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Norman enters GOP Senate bid
Rep. Ralph Norman, a Republican from South Carolina, announced Saturday that he will run in the special GOP primary to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, despite Donald Trump backing Graham’s sister, Darline, should she choose to run.
Norman framed his campaign around passing President Trump’s SAVE America Act and eliminating the filibuster, telling Fox host Kayleigh McEnany: “I’ll be throwing my hat into the ring … Day one, Kayleigh, I will be laser-focused on passing President Trump’s ‘America first’ [agenda].”
The Guardian reported that Trump had already said on Friday he had asked Darline Graham to run for the position in a special GOP primary on 11 August, with a runoff held on 25 August if necessary.
NBC News said Norman acknowledged Trump’s backing of Sen. Darline Graham, noting she was sworn into the Senate earlier this week after GOP Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her to serve out the rest of Graham’s term, just days after he died suddenly last weekend.
CNN en Español added that Graham died Saturday past due to a rotura arterial, and that the state will hold special primary elections next month to determine the Republican nominee for November’s general election.
Trump backing shapes field
Norman told Fox News’ Kayleigh McEnany that he had unsuccessfully sought Trump’s support, saying, “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.”
In the same dispute over Trump’s endorsement, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Darline Graham “has my Complete and Total Endorsement in the Special Election for U.S. Senate in South Carolina – SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN,” and added “RUN, DARLINE, RUN!”
CNN reported that Florida Sen. Rick Scott and Utah Sen. Mike Lee endorsed Norman’s bid before he made his run official, while Fox News said Norman’s announcement came just days after Trump publicly endorsed Darline Graham.
The Hill described Norman as joining an already crowded field expected to grow, with businessman Mark Lynch and lawyer Duke Buckner having announced campaigns so far, and with Rep. Nancy Mace also “eyeing a potential bid.”
Fox Carolina News said Norman’s campaign had received endorsements from Rick Scott and Mike Lee, and listed funeral dates for Lindsey Graham: Tuesday, July 28 in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, July 29 in Columbia, South Carolina, and Pickens County, South Carolina.
Filing deadlines and stakes
The special GOP primary is scheduled for Aug. 11, with candidates needing to officially file by July 21, and the process set to determine the Republican nominee for November’s general election.
NBC News said candidates who wish to run in the special primary election must officially file by July 21, and that the special primary election will be held Aug. 11.
The Guardian reported that a runoff will be held on 25 August, if necessary, and that the winner of the GOP nomination will face off against Democrat Annie Andrews in the November midterms.
The Hill said filing does not open until July 21, but Norman is joining a field expected to grow, and it cited an Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media poll released Thursday finding “no clear favorite” in the Republican race for Graham’s seat.
Mundo Ejecutivo CDMX framed the contest as a test of Trump’s power within the South Carolina Republican Party, noting that Carolina del Sur has maintained representation republicana en la cámara alta desde 2005 and that the party seeks to conserve the escaño ante cualquier desafío demócrata en noviembre.
