Norman endorses Graham after questioning why Trump backed her

Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) gave his support Wednesday to Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.) for the Senate, after previously questioning why President Trump endorsed her in their tense Republican primary runoff.

“I respect the decision of South Carolina voters, and I congratulate Senator Darline Graham on winning the Republican nomination. I will support our Republican nominee in November because defeating the Democrats and protecting our conservative values must remain the priority,” Norman said in a post on social platform X .

The message of support comes a day after Norman called Trump’s involvement in the South Carolina race “shocking.”

“To get in a primary, to spend the millions of dollars he did. It’s his right to do that, but as many places as we’re in trouble with liberals, he comes to South Carolina. Ronald Reagan would not do that,” Norman said, as shared by C-SPAN. He agreed with a suggestion that Trump’s endorsement made all the difference in the race.

“Look, he’s done so much for this country. But this was — to get into the primary in South Carolina is shocking,” the lawmaker added. He appeared to suggest voters could write him in as their choice in November.

Trump recruited, endorsed and campaigned for Graham after her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, died unexpectedly in early July after more than two decades in Congress — and after winning his party’s nod for another term in the red seat in an initial June primary.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) appointed Darline Graham to fill the vacancy, and she swiftly joined the fight for a full term.

Graham ultimately won the nod to replace her brother on the November general election ballot after she and Norman advanced from an early August runoff.

Norman had given up his safely red House seat to run for governor this cycle, but he fell short in a crowded GOP primary before jumping into the Senate race.

With the primary redo in the rearview, Graham is on track to win a full term this fall. She faces Democrat Annie Andrews, but the seat is considered solidly Republican.