‘Southern Charm’ Star Thomas Ravenel Speaks Out After Shock Career Move
Southern Charm alum Thomas Ravenel is jumping back on the political bandwagon as he’s announced his intention to run for office for a fourth time despite drug charges ending his last foray into politics.
The 62-year-old reality star made the surprise announcement on X on Thursday (February 6), stating he will be entering the race for Governor of South Carolina in 2026.
“I’m running for Governor of South Carolina and none of the lightweights currently in the race are going to stop me,” he wrote. “I have a message that’s going to change not just South Carolina but the entire country.”
Ravenel, who starred in five seasons of Bravo’s Southern Charm, has a long and complicated history with politics. According to People, in 2004, he ran in the Republican primary race for a seat in the U.S. Senate, though the Federal Election Commission later accused him of improperly filing reports for the failed bid, and he was made to pay a $19,500 fine.
I’m running for Governor of South Carolina and none of the lightweights currently in the race are going to stop me. I have a message that’s going to change not just South Carolina but the entire country.
— Thomas Ravenel (@Thomasravenel) February 7, 2025
He’d go on to serve as South Carolina’s treasurer in 2007 but was suspended after just five months on the job after a federal grand jury indicted him for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute less than 500 grams of cocaine. He resigned a month after his suspension.
After spending 30 days in a rehab facility and pleading guilty to the reduced charges of conspiring to buy and distribute less than 100 grams of cocaine, Ravenel was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison.
He returned to the spotlight in 2014 when he appeared as a cast member on Southern Charm, which chronicles the personal and professional lives of several socialites living in Charleston, South Carolina. During this time, Ravenel once again ran for a U.S. Senate seat, this time as an independent, though he finished with just 3.9 percent of the vote.
Ravenel has faced a number of legal troubles in the years since, including accusations of assault by Lauren Moser, the hairdresser of Ravenel’s ex-girlfriend Kathryn Dennis. Ravenel, who shares two children with Dennis, was never charged for the incident.
In 2018, he once again got into trouble with the law after real estate agent Ashley Perkins, who met Ravenel on a dating app in 2015, accused him of sexually assaulting her mother. Ravenel denied the allegations but exited Southern Charm not long after.
He’d go on to plead guilty to one charge of assault and battery in the third degree in 2019. He was given a 30-day suspended sentence and ordered to pay a $500 fine. In addition, he agreed to pay $80,000 to the nonprofit organization People Against Rape.
If you or someone you know is the victim of sexual assault, contact the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network‘s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
Conversation36 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Comments are closed on this story.
-
B
I think he’s completely delusional. He killed one too many brain cells drinking and drugging. He ruined his so called “reputation” being on Southern Charm. I would not vote for him for garbage man! He’s a joke here in SC. He has no chances of winning!
41 1
-
O
No way no how no deal he's not a nice guy just look at his past and present. He is who he is can't teach an old dog new behavior. Look at what he did to his children's mother! Bad news to late for him...
16
-
V
LMAO ... His past record is a feature, not a bug, in today's GOP.
Hey, maybe he'll get 4% this time around!
15 1
-
G
Total waste of time … you are not what SC needs . What causes your delusion ?
8
-
P
Well, you can't do much worse than what's in office right now🤷 if that clown can be president, why can't this guy be a governor?
49 41
-
R
😜
4 2
-
O
Agree! Too many people think the same thing, but won't speak up because they're scared of the inevitable fallout from opposing the regime. Sad.
11 9
-
P
DADDY TRUMP IS FIXING IT.
7 4
-
G
That "Clown" has done more in the last couple weeks then the other administration did in 4 years. Look at his approval rating today & weep
14 4
-
P
And all the haters will STILL reap all the benefits Trump will bring, yet they’ll STILL cry and complain. Waiting for their massive exit from this country, but they won’t. They know who butters their bread…ungrateful brainwashed twits.
9 2
-
-
-
P
I think it will be a waste of his or his Fathers money. I agree with one of the other comments that said he is delusional and I couldn’t agree more. Just because his little suck up “friends” do suck up to him and tell him how great he is bc they want to run around with a Ravenel, doesn’t mean he could carry our state in a election for governor. You’re sickening and should just forget about it if you have any brain cells left. This state will never elect you. You’re an egotistical, self centered narcissist and you just need to go away and hide in your downtown mansion.
7
-
B
He's a criminal, so would fit right in with the MAGA crowd.
23 19
-
P
Wrong! That’d be the Obamabidharris crowd! Get over your lib entitled ass.
5 5
-
O
How much are eggs lol
4 2
-
-
P
Lmao, are you kidding...bidum is the emporer of greed, deceit and thievery, dig deeper for the truth, you haven't got it yet.
4 4
-
R
Wrong party- Biden-clintons-obama are the criminals and the left. Do you see DOGE exposing your party of thieves..
3 3
-
P
and youre full of shit. If u were riding a horse to battle, who would YOU want to be the captain in front of you leading? Biden, Kamala, Obama no doubt, LOL. 99.9% of us choose TRUMP & JD!
3 5
-
-
G
Why does Thomas keep wasting his money? Maybe Whitney can make him a political ad
4
-
O
I don’t think Thomas would make a great Governor… But he would absolutely be an improvement from McMaster! He should run for Senate. Anyone would be an improvement from Lindsey Graham. Who’s loyalty has always been for sale to the highest bidder…
3 1
-
G
I don't think it's his own money that he's wasting. He has created a social media following of "women of a certain age". Between his old campaign supporters and his new cougar fans, he will raise enough to have a good time holding a few fundraisers. Maybe that is all he wants to do, have a few parties.
2
-
B
I am mortified that Thomas not only feels like he will be doing his state a favor by running for office (as a Republican, I’m with President Trump- I don’t want any corrupt and slimy swamp creatures in the government and would not welcome this horribly demonic, malignant narcissist), but I am also wholly shocked at how deeply he lies to himself. I completely believe the nanny. God will get him, so don’t worry- justice will be served in the end!
1
-
B
He's an ego maniac on a demented mission!
1
-
C
Amen!
-
G
You're with Trump, but say you dont want any corrupt and slimy swamp creatures? That's exactly what Trump is!
-
P
I like him. He should also go back on Southern Charm. He's a good guy.
1 2
-
B
Why not?? The President is a Felon🤷♀️
1 3
-
B
Well why mot we have a convicted felon as the President. Let the next reality star have his shine! Yall so petty.
3 5
-
P
I think that he has a very slim chance of making any advancements and politics right now. However, we have a president who was had several sexual affairs that we know about while he was married to his current wife and his other two wives before that he's also been convicted so he is a felon he also pardon people that attacked the capital and killed a couple of policemen and it's just ridiculous. So why I think that ravenel couldn't win, he might.
1 4
-
R
Rapists, fraudsters, felons…. Basic criminals…. Identical to me
1 5
-
P
He will fit right in with the current administration. Charges and convictions of rape and sexual assault.
11 15
-
B
We don’t need a felon and C- actor as governor!
California has one already !!!
I still choose our existing governor with a proven record!!!
Governor Henry McMaster
5 10
-
O
Ur gov. Sucks
3 1
-
-
G
We love Trump and we love Thomas! I hope you win!
11 24
-
G
Don't compare Trump to this guy please
22
-
B
His Mom doesn't count.. She must say this. 😆
2
-
-
G
Please remove the “we” from your statement. Speak for yourself and only yourself. Trump is a great president. Thomas is not even a decent human being!
9 3
-
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services