{"id":5343,"date":"2026-07-19T01:49:54","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T01:49:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/07\/19\/republican-lawmaker-ralph-norman-to-join-race-to-succeed-lindsey-graham-in-south-carolina\/"},"modified":"2026-07-19T01:49:54","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T01:49:54","slug":"republican-lawmaker-ralph-norman-to-join-race-to-succeed-lindsey-graham-in-south-carolina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=5343","title":{"rendered":"Republican lawmaker Ralph Norman to join race to succeed Lindsey Graham in South Carolina"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-14sl0e4\">\n<div class=\"dcr-17l77cs\">\n<figure id=\"2907f419-bad9-48c5-809d-86cfdebe6dca\" class=\"dcr-191xnya\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Smiling man in suit with red tie surrounded by reporters.\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/cefbf0dbaedc5c458ae38b4b1644d2e3c47d8717\/317_0_3857_3085\/master\/3857.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"371.9276639875551\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><span class=\"dcr-kogzpx\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-18mnkpm\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1294qmb\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-4sl2vt\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1mfxiaj\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Ralph Norman on Capitol Hill in Washington DC on 13 July 2026.<\/span> Photograph: Al Drago\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"2907f419-bad9-48c5-809d-86cfdebe6dca\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-qda0hp\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1e9iiy9\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Ralph Norman on Capitol Hill in Washington DC on 13 July 2026.<\/span> Photograph: Al Drago\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-ql9l8l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6mja0y\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-l0wuod\">Republican lawmaker Ralph Norman to join race to succeed Lindsey Graham in South Carolina<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1xpojbf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1gm5ptv\">\n<p>Congressman to run for seat despite Donald Trump backing Graham\u2019s sister, Darline, should she choose to run<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-x1al2c\">\n<div class=\"dcr-11gq2tx\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-1w2vkyc\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-ogvvui\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The Republican representative Ralph Norman, \u2060of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/south-carolina\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">South Carolina<\/a>, has announced he will join the race to succeed the late senator Lindsey Graham, despite <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Donald Trump<\/a> backing Graham\u2019s sister, Darline, should she choose to run.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Announcing the launch of his bid on Saturday, Norman <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RalphNorman\/status\/2078497661490278719?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">wrote<\/a> on X: \u201cI\u2019m 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\u2019s legacy!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">He pointedly added: \u201cI\u2019ve spent years fighting for the Palmetto State in the state house, in Congress, and now I want to get the SAVE America Act passed in the Senate!\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"36f09b51-5e81-46d4-bd24-d1c4ccd566cc\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-1oq85qr\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-3 | 3\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1rx5ky9\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-uyoh2p\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/17\/lindsey-darline-graham-senate-trump\" class=\"dcr-f35c0u\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-vvxpdt\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6z6e7\">\n<div class=\"dcr-zh9rih\">\u2018Run, Darline, run!\u2019: Trump endorses Lindsey Graham\u2019s sister for full Senate term<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-oj13vq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-ef9nua\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Further cementing Trump\u2019s restrictive voting bill \u2013 which the president has deemed his legislative priority \u2013 and efforts to eliminate the filibuster as central to his campaign, Norman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/video\/6401483290112\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">told Fox host Kayleigh McEnany<\/a> on Saturday: \u201cI\u2019ll be throwing my hat into the ring \u2026 Day one, Kayleigh, I will be laser-focused on passing President Trump\u2019s \u2018America first\u2019 [agenda]. And it starts with the Save America Act. We\u2019ll nuke the filibuster. And I will be \u2026 a vocal vote and a supporter to make this happen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">But his announcement \u200ccomes after Trump already said on Friday that he had asked \u200cDarline Graham to run for the position in a special GOP primary on 11 August. A runoff will be held on 25 August, if necessary. The winner of the GOP nomination will face off against Democrat Annie Andrews in the November midterms.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cDarline, 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 \u2013 SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN,\u201d Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116936914779266256\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">wrote<\/a> on Truth Social. \u201cRUN, DARLINE, RUN!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Norman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/07\/18\/politics\/ralph-norman-lindsey-graham-race-senate\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">told CNN<\/a> he had unsuccessfully sought Trump\u2019s support, but added that the president\u2019s decision to endorse Darline Graham did not deter him from entering the race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cI wanted [Trump\u2019s] blessing to run and get his support. He decided to go with Darline, who\u2019s a nice person, and he decided to go with her. And so I respect that,\u201d Norman said. \u201cBut it doesn\u2019t deter my plans. I\u2019m in this to win.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The Florida senator Rick Scott and the Utah senator Mike Lee endorsed Norman\u2019s bid for the Senate on Friday, before he made his run official.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">At Trump\u2019s direction, Darline Graham, 62, was tapped by South Carolina\u2019s governor, Henry McMaster, and then <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/14\/darline-graham-nordone-south-carolina-senator\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">sworn in<\/a> on Tuesday to fill her late brother\u2019s Senate seat on an interim \u200bbasis, only three days after his death. It marked the first time a sibling has replaced a senator who died in office, and the first woman who has represented South Carolina in the Senate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Lindsey Graham <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/12\/lindsey-graham-key-ally-of-donald-trump-has-died-after-sudden-illness-his-office-says\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">died on the evening of 11 July<\/a>, aged 71, after what his office called a \u201cbrief and sudden illness\u201d. The chief medical examiner then preliminarily ruled on Sunday that he died of aortic dissection due to cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">His sudden death <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/12\/lindsey-graham-death-what-happens-next\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">set off a scramble<\/a> of Republicans angling to run for a seat he had held since 2003.With Trump\u2019s backing, Darline Graham was swiftly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/13\/lindsey-graham-sister-senate-seat-trump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">appointed<\/a> to serve the remaining months of his Senate term, which ends on 3 January.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">She has since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.semafor.com\/article\/07\/17\/2026\/darline-graham-eyeing-a-run-for-a-full-senate-term\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">reportedly<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2026\/07\/17\/congress\/darline-graham-might-run-for-lindsey-graham-seat-01002821\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">expressed<\/a> an interest in running for the full six-year Senate term but has yet to announce an official campaign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Candidates can formally file to run for the seat next week. Businessman Mark Lynch, who unsuccessfully challenged Lindsey Graham for the nomination in June, and lawyer Duke Buckner have also thrown their hats in the ring so far. The GOP representative Nancy Mace is also potentially eyeing a bid.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Norman, 73, a prominent member of the House freedom caucus, ran unsuccessfully for governor of South \u2060Carolina earlier this year, as did Mace.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">He is a lifelong resident of Rock Hill, with \u200ba career outside \u200bof politics in commercial real \u200bestate development. Norman was elected to represent South Carolina\u2019s \u200bfifth congressional district \u200cin 2017, having \u200bpreviously spent \u200b11 years in the state\u2019s house of representatives. He did not back Trump in the 2024 election.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-swayiu\"><span class=\"dcr-1xhbmzr\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-2c03t5\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-p7nd18\">\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/south-carolina\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">South Carolina<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/house-of-representatives\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">House of Representatives<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/republicans\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Republicans<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Donald Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-congress\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">US Congress<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-politics\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">US politics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-313bdz\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Republican%20lawmaker%20Ralph%20Norman%20to%20join%20race%20to%20succeed%20Lindsey%20Graham%20in%20South%20Carolina&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/18\/us-house-ralph-norman-south-carolina-lindsey-graham?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-ncybeu\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-19bkree\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fjul%2F18%2Fus-house-ralph-norman-south-carolina-lindsey-graham&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/jul\/18\/us-house-ralph-norman-south-carolina-lindsey-graham\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-1c41onw\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1kq7f60\"><span class=\"dcr-1ryr20k\"><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ralph Norman on Capitol Hill in Washington DC on 13 July 2026. Photograph: Al Drago\/Reuters View image in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":5345,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5343"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5343\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}