Ralph Norman

Rep. Ralph Norman has ended speculation about a write-in campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Norman lost the GOP primary runoff to Sen. Darline Graham, who was appointed to the seat by Gov. Henry McMaster.

He has now pledged his support for Graham in the November general election against Democrat Annie Andrews.

U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman has backed away from talk of pushing a write-in campaign in the November general election for U.S. Senate.

A week after losing to Sen. Darline Graham in a GOP primary runoff, Norman was asked by a reporter what he would tell an undecided voter. His reply: "Vote for Ralph Norman."

But in a Sept. 2 post on the social media platform X, the District 5 representative said, "I respect the decision of South Carolina voters, and I congratulate Senator Darline Graham on winning the Republican nomination. I will support our Republican nominee in November because defeating the Democrats and protecting our conservative values must remain the priority."

His post added, "South Carolina is at a turning point. As I said repeatedly on the campaign trail, my fight was never with other Republicans. It's with the socialist Democrats and the RINOs who enable them."

Graham's general election opponent, Democrat Annie Andrews, has said the "socialist" label is an inaccurate depiction of her ideology. She has described herself as a business-friendly centrist.

In the Aug. 31 back-and-forth with reporters in Washington, D.C., Norman also said he was "shocked" that President Donald Trump inserted himself into the primary. Trump spoke at a campaign rally in Myrtle Beach in support of Graham.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham to complete the unexpired term of her brother, Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11.

Trump encouraged her to run for a six-year term.

After Norman hinted at a write-in campaign, Winthrop University political scientist Scott Huffmon said he didn't think such an effort would pose much of a threat to Graham's chances of winning the general election.

"The regular, non-fringe Republicans are going to vote for her. The MAGA folks are going to vote for her," he said. "And the fringe folks? Are they really going to risk a Democrat winning just to make the point that they actually wanted someone more conservative?"

In Norman's more unifying Sept. 2 message on X, he concluded by saying, "We have work to do. We have a state to protect. And we have a future to fight for."