{"id":9948,"date":"2026-07-18T22:08:57","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T17:08:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=9948"},"modified":"2026-07-18T22:08:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T17:08:57","slug":"south-carolina-senate-gop-primary-grows-as-ralph-norman-joins-the-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=9948","title":{"rendered":"South Carolina Senate GOP primary grows as Ralph Norman joins the race"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div data-layout-index=\"4\" class=\"featured featured-video video-ct\" data-v-7b1896ea=\"\"><!----> <\/p>\n<div class=\"contain\" data-v-7b1896ea=\"\">  <!----> <\/p>\n<div class=\"info\" data-v-7b1896ea=\"\">\n<div class=\"caption\" data-v-7b1896ea=\"\">\n<h4 class=\"title\" data-v-7b1896ea=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/video\/6401483825112\" data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_featured-video_5_1\" data-v-7b1896ea=\"\">Ralph Norman announces run for South Carolina Senate seat<\/a><\/h4>\n<p data-v-7b1896ea=\"\">South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman officially announces his run for Sen. Lindsey Graham&#8217;s Senate seat during an interview with Kayleigh McEnany. Norman emphasizes his commitment to President Donald Trump&#8217;s America First agenda, including the SAVE America Act and eliminating the filibuster.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., will run for Senate in South Carolina following the death of <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3519735\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/person\/lindsey-graham\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Sen. Lindsey Graham<\/a>, he revealed Saturday.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">&#8220;I&#8217;m here to announce that I will be a <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3519736\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/senate\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">candidate for the Senate<\/a>, I&#8217;ll be throwing my hat into the ring, and day one, Kayleigh, I will be laser-focused on passing President Trump&#8217;s America First&#8221; Norman said during an appearance on &#8220;Saturday In America with Kayleigh McEnany.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Norman then championed Trump&#8217;s SAVE America Act and said he would focus on eliminating the filibuster, saying <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3519737\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/senate\/republicans\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Republicans need to<\/a> &#8220;nuke&#8221; the procedure.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Norman made the announcement just days after <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3519738\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/person\/donald-trump\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">President Donald Trump<\/a> <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3519739\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/trump-pushes-lindsey-grahams-sister-run-us-senate-after-she-gets-appointment-finish-out-term\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">publicly endorsed Darline Graham<\/a>, Lindsey Graham&#8217;s sister who was appointed to finish the remainder of his term, to run for the seat fully when her term is up in January.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3519740\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/trumps-save-act-call-ignites-conservative-support-after-election-integrity-announcement\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>CONSERVATIVES UNITE AROUND SAVE AMERICA ACT AFTER TRUMP DECLASSIFIES &#8216;SHOCKING&#8217; ELECTION INTEL<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/343\/192\/Ralph-Norman.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/686\/384\/Ralph-Norman.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/672\/378\/Ralph-Norman.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1344\/756\/Ralph-Norman.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1200\/675\/Ralph-Norman.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Ralph Norman speaks to reporters outside the Cannon House Office Building.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Rep. Ralph Norman speaks to reporters as he leaves a House Republican Conference meeting at the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C., on May 20, 2026.<\/span> <span>(Kevin Dietsch\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3519741\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/darline-graham-considering-running-full-senate-term-memorial-services-lindsey-graham-report\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>DARLINE GRAHAM IS CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR A FULL SENATE TERM, A REPORT SAID, AS MEMORIAL SERVICES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR HER LATE BROTHER LINDSEY GRAHAM.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;I hope Darline does this, in \u2060that there would be nobody better to honor \u200bthe legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey,&#8221; Trump \u200bsaid in a Truth Social post, also writing &#8220;Run Darline Run.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Norman acknowledged Trump&#8217;s endorsement Saturday, telling McEnany he asked for Trump&#8217;s blessing.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;He decided to go with Darline, who&#8217;s a nice person, and he decided to go with her and I respect that, but that doesn&#8217;t deter my plans. I&#8217;m in this to win,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/343\/192\/darline-graham-nordone-lindsey-graham-death.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/686\/384\/darline-graham-nordone-lindsey-graham-death.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/672\/378\/darline-graham-nordone-lindsey-graham-death.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1344\/756\/darline-graham-nordone-lindsey-graham-death.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1200\/675\/darline-graham-nordone-lindsey-graham-death.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Newly-appointed U.S. interim Senator Darline Graham Nordone, right, with Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., left, speaks during a press conference announcing her appointment to fill the vacancy created by the passing of her brother, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, at the statehouse Monday, July 13, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo\/Sean Rayford)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Newly-appointed U.S. interim Senator Darline Graham Nordone, right, with Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., left, speaks during a press conference announcing her appointment to fill the vacancy created by the passing of her brother, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, at the statehouse Monday, July 13, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo\/Sean Rayford)<\/span> <!----><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Norman will be running in the Aug. 11 <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3519742\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/elections\/state-and-local-primaries\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">special GOP primary election<\/a>, revealing that he is in the process of filing the paperwork.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Though not backed by Trump, Norman has received support from GOP Senators Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Rick Scott, R-Fla., <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3519743\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/tim-scott-says-hed-love-see-fox-news-host-replace-lindsey-graham\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">both of whom endorsed him<\/a>. The pair, like Norman, are both vocal opponents of the filibuster.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Norman will be entering a competitive primary, as at least two other candidates have declared their intentions to run with further challengers expected to enter the race.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/343\/192\/ralph-norman-2.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/686\/384\/ralph-norman-2.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/672\/378\/ralph-norman-2.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1344\/756\/ralph-norman-2.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1200\/675\/ralph-norman-2.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"ralph-norman-2\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., arrives to the swearing in for Darline Graham Nordone as U.S. Senator at the U.S. Capitol on July 14, 2026 in Washington, D.C.<\/span> <span>(Anna Moneymaker\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Businessman Mark Lynch, who <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3519744\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/trump-ally-lindsey-graham-survives-challenge-from-gops-anti-establishment-wing\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">ran against Lindsey Graham<\/a> in the recent June primary, has announced his candidacy, as did attorney Duke Buckner.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">And though Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., hasn&#8217;t publicly announced an intention to run, state lawmakers are already eyeing <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3519746\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/elections\/house-of-representatives\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">his seat in the House<\/a> should he decide to enter the fray, according to <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3519747\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newsfromthestates.com\/article\/its-official-sc-republicans-already-ballot-can-run-senate-too#:~:text=But%20Rep.%20Russel%20Fry%2C%20whose%207th%20District,messages%20Thursday%20from%20the%20SC%20Daily%20Gazette.\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">reporting<\/a> from News From The States.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Fox News Digital contacted Reps. Norman, Mace and Fry, along with Sen. Darline Graham for further comment.<\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ralph Norman announces run for South Carolina Senate seat South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman officially announces his run for Sen. Lindsey Graham&#8217;s Senate seat during an interview with Kayleigh McEnany. Norman emphasizes his commitment to President Donald Trump&#8217;s America First agenda, including the SAVE America Act and eliminating the filibuster. NEWYou can now listen to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9949,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Ralph-Norman.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9948","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9948","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9948"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9948\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9949"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9948"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9948"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}