South Carolina voters make final choice between Graham, Norman

Aug. 25 (UPI) — Republican voters in South Carolina will choose which Senate candidate will be on the ballot in November in Tuesday’s runoff primary between Rep. Ralph Norman and Sen. Darline Graham.

Democrat Annie Andrews awaits the result to see who she will face in the midterm election on Nov. 3. Norman has represented South Carolina’s fifth congressional district since 2017 while Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, is in her first foray into public service after being appointed last month following her brother’s sudden death.

President Donald Trump is backing Graham in Tuesday’s race. He held a tele-rally on Monday to make his final appeal to voters to support her.

“I asked her to do it,” Trump said of Graham’s campaign. “I got her into this whole thing.”

Trump lauded Graham for being supportive of his agenda.

“What I really want you to do is pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot,” Trump said at a rally in Myrtle Beach on Friday.

Norman has self-funded most of his primary campaign, which has focused on his track record as a conservative. He vowed not to run a negative campaign against Graham but has highlighted her lack of experience.

Sen. Lindsey Graham was set to run for re-election in November after winning the Republican primary in June. He was in his fourth term in the Senate.