Rep. Ralph Norman, a South Carolina Republican who lost the GOP Senate primary runoff to Darline Graham, says he will not campaign for her ahead of Election Day, deepening divisions within the state Republican Party as President Donald Trump urges voters to support his preferred candidate.
Norman told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that he has no plans to help Graham during the final week of the campaign, even if other Republicans ask him to get involved. His decision comes as national Republican leaders work to unite the party behind Graham in the closely watched South Carolina Senate race.
In a text message to Fox News Digital, Norman criticized what he described as efforts to push a candidate on South Carolina voters. He argued that voters should not have to settle for a nominee backed by powerful interest groups and millions of dollars in spending.
Norman said the election was about attempts to “force” a candidate on voters and added that South Carolinians deserved a better choice. He concluded his message by writing, “Elections have consequences.”
Norman Declines Request to Campaign With Graham
Norman said Graham’s campaign manager had contacted his chief of staff to ask whether he would campaign alongside the Republican nominee. Norman said he declined the request.
The decision comes despite calls from other Republicans for him to support the party’s nominee. Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., who also lost his bid for the Senate seat, urged Norman to get involved.
“As somebody who carried the conservative banner as long as he has, he should step into the arena,” Fry told reporters this week, according to Politico.
The disagreement highlights the divisions that have continued following the Republican primary contest to determine the party’s candidate for the Senate seat.
Trump and National Republicans Back Graham
President Donald Trump has publicly supported Graham and returned to South Carolina last week for a rally in Clemson to encourage voters to back her campaign.
When asked about Norman’s comments, the White House referred Fox News Digital to Trump’s remarks at the rally.
“You must vote for Darline and Republicans,” Trump said, adding that voters would look back on the decision as one of the greatest votes they had made. He described Graham as a high-quality person and said he believed she would do well in office.
The Republican National Committee has also emphasized party unity behind Graham.
“At the end of the day, Republicans are unified on beating Annie Andrews,” RNC spokeswoman Emma Hall told Fox News Digital. She added that Trump supports Graham because, in her view, Democrats’ socialist policies do not fit South Carolina.
Graham is facing Democratic candidate Annie Andrews in the general election. The contest has drawn increased attention as Republicans work to maintain their Senate majority.
Senate Race Draws Millions in Campaign Spending
Graham’s campaign has received support from Trump and national Republican groups following a competitive GOP primary.
The Senate Leadership Fund, a political action committee aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., pledged $5 million in advertising spending in South Carolina earlier this month, according to Fox News.
Trump also held a rally in Clemson last week as attention focused on the race and the divisions within the Republican Party. The Cook Political Report shifted its assessment of the contest from “Likely Republican” to “Lean Republican” last week, according to the original reporting.
The primary battle was particularly contentious. Norman lost the Republican runoff to Graham in August, setting up a general election campaign that has continued to expose disagreements among prominent Republicans in the state.
Former Governors and Norman’s Son Back Andrews
Norman is not the only prominent South Carolina figure who has declined to support Graham. Former Republican Gov. David Beasley and former Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges are reportedly backing Andrews, according to The New York Times.
Norman’s son, Warren Norman, also criticized Graham in a recent opinion piece published by FITSNews.
Warren Norman wrote that he would not vote for Graham and said he was leaning toward supporting Andrews. He acknowledged that voting for a Democrat could concern conservative voters but argued that he did not see a candidate representing his conservative views in the race.
“As of today, I’m leaning her way. It will be the first time in my life I’ve voted for a Democrat in a partisan election,” he wrote.
Norman had previously told The Nashional Briefing with Kelly Nash that he planned to vote for Graham, while other members of his family would not.
South Carolina Senate Contest Faces Increased Scrutiny
Graham was appointed to replace her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., according to the original report. Her campaign has since become a focus of national Republican efforts to retain the Senate seat.
Trump’s endorsement, national party spending and criticism from former primary rivals have all become part of the broader campaign.
Norman’s refusal to campaign for Graham underscores the challenge Republican leaders face in bringing together supporters of different candidates after a contested primary. With Election Day approaching, the dispute has become a prominent example of the divisions shaping the South Carolina Senate race.
Original source: Fox News — Trump accused of trying to force Senate candidate on voters as GOP feud erupts
