The South Carolina Senate race between Darline Graham and Ralph Norman will be very interesting to watch as the runoff date arrives soon, August 25th.
Darline Graham is supported by President Trump, the NRSCC, the professional republican class and the new endorsement from the 3rd place candidate Russell Fry. Additionally, Darline Graham has been endorsed by Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Tim Scott and other very well-known Republican brand names.
Mrs Graham has also picked up a $1 million Super-PAC donation from the leftist “Invest in Tomorrow Coalition” a clean energy and climate change advocacy group. They will be running ads against Ralph Norman.
That said, CTH has a strong hunch that Ralph Norman is going to win. There’s an internal poll showing Norman with a 12-point advantage (52/40); however, that’s not the strongest indicator.
A very unscientific review of voter sentiment visible on social media reflects a profound rejection of the Lindsey Graham legacy vote. While it is entirely possible those voices are just more algorithmically visible than Darline Graham supporters, there sure are a lot of South Carolina republican voters willing to support Ralph Norman over Graham.
It’s weird because no one seems overly enthusiastic for either candidate but voting Norman over Graham appears to be the least bad option. Darline Graham’s record working for leftist NGOs has many people rejecting her as an option.
What are your thoughts?
It is possible this race may be in the loss column for President Trump’s endorsement record.
I hope Norman wins. I hate seats passed along to family members or to others because it’s “their” turn.
Hear, hear!
🎯
Case in point, Murkowski.
Maybe Murkowski is giving her money and support because she owed Lindsay big time for his support? Murkowski may not even ever have spoken to Nordone nee Graham.
What are the facts? So many “feelings” !
And Sea Island Scott….Is this a open primary?
It’s the runoff from the primary. These are the final two.
I live in SC and the primaries are open and that is how Lindsey always won.
Apparently Darlene supports the SAVE AMERICA ACT and killing the filibuster
Norman supports SAVE act, too.
for now.
Just like Graham BFF McCain was for repealing Obamacare, central part of his 2016 campaign, cut ads against his opponent saying she would keep it.
Until he was re(s)elected, and saved Obamacare.
Nope. I don’t believe her one bit
Norman was the primary sponsor of the Save Act in 2020.
Pres Trump wrong on this one (my opinion). Norman please — not Lindsey-lite. And, if Norman pulls it out, the President deserves the loss.
Trump does have a record of being injured because of his putting trust in the wrong people. He is brilliant in many ways, and myopic in a few. And then there is the professional Republican Party (Uniparty) that he can’t simply ignore.
Bingo! 💯
I know President Trump was loyal to Lindsay, but I was never, ever a fan of his.
Supported by Murkowski?
Leftist climate money to his inexperienced sister?
No thank you very much!
I really hate the Uniparty model of providing jobs for politicians friends and family.
Such a Uniparty beneficiary will play the Uniparty game.
So what do we know of this Norman guy?
A career politician unfortunately. But generally on the record on the Conservative side of the hot topics.
However I don’t really trust him as a conservative. It’s easy to say the republican thing in SC. I’m not sure he has the spine conviction or even interest to stand the DC pressure. I get the feeling hes going to be a back room dealer and a disappointing, go along to get along, kind of politician.
He knows how Washington works. He is currently in the House.
Exactly! We’re not going to replace Lindsay Graham and his experience for sure. Just as there’s no second Ronald Reagan. But we need somebody up there who’s basically a temporary hire yet knows the ways of Washington.
Ralph Norman had enough spine and conviction to vote to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the house. He took all of the pressure DC has to offer on that vote.
He is not a career politician. He is a successful businessman that got into politics later in life, starting at the statehouse level in Columbia!
-Norman is one of the wealthiest people in Congress (worth about $57 million), via his commercial real estate development business. Also, Norman was for Nicky Haley in 2024 until she dropped out, then he jumped on the Trump bandwagon. Being for somebody other than Trump in early 2016 might be forgivable, but picking Haley over Trump at any time in 2024? No thanks.
-Maybe Darline is a RINO, maybe not. She is saying the right stuff about the SAVE Act and dumping the filibuster, but talk is cheap, we need results – unfortunately she don’t have a track record – good or bad – yet.
-Bottom line: Either one is probably better than the RINO warmonger that Ms Lindsey ever was.
Sundance seems to have the pulse of the race. Graham name was RINO and Trump I guess needed the Military Complex to gain the favour of those miitary greedy generals.
Now Linsey’s Sister is Leftist , and Trump might have endorsed her to keep military complex happy, but Trump may not really be for her. Seems like Rino’s (and secret dems ) want the Trump Endorsement, and will kiss the ring of Trump (to get Trump Support), then once elected will take out their KNIFES … and stab Trump/MAGA in the back. There must be a secret class (not advertized) given by RINO’S to learn ways to flatter Trump … but … give loyality oath to RINO leadership that hates Trump with a passion if they get elected.
Well, layers of corruption, .. so many layers. Trump does need another 4 more years … Trump 2028 … I don’t think he will get it, but… I learned to not rule anything out concerning Trump.
This is the wiki entry for Darline – I don’t see any “leftist NGO’s” listed:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darline_Graham
FTA:
“In 2008, Graham began working for the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department. She helped coordinate a remote work program for adults with severe disabilities for Time Warner.[15] By 2015, she was the department’s public information director.[16]
In 2019, Graham became commissioner and agency head of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, which administers vocational rehabilitation, independent living, and blindness-prevention programs for South Carolinians who are blind or have low vision.[17]
She also serves on the South Carolina State Workforce Development Board and its SC Works Management Committee.
In 2026, she was elected president of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, with her term scheduled to start in January 2027.[12]”
Do you always rely on the Leftist Wikipedia for your information?
1. She grew the government agency (Commission for the Blind) by double digits in her few years running it
2. She’s given money to pro abortion candidates
3. State government in South Carolina is dominated by Leftists
4. Lisa Murkowski is supporting her (with money)
5. She is supported by a “clean energy PAC” that supported Kampala Harris (Invest in Tomorrow Coalition)
6. Few people know her positions on the issues, she’s done very few interviews (I know of 1)
7. She encouraged DEI positions while working for the State
Ralph Norman’s not perfect but at least he has a record to run on. Darlene Nordone (not Graham) is an empty pantsuit just like Obama was when he ran for President.
No, I do not always rely on wikipedia… but it was the only site I found with her work in SC listed.
You have your opinion, and I have mine.
Have a nice evening.
Where’s your factual proof? “Darlene Nordone (not Graham) is an empty pantsuit”
I’m not doing Internet research for you, do your own counterfactuals if you have them. It’s easy to respond to someone with “show me all your proof”, it’s more difficult to actually present your own views and back them up with clear statements. All of my statements have been documented or are my well researched opinion, let’s see your research.
I’m going to take “Observer SC’s” tact here and state, “You have your opinion, and I have mine.”
I live in South Carolina. State government is nowhere near dominated by leftists. They may have their moments, like the redistricting issue, but no, this state is no North Carolina. Not Georgia either.
You can’t believe anything on wiki
How much funneling of U.S. taxpayers money thru USAID did Linda direct into his sister’s leftist NGOs ?
None. Let’s not make stuff up here, she’s already bad enough without conjuring up falsehoods.
BS
NGOs live off of taxpayers money and I’m not a witch so I don’t Conjure.
Probably not as much as Ms Linda passed through via the Ukraine cash kickback scams.
Ukraine is where all the kickback payment mechanisms flow.
I would eat barbwire before I voted for a legacy candidate of any kind. That includes Trump’s kids.
Did I vote for W Bush? I did but regretted the legacy vote and later changed registration from R to I.
Pres. Trump should have spoken to SC Republican’s. I am a former SC resident, and I can tell you that Lindsy had a lot of opposition in the ranks. He only won the last two primaries because he ran a split the vote strategy.
Or just not endorsed anyone. Often I think he’d be better off to just let the race resolve itself. South Carolinians know who they want.
She is supported by the RINOs in the Senate (Murkowski? JHC!). What else do I need to know? No, no, no.
You don’t know why Murkowski is supporting her.
Playing Devils Advocate here:
Murkowski actually likes Norman and this is her way to repay Graham for back stabbing her at that party the other night. OR what are the FACTS???????
I don’t need to know. You just revealed her to be a snake (which I already knew). The Senate campaign fund (forget the abbreviation), which is controlled by Thune (a bigger snake than Murkowski), is supporting her. But no funding to support Paxton. A “tell” if there ever was one in my book. No, no, no!
I revealed nothing. You saw what you wanted to see. You assumed what you wanted to assume.
“I revealed nothing”… Exactly! You just keep posting “questions” on everyone’s post with no facts of your own. It’s easy to snipe at everyone without supplying any alternative research.
Example: you keep posting “you don’t know why Murkowski is supporting her”, without supplying anyone with YOUR theory. Completely unhelpful and lazy….
Thune is just following in Mitch McTurtles stab MAGA in the back footsteps by NOT funding any maga candidates
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Side-by-side photos: Norman exudes strength. Graham exudes duplicity.
Leftist NGOs?
Hard pass.
I suggest people go back and look at the numbers for the runoff election and leave your wishful thinking for a moment. Darline won 28 of the 46 counties in SC and came in second in the balance of the counties Russel Fry won in the Southern counties of the state. I don’t think Sanford was a factor altho he’s popular in the Charleston area. Norman was in the “also ran” pack except where he dominated in the north central and western counties (Rock Hill area, etc.) but just a relative few. Fry will retain his house seat and he has endorsed Darline. Norman dumped his 5th congressional seat to run for governor and lost. Then he comes in second for the Senate seat to Darline. He’s already a 2 time loser.. (I think he had to use his own money for the gubernatorial campaign as well.) Doesn’t matter what we think of the now deceased Lindsey Graham. For all the moolah he bestowed upon their existence he was beloved wherever there is military in SC which would be Columbia on down and out to the ocean and Paris Island. And don’t be fretting the $1 Million Darline got from the green energy people. SC is not an energy resource rich state.
They have no fossil fuels resources or minerals, coal, natural gas or anything else to exploit. They need the greenies.
I believe Darline will win going away.
Darlene won less than a third of the vote. Norman won as many counties as Fry, and Sanford won the Charleston area. You call Norman a “loser” and yet he beat Fry. I would call Fry a “loser” because he endorsed a unknown over someone who had almost the same voting record as his (Norman). Why did he run against “the status quo” and then endorse the continuation of the status quo. I bet he got a phone call from the Party bigwigs. Norman is leading in polls right now and is polling over 50%, Norman is the favorite right now.
Finally, we don’t “need the greenies”, we’ve got a healthy amount of nuclear power and pipelines bringing in plenty of clean natural gas. Green energy raises the price of power for everyone, just look at California.
Is that you, Ralph?
Nope. A South Carolina voter who’s active in the Charleston area Republican Party. You vote in South Carolina?
I’m a sea of sea grid with family still down in Charleston. I live in the Upstate and do not believe Darlene will win the seat.
College of Charleston grad.
And we would be flush with gas if they didn’t screw us out of the other pipeline that was going bring gas down. For better or worse they will restart VC summer and finish the other two reactors at some point
SC has lots of nuclear power…perhaps more than most other states.
What are your thoughts?
Vote for whichever one wants to reform NGO’s and regulate the hell out of them..
Vote for whichever one can win the Senate seat.
The majority is more important than debating which is less RINO-ish.
Leftist NGO is a big NO as they are the ones that have been stealing taxpayers money through the politicians. Norman may not be the best but it is time to figure out the worst of the 2 then vote the other. They both will say what they think you want to hear but will do what THEY want once in. So don’t take their spew literally. THEY LIE! Good Luck SC.
I don’t think President Trump expects her to win. He has to know her not knowing what even goes on in senate or government, that she is not qualified.
I thought from day one when he said it, he knew she will be not be elected. She has lower knowledge of the job than a senate intern.
He doesn’t care based on his record, plus I think there was already two he endorsed, that lost.
I was not a Lindsey Graham fan… I would have liked to see him voted out of office but I think he was right up there with McConnell and Pelosi, it wasn’t going to happen.I think I would like his sister even less.
There’s a reason select members of the Senate (think Thune and others) won’t push the Save Act through. Did voters really keep Graham, McConnell and Pelosi in office or did it boil down to who counted the votes. Frankly I cannot believe SC voters would continue to vote for a rabid warmonger like Lindsay Graham. I think they cheat on both sides.
I’m voting for Ralph. He’s my congressman, I’ve met him personally several times, and he does a great job supporting our county party (which is heavy PDJT and America First and hated by the state GOP chair), as well as our local MAGA/AF state reps, in many ways.
He’s a solid Freedom caucus type and , for a politician, pretty good. And again, he truly is local and supports us locally. He’s consistently engaged.
After reading the negative comments about Norman here, my hopium has kicked in.
Perhaps Trump supports Graham because he’s got the dirt on her from Ukraine and can make her say, “How high?”when he says, “Jump”. In return he lets her keep her laundered blood soaked money.
Sigh.
My thoughts? If a person feels compelled to vote in a situation like this (lesser of two evils), I would assert that the next most-moral thing to do is vote for the person that is likely to bring you closer to freedom and liberty.
I hate hereditary passing along of seats – British anyone and why we rejected King George, et al. I think Trump is picking his ‘battles’ with the GOPe here… and I think he is wrong. Very wrong. And I think he knows it. Perhaps he is exposing the RINO’s by giving them what they want and then losing.
If there is anything we should understand is that his first 8 years in Sodom on Potomac were very instructive and he took heed. He is number 3 behind only GW and Abe. Period. Maybe JFK. Yeah, I know, but JFK pushed the CIA around as well as the MIC overall and they killed him for it.
Just reading Richard Poe’s “The British Invented Communism(and blamed it on the Jews)”. Wow.
She seems weak, like her brother , on closing the border and illegal immigration. The brother though he was everyone’s pal ,especially John McCain , was no big conservative. I get the same vibes from her.
How do you get any info on her? Feelings?
Anybody but a Graham
By her endorsements other than Trump I want Norman to win. When the rinos and professional republicans line up behind her and her history of NGO corruption I know who she is.
No NGO affliation found
It’s not her turn.. she needs to work for her bone
I have a new policy of voting for no women at all unless their name is Tulsi Gabbard or Karoline Levitt. I have been disappointed across the board with women in positions of power.
They are not conservative and get lost in their emotions. They are not trustworthy.
As a woman myself, I tend to agree.
But there are exceptions; I would place Harriet Hageman in that category.
Definitely Harriet Hageman!
I am a woman too. I agree on Harriet Hageman. I forgot her.
Or Sarah Huckabee-Sanders. I believe she is a good one as well. Harriet Hagerman is my favorite representative at the moment.
I like Harriet also. But the Supreme Court pics have been poor.
My wife was a teacher for 35 years. She always preferred male principals over female for the reasons you mentioned. She had only one female principal that she actually liked and respected and that was qualified and competent. The other two were DEI promoted to the position. Yes, DEI was a thing back then, too!
Anna Paulina though?
I remember seeing Paul Dans on OAN not that long ago thinking SC might finally have a choice. Oh, well – money talks and mediocrity walks.
Her endorsements are highly suspect, with the exception of PDJT, and he may be remembering the very nasty comments made about him by Norman when Haley was running for president. Her complete lack of a reviewable record is very concerning, especially because her performance may resemble that of Murkowski and the term is six years. As others have noted, the President has made poor choices in the past, and she could be another.
Norman is the devil I know, but he may grudgingly obstruct the President out of spite for the endorsement of Graham.
Hence, I will watch the vote as an uncommitted observer.
I won’t be voting for another Graham in the Senate.
I’m voting Norman again along with five or so family members. I think it will be close. Curious to see how the liberal counties and low country votes
I’m voting Graham again along with all family members and most neighbors.
Norman is not liked in the low country.
The liberal and low country counties are gonna vote for Graham. That’s why the upstate must turn out on Election Day to vote for Norman!
Whoever gets the nod will be facing a Dem female candidate. May be enough to sway some voters if Norman is the candidate . . .
A globalist is a globalist I don’t care WHO endorses them. Trump needs to fire somebody recommending these people.
Norman all the way.
Agree 100%.
Vote for whomever the Uniparty does not!
I believe we’ve a warped sense of truth when we believe it’s someone’s “turn”.
We’ve also warped our sense of truth when we believe a relative of an elected official should replace that official.
We’ve also warped our sense of truth when we believe it’s “Grahm’s Seat” in Congress, and not an open Seat for any citizen of that State.”
These are all subtle warping of perspective & truth that allow a “elite class” to persuade others ”it’s their turn”, or to believe they can tell you who’s “turn” it is.
Also, to believe “political experience” is required is wrong.
I hope Norman wins SC’s Senate Seat, because he is more likely to vote for constitutional doctrine.
Everyone gripes about RINOs. This is how it starts.
Norman will win. Darline has no background in politics. Game over ? Sad but I never was in favor of a wife or family member to “ take over” deceased senators seat
My thought is, most people are realizing that it makes almost no difference who we vote for. We have the Presidency, the House, and the Senate, and we can’t even get the SAVE Act passed for secure elections. So Graham or Norman, tomayto, tomahto.
If I lived in South Carolina, I would think it’s OK for her to serve the six months left on Lindsey‘s term. But running for reelection when nobody knows anything about her except that she’s Lindsey’s sister seems disloyal to me. I don’t think she should have run and it makes me think less of her because she did. Like she’s now entitled to the seat. I don’t know South Carolina that well except that they don’t really vote conservatively, although they are a red state. I hope that Norman wins, even though he doesn’t like Trump that much and endorsed Haley. He seems to be a conservative. I would hope he keeps voting that way. He has said he will limit himself to 2 terms. He’s 73 so he would be 85 at the end if he gets reelected.
We don’t know if Darlene is a conservative or what except that she’s Power hungry and is younger so she might serve more than 2 terms.
What are my thoughts?
It’s possible this race will add to President Trump’s endorsement record wins. I honestly feel Darline is a better choice than Norman. If he was so impressive, Trump would have endorsed him and never encouraged her to run for her late brother’s seat.
Do you know who endorsed Norman?
Nikki Haley.
I got more experience that darlene graham.
Legacy experience. My own legacy experience.
That alone qualifies me for the senate.
In my opinion.
But I am not in the primary.
Darlene Graham is but in reality she has no more experience than I have at being a senator.
She got brother and trump coatails. She got people who need her vote and want to keep the status quo.
Ralph Norman gets my potempkin village senate vote.
I respect Darline Graham for honoring her brother and wish her well. I believe Ralph Norman would best represent SC and hope he wins.
I’m a SC voter, and in my opinion, she has done nothing to earn the Senate seat. I’m voting for Norman!
Trump may lose short term on his endorsement if Graham does not win but he will be glad in the long run. No more Graham crackers for me.
Graham and McCain and Ukraine are not distant memories.
IMO, will send a great message to the GOPe should Norman win.
When Lindsey was campaigning in the original primary before his death, he had Darline do an ad meant to tug on the heartstrings of voters. A treeper on page 1 aptly called it the “sympathy” ad.
This ad ran often on the radio, complete with Darline’s tearful voice cracking with emotion. There was no mention at all of any specific major issue facing Americans and this country.
At some point I asked myself, really – why ARE they running this ad? It seemed only be to subconsciously attract voters with emotional leanings.
Darline has also stated she won’t be so focused on foreign affairs as Lindsey was, but moreso on economic and home issues. The problem is, the Senate has tons of foreign and international issues and entanglements to deal with. And Darline will be forced to vote on those issues as well.
Look at her face. Then try to envision how much her family-related emotions come into play when she is pressured to vote one way or another in the back halls of the Senate.
Voted Fry. Next Norman. Not another Graham.
I’m a South Carolinian. Norman made fortune in real estate… right time, right place… podunk York County, SC was thriving as a satellite to Charlotte, NC.
I was active in York County politics and met Mr. Norman on a number of occasions. He is a man of integrity. Near as I can tell, he never sold his soul. That’s why he opposed a couple of Trump’s bonehead choices.
Upstate and rural SC heavily favors anybody but Nordone/Graham. We grow Rhinocrats in SC… Graham, Gov McMaster, and Congressman Frye.
Norman is the real deal conservative.
This sounds so scripted that it leans me into Graham.
Aren’t the dems going to vote in force for Miss Lindsay ? It’s an open primary after all, isn’t it ?
Copied from AI, regarding the SC Republican runoff election:
Eligibility for the August 25 Republican Senate runoff is restricted to:
Norman backed Nikki Haley in 2024 and in the SC primary. Trump is never going to get past that. Norman has been aligned with the establishment GOP but Norman has voted to support his agenda so far including the Save Act.
When the incumbent (Darlene Graham) has Trump’s endorsement and yet 67% of the voters vote for some other candidate in the 1st round it tells you something. IMO Norman has a very good chance.