Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) said Wednesday that while he intends to honor his pledge to support Sen. Lindsey Graham in the Nov. 3 election, his own family will not be casting ballots for the Republican senator.
In an interview on The Nashional Briefing with Kelly Nash, Norman, who lost the GOP primary runoff to Graham, reiterated his commitment to backing Republican candidates but drew a sharp line when it came to his household.
“I’m going to do what I said personally,” Norman said. “My family is not going to vote for Darline Graham. They’re just not.”
Norman, a conservative congressman from South Carolina’s 5th District, added that his children are grown and can make their own choices. “Now, they’re grown and with their own children can do what they want, but I will because I promised to do that,” he said. “But that’s about as clear as I can make it.”
When pressed on whether he would actively campaign for Graham, Norman revealed that the senator’s team had already reached out to his chief of staff with a request for an event, which was declined.
“I would not do an event with her, and I made that pretty clear. When I conceded the race, I called her and congratulated her, but that’s the only time I’ve spoken with her,” Norman said.
The Hill has contacted Graham’s campaign for comment but has not yet received a response.
President Trump is scheduled to campaign for Graham on Wednesday evening at Clemson University. In his August concession speech, Norman expressed puzzlement over Trump’s and the state GOP’s intervention in the primary, saying he “never understood” why they backed Graham.
During the radio interview, Norman renewed his criticism of the establishment’s support for his former opponent. “It’s more than about Ralph Norman,” he said. “It’s about the future of this state and how candidates, if you flood it with money, you can put anybody in, and that’s what’s happened with Darline Graham in my opinion.”
Graham is now locked in a tight general election battle against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a pediatrician. The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election handicapper, shifted the race’s rating from “likely Republican” to “lean Republican” on Tuesday, reflecting the race’s competitiveness.
Norman’s comments come as Graham faces scrutiny over his relationship with Trump, particularly on issues like Russia sanctions, where he has broken with the president. The senator’s stance on such matters has drawn both praise and criticism, but Norman remains focused on the primary dynamics.
“My message is vote your conscience, and let the chips fall where they may,” Norman said. “This race shouldn’t even be close, and it wouldn’t be if I were in the race.”
Norman’s refusal to fully embrace Graham underscores lingering divisions within the South Carolina GOP, even as the party seeks to unify ahead of November. His comments also highlight the influence of Trump’s sanctions waiver and other policy disputes that have complicated Graham’s re-election bid.
With the race tightening, Norman’s stance could have implications for GOP turnout in the state. His decision to publicly distance himself from Graham, while still voting for him, reflects a delicate balance between party loyalty and personal conviction.
