'ShamWow' Pitchman Jumps into Texas Congressional Race, Vowing to 'Destroy Wokeism'

Offer Vince Shlomi — the high-octane salesman who turned the "ShamWow" towel into a pop-culture staple — is trying his hand at politics.

The 61-year-old entrepreneur has entered the Republican primary for Texas’ 31st Congressional District setting up a challenge to longtime Rep. John Carter.

According to public state election records, Shlomi filed his paperwork with the state party ahead of Texas’ December deadline, joining a growing field of Republicans looking to compete in the March primary.

Carter, 84, has held the seat for more than two decades and is running again to represent a district that covers the northern arc of Austin and stretches through Temple and Fort Hood.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Shlomi said cultural tensions and honoring the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk—who was assassinated in September while addressing an audience at Utah Valley University—pushed him into the race.

Shlomi wants, as he put it, to "destroy wokeism" and run as a tribute to Kirk, whom he called the original "woke buster." He also cited the "political infighting in the country" and said he hopes to "make America happy."

Before politics, Shlomi built a reputation on late-night television as the high-energy pitchman behind a string of household gadgets. After the ShamWow surged, he followed with the Slap Chop, the Graty and the Schticky — products he promoted with fast-talking demos and camera-locked delivery.

His catchphrases and infomercial clips bounced around the internet for years, cementing him as one of the rare pitchmen who crossed into mainstream notoriety.

A public profile came with turbulence, though. In 2009, Shlomi was arrested in Miami Beach after a violent encounter with a sex worker left him with visible injuries. Prosecutors declined to pursue charges at the time.

In 2009, Shlomi was arrested on suspicion of battery after a fight with a woman, who was also arrested. Once again, prosecutors declined to press charges. Shlomi told NBC News in an interview for a 2013 article that he takes "full responsibility" for his actions and that he would cut down on partying.

The incident pushed Shlomi to reassess his behavior. He told NBC News in 2013 that he’d stepped back from parties, kept a lower profile and focused on rebuilding his business.

"People understand you make mistakes in life," he said at the time. "Hopefully I won’t make another mistake."

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Shlomi, who was born in Israel and grew up in Brooklyn, now oversees Square One Entertainment, the TV marketing company he’s led for years.

The TV salesmen's return to public life comes as the GOP primary field for the district continues to expand, giving Carter one of his most crowded challenges in cycles. Businessman Raymond Hamden, educator Clark Day, former Army officer Gregory Carter and retiree George Hindman are also vying for the nomination.