'ShamWow' guy announces run for Congress in Texas as a Republican to 'destroy wokeism'

AUSTIN, TEXAS: Famous infomercial pitchman Offer Vince Shlomi, better known as the 'ShamWow guy', has jumped into Texas politics, filing to run for Congress as a Republican.

State records show he submitted his paperwork on Friday, November 21, officially entering the Republican primary for Texas’ 31st District under the name Offer Vince 'ShamWow' Shlomi.

Vince Shlomi reveals why he wants to run for Congress

Shlomi told Fox News Digital on Sunday, November 23 that he decided to run for Congress because he wants to “destroy wokeism” and honor the late Charlie Kirk, whom he called the original “woke buster.”

He said the country’s political fighting also pushed him to run and try to “make America happy.”

The 61-year-old Israeli-American entrepreneur is challenging Republican Congressman John Carter, the 84-year-old incumbent seeking another term.

Carter’s district covers the northern Austin suburbs, Temple, and Fort Hood. Shlomi is now one of at least five Republicans running in the primary for Texas’ 31st Congressional District, a solidly red seat.

On October 9, Shlomi posted a parody video on X titled “Woke Busters.” In it, he plays a ghost exterminator who targets “woke” symbols and transgender people instead of ghosts. Valentina Gomez, a MAGA-aligned candidate also running against Rep John Carter in Texas’ 31st District, appears in the video as well.

After filing his candidacy paperwork, Shlomi released another video. This time, he stood in front of a church with rainbow-colored steps and delivered a provocative message. “The woke churches are after our kids' nuts,” he said. “Not no more, we're not chopping nuts. You're gonna love your nuts with the ShamWow guy."

Who is Vince Shlomi?

Shlomi, the president and CEO of the TV marketing company Square One Entertainment, became a pop-culture figure in the 2000s after his energetic ShamWow commercials helped turn the towel into a household name.

But his rise to fame also brought several controversies, including accusations of harassment and physical altercations.

In 2009, police arrested Shlomi in Miami Beach after he allegedly got into a violent fight with a sex worker, an incident that made headlines when photos of his injuries surfaced. Earlier in his career, he also dealt with legal issues related to his 1999 underground comedy film, 'The Underground Comedy Movie.'

Shlomi has also served as the pitchman for several other products, including the 'Slap Chop' kitchen gadget, the 'Schticky' lint roller, the 'InVinceable' liquid cleaner, and a kitchen tool called the 'Crank Chop.'

In recent years, Shlomi has stepped out of the spotlight and focused on rebuilding his image while returning to marketing and entrepreneurship.