campaign, it will be interesting to see if he can overcome past challenges and connect with voters in South Carolina.
