Norman’s son says he’s ‘leaning’ toward voting for Andrews for South Carolina Senate

The son of GOP Rep. Ralph Norman (S.C.), Warren Norman, said Friday he is “leaning” toward supporting the Democratic candidate in South Carolina’s Senate race, pediatrician Annie Andrews.

Ralph Norman, who was defeated by Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.) in the GOP primary, said in a radio interview this week he would back the Republican nominee in the November election but indicated that his family would not vote for her.

The Republican’s son made it official in an op-ed published in South Carolina outlet FITSNews, titled “Why This Lifelong Conservative Won’t Vote for Darline Graham.”

Warren Norman noted in his piece that the decision was not “personal,” extending his sympathy to Graham following the loss of her brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

However, he claimed that there was “no true conservative to vote for in this election.”

“If Senator Graham wins, the establishment that backed her will protect her in every primary to come,” Norman wrote. “This seat could be hers for 24 years or more.

“If Annie Andrews wins and doesn’t stand up to her party the way she has promised, South Carolina voters can hold her accountable and replace her with a strong conservative in six,” he continued. “Six years we can hold accountable, or 24 years we can’t. To me, that isn’t a hard call.”

The Republican lawmaker’s son indicated that he was considering a vote for the Democratic nominee in the race instead. Despite disagreeing with Andrews “a lot,” the real estate partner said they agree “on some important things,” like opposing corruption and insurance reform.

“She struck me as genuine, and she has said publicly that she’ll stand up to her own party,” Norman wrote. “That is the standard I’m asking of every candidate, and I intend to hold her to it.

“As of today, I’m leaning her way,” he continued. “It will be the first time in my life I’ve voted for a Democrat in a partisan election.”

Andrews responded to Norman’s op-ed in a statement to The Hill on Friday.

“South Carolinians deserve a senator who earns their vote, not someone handpicked by the same Washington insiders driving up our costs,” the Democratic candidate said. “Whether you voted for Donald Trump, Lindsey Graham, or anyone else, if you care more about lowering your bills than the political games in Washington, this campaign is for you.”

The Hill has reached out to Graham’s campaign for comment.