Ralph Norman

Ralph Norman.

Ralph Norman announced Saturday that he's running for the South Carolina Senate seat once held by the late Lindsey Graham, a move that puts him directly at odds with President Donald Trump, who has already thrown his support behind Graham's sister for the position.

Norman, a five term member of the House and vice chair of the House Freedom Caucus, is centering his campaign on Trump's SAVE America Act. In an interview with Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany, Norman said he plans to focus entirely on advancing Trump's America First agenda from the moment he takes office, starting with passage of the SAVE America Act. He also pledged to push for eliminating the filibuster and described himself as a committed, vocal supporter of getting that agenda through Congress.

Key Republican Allies Already Backing Him

Norman isn't entering the race without support. According to a report from Politico, Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Rick Scott of Florida both publicly endorsed him on Friday, even before he formally announced his candidacy.

Lee explained his endorsement on X, saying the moment calls for a strong fiscal conservative who understands the importance of passing Trump's agenda for the American people.

A Scramble Following Graham's Death

The race opened up after Lindsey Graham's sudden death on Sunday, which set off a wave of interest among South Carolina Republicans eyeing the seat he had held since January 2003. Politico reported that names circulating in state GOP circles included Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette along with Reps. Nancy Mace and Russell Fry.

Trump's Endorsement Complicates the Field

Trump, however, has already committed his backing to Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham's sister. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her to serve out the remainder of her brother's term, and she was sworn in on Tuesday.

There's also a broader political calculation at play. If Mace, Fry, or other House Republicans were to leave their seats to campaign for the Senate opening, it could strain an already narrow House majority that depends on every available vote for party line legislation through the rest of the session.

Trump made his support for Darline Graham clear in a Truth Social post on Friday, calling her a lifelong winner from an incredible family and giving her his complete endorsement should she decide to run in the special election. He closed the post by urging her directly to run.

Darline Graham's Next Move Remains Unclear

Since receiving Trump's endorsement, Darline Graham has expressed interest in pursuing a full six year term in the Senate, according to Politico. As of now, though, she has not made an official campaign announcement.

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Sagar is a journalist with an interest primarily in geopolitics and American domestic politics. Before joining Times Now, he wrote for Republic and Sw... View More

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