Norman gives Trump an ‘F’ on South Carolina midterm performance

Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) gave President Trump a failing grade for his performance in South Carolina’s midterm elections after a Trump-backed Senate candidate defeated Norman in the Republican primary but lost to a Democrat in the general election.

“In South Carolina, he gets an F,” Norman told MeidasTouch on Tuesday when asked to grade Trump’s performance in last week’s midterms. “But overall for the country, he’s done well.”

Norman argued Trump deserved a failing grade because of his decision to endorse Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.), the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), over him in the primary.

“He shouldn’t have endorsed and tried to force a candidate on South Carolina. They don’t agree with that,” Norman said.

Graham, who filled her brother’s seat following his death in July, lost her bid for a full term to Democrat Annie Andrews, delivering a stunning upset in a state where Republicans have held both Senate seats for decades.

Although Norman pledged to support Graham in the general election following his defeat in the primary, he refused to campaign alongside her and said his family would not vote for her. Trump traveled to South Carolina in the closing days of the campaign to rally support for Graham, but she ultimately fell short.

“This race shouldn’t even be close, and it wouldn’t be if I were in the race,” Norman said in a radio interview days before the election.

His son, Warren Norman, also publicly rejected Graham’s candidacy, writing in an op-ed published by FITSNews that he was leaning toward voting for Andrews , a pediatrician.

Darline Graham was appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) to temporarily fill the vacancy left by her brother, who died unexpectedly. It was the first time a sibling was sworn in to replace a senator who died in office.