South Carolina Senate candidate Ralph Norman discusses his runoff campaign against Darline Graham. Norman outlines his platform on grassroots issues, inflation, energy costs and his endorsement from Nikki Haley.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C. — the candidate going head-to-head against Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., in the South Carolina special Republican U.S. Senate primary runoff — suggested in a campaign ad that his rival is the establishment's candidate.
"The establishment has already" selected "their candidate," he declared in the video, without naming Graham, his lone rival in the contest. "Same old playbook, same old insiders. I'm not their choice."
"South Carolina needs a proven conservative with a record of fighting for you. You shouldn't have to guess where your next senator stands: With me, you already know," Norman said in the ad.
HOUSE REPUBLICAN SUGGESTS SEN DARLINE GRAHAM IS AN 'ALLY' FOR THE 'SWAMP'
Rep. Ralph Norman, a U.S. Senate candidate, speaks during a special primary election night watch party in Rock Hill, S.C., on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Sam Wolfe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Graham and Norman, who finished first and second respectively in the Aug. 11 special GOP U.S. Senate primary, will now face each other in the Aug. 25 runoff.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham last month to fill the Senate vacancy caused by the death of her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham.
RUSSELL FRY ENDORSES EX-RIVAL DARLINE GRAHAM AFTER FAILING TO ADVANCE TO SPECIAL GOP US SENATE PRIMARY RUNOFF
Sen. Darline Graham departs after casting her ballot at a polling location inside Lake Murray Baptist Church in Lexington, S.C., on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Sam Wolfe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The new senator is backed by President Donald Trump.
"To suggest Donald Trump is part of the establishment is a joke. Senator Darline Graham has built a broad coalition of conservatives across South Carolina. Ralph is a party of one: himself," Graham campaign spokesperson Abby Zilch said in a statement to Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
"Ralph is a fiscal conservative when it is politically convenient. He voted no on a pay raise for our troops and benefits for veterans, but when COVID money benefited Ralph, all bets were off. Darline is a MAGA fighter who will help President Trump deliver. Ralph Norman will stand in the way," she added.
MARK LYNCH ENDORSES RALPH NORMAN AS CONGRESSMAN HEADS INTO RUNOFF AGAINST DARLINE GRAHAM
President Donald Trump arrives to deliver remarks at the David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence on Aug. 14, 2026, in Garden City, N.Y. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
