Indian Land Democrat announces bid to unseat US Rep. Ralph Norman in 5th District
An Indian Land Democrat on Friday announced he is running for South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District.
Ramin Mammadov will face U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, who currently holds the seat.
Norman, a Republican, has indicated he will seek reelection and is planning a campaign kickoff March 2 on the Winthrop University campus in Rock Hill. Norman has held the seat since 2017, following a special election after Mick Mulvaney became President Donald Trump’s budget director. Norman won the 2018 election again facing Democratic challenger Archie Parnell.
Mammadov, 39, told a group of about 10 people at the downtown Lancaster County Democratic Party headquarters on Friday that he is concerned by the growing divisiveness in politics. He said he is running to rebuild unity.
“The time is now for fresh and prudent leadership in South Carolina and Washington, D.C.,” he said. “It is time for leadership full of innovations, inclusive thought and vibrant life. I believe I represent a new generation of leadership that prioritizes community and service.”
Mammadov said he immigrated to Michigan from Azerbaijan in Asia about 20 years ago, just after 9/11.
“What I saw was what makes the American nation so great,” he said. “It attracts so many nations from all over the world is the fact that the American nation is always at their best when the things are at the worst.”
But Mammadov said he doesn’t see that same unity.
“Unfortunately, what I see today is nothing but divisiveness and political games of which we’ve all grown weary,” he said. “This divisiveness among combative politicians in Washington, D.C., will only continue to split our great nation.”
He acknowledged his lack of political experience, and referenced several Democratic presidential candidates with high voter support, such as South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and California billionaire Tom Steyer.
“People are tired — and I am speaking for myself also — people are tired of the political experience,” he said. “What we are looking for is some new ideas, strategic ideas. ... Congress today is full of people with 20, 30, 40 years of political experience. Do they use that experience? I don’t think so.”
“Not for us,” Keith Gray, chairman of Lancaster County Democratic Party, jumped in.
“Exactly,” Mammadov continued. “So, what is it used for? Not for us. They’ve lost that touch with people.”
After Mammadov came to the U.S., he worked two jobs — one in a popcorn factory, the other as a restaurant dishwasher — before graduating from Michigan State University. He said his career as a quality assurance manager for consulting firms has prepared him to take on the conflicts facing the people of South Carolina.
“Yes there will be die-hard Republican voters that no matter what you tell them, no matter how you present the truth with what’s going on today in the political arena, they’re never going to change their mind,” he said. “It’s mostly for those conservatives with common sense. They see what’s going on today in the political world.”
This story was originally published January 17, 2020 at 2:20 PM.
