South Carolina GOP Feud Intensifies

The Republican Party in South Carolina is splitting just days before the general election. Rep. Ralph Norman, a colleague from the state’s congressional delegation, is publicly refusing to support Sen. Darline Graham. This creates a sharp division within the party one week before voters choose who will hold the Senate seat for the next six years.

The conflict centers on how the nomination was secured. Norman claims that President Donald Trump is attempting to force his preferred candidate on the electorate. He argues that voters are tired of accepting a nominee who he believes was elevated by outside interests and presidential endorsements. Norman stated that the race has become a struggle against an imposed choice rather than a natural selection of the best candidate.

Norman lost to Graham in the runoff primary earlier this year. He told Fox News Digital that he has no intention of helping Graham in the final stretch of the campaign. He said her campaign manager asked his chief of staff if he would join her on the trail, but he turned the offer down. He said he would refuse to campaign with or for Graham regardless of who asked.

In a text message sent in all capital letters, Norman criticized the narrative surrounding the race. He said, "The voters in S.C. are not buying the argument that everyone has to ‘settle’ for a candidate that has been propped up by special interest groups and a Republican president spending millions of dollars spreading false narratives about why Darlene [sic] Graham is qualified to be elected to the U.S. Senate for the next six years." He added that the election is about attempts to force a candidate on voters and that the people of South Carolina deserve better.

The dispute is drawing in other members of Congress. Rep. Russell Fry, who also lost the nomination, urged Norman to step in and help. Fry told reporters that Norman should support the party’s nominee given his long history with conservative causes. National party leaders, however, are pushing for unity. Emma Hall, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, said that Republicans are united behind Graham. She noted that Democrats’ platform does not fit the state and that the president supports the senator.

Graham was appointed to the seat after the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham. She is running in a race that has become more competitive than expected. The Cook Political Report moved the contest from "Likely Republican" to "Lean Republican" last week. This shift reflects the growing doubt among some voters and party members about the strength of her position.

Money is pouring into the race from both sides. The Senate Leadership Fund, a group aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, pledged $5 million in advertising for South Carolina earlier this month. Meanwhile, Trump held a rally in Clemson, South Carolina, last week to boost Graham’s profile. He told the crowd that they must vote for Darline and Republicans. He said voters would look back on it as one of their greatest decisions because she is a high-quality person.

Other prominent figures in the state are also taking sides. Two former governors, Republican David Beasley and Democrat Jim Hodges, are reportedly backing Graham’s opponent, Annie Andrews. Andrews is the Democratic nominee in this open-seat race. The involvement of these former leaders suggests that the race has attracted attention beyond the immediate political circles in Columbia.

The feud has also touched Norman’s family. His son, Warren Norman, wrote an op-ed for FITS News last week. He said he would not be voting for Graham and that he was leaning toward Andrews. He called it the first time in his life he would vote for a Democrat in a partisan election. He wrote that he knew conservatives would worry about voting against a Republican, but he felt there was no true conservative option available in this specific election.

The White House pointed to Trump’s comments from his recent rally when asked for comment on Norman’s decision. Trump’s message emphasized the importance of voting for the Republican ticket to ensure happiness for the state. Graham’s campaign has not yet responded to requests for comment on the intra-party disagreement.