Ralph Norman enters South Carolina Senate primary

Rep. Ralph Norman said Saturday he will run in the special Republican primary to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham on the November ballot, setting up a contest in South Carolina even after President Donald Trump endorsed Graham’s sister, Sen. Darline Graham.

Norman, a South Carolina Republican, announced his bid on X, writing: “I’m running to represent the people of South Carolina in the US Senate because we need a fighter who will stand with President Trump and carry on Lindsey Graham’s legacy!”

He made Trump’s agenda central to his campaign launch, particularly the SAVE America Act and the Senate filibuster. “I’ll be throwing my hat in the ring, and you know, day one… I will be laser-focused on passing President Trump’s America First, and it starts with the SAVE America Act. We’ll nuke the filibuster, and I will be a vocal, a vocal vote and a supporter to make this happen,” Norman told Fox News.

Norman acknowledged that Trump had chosen to support Darline Graham instead. “I wanted [Trump’s] blessing to run and get his support. He decided to go with Darline, who’s a nice person, and he decided to go with her. And so I respect that, but it doesn’t deter my plans,” Norman told Fox News’ Kayleigh McEnany. The Guardian reported that Norman also told CNN, “I’m in this to win.”

Trump on Friday urged Darline Graham to seek the seat and offered her his “Complete and Total Endorsement” in a post on Truth Social. “Darline, who comes from an absolutely incredible family, has been a WINNER all of her life and, should she accept, has my Complete and Total Endorsement in the Special Election for U.S. Senate in South Carolina — SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN,” Trump wrote. “RUN, DARLINE, RUN!”

Darline Graham, 62, was sworn into the Senate earlier this week after Republican Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her to serve out the rest of her brother’s term. Lindsey Graham died suddenly last weekend. The Guardian reported that he died on the evening of July 11 at age 71 after what his office called a “brief and sudden illness,” and that the chief medical examiner preliminarily ruled his death was caused by aortic dissection due to cardiovascular disease.

The Guardian reported that Darline Graham’s appointment marked the first time a sibling replaced a senator who died in office and made her the first woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate. She has expressed interest in running for a full six-year term but has not announced a campaign, The Guardian reported.

Candidates for the special primary must file by July 21. The primary is scheduled for Aug. 11, with a runoff on Aug. 25 if needed, according to The Guardian. The winner of the Republican nomination will face Democrat Annie Andrews in the November midterms.

Other Republicans are also moving toward the race. Businessman Mark Lynch, who lost to Lindsey Graham in the June primary as Graham sought a fifth term, said he planned to reactivate his Senate campaign and run in the special primary. The Guardian reported that lawyer Duke Buckner has also entered the race. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Rep. Nancy Mace have been floated as possible candidates, though they have not officially joined the contest.

Norman, 73, represents South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District and is a prominent member of the House Freedom Caucus. The Guardian reported that he previously served 11 years in the state House, worked in commercial real estate development, lives in Rock Hill and ran unsuccessfully for governor earlier this year. Florida Sen. Rick Scott and Utah Sen. Mike Lee endorsed Norman’s Senate bid Friday, before he formally announced, The Guardian reported.