Rep. Ralph Norman launches campaign to replace Lindsey Graham in Senate race

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., announced Saturday that he plans to run in the special primary election to replace the late GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham on the ballot in November, just one day after President Donald Trump backed Graham’s sister in the election.

“I’ll be throwing my hat in the ring, and you know, day one ... I will be laser-focused on passing President Trump’s America First, and it starts with the SAVE America Act. We’ll nuke the filibuster, and I will be a vocal, a vocal vote and a supporter to make this happen,” Norman told Fox News.

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Lindsey Graham's sister sworn in to Senate to fill his seat

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Norman acknowledged that Trump has backed Lindsey Graham’s sister, Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., in the race.

She was sworn into the Senate earlier this week after GOP Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her to serve out the rest of the late senator’s term, just days after he died suddenly last weekend.

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On Friday, Trump urged Darline Graham to seek a full term in the Senate in a post on Truth Social, where he also offered her his “complete and total endorsement.”

On Saturday, Norman told Fox News’ Kayleigh McEnany, “I wanted [Trump’s] blessing to run and get his support. He decided to go with Darline, who’s a nice person, and he decided to go with her. And so I respect that, but it doesn’t deter my plans.”

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Several other South Carolina GOP officials, like Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Rep. Nancy Mace, have been floated as possible candidates, but they have not yet officially jumped into the race.

Candidates who wish to run in the special primary election must officially file by July 21, and the special primary election will be held Aug. 11.

Businessman Mark Lynch lost to Lindsey Graham in the original primary election in June, where the senator sought re-election to a fifth term. Earlier this week, Lynch said he planned to reactivate his Senate campaign and run in the special primary.