GOP Feud Flares as Lawmaker Rebukes Trump Over Senate Pick
WHO:
Fox News - Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) declined to campaign for Darline Graham, the South Carolina Senate candidate endorsed by President Trump.
Alternet - Ralph Norman, a member of the Freedom Caucus who has historically supported Trump’s policies, lost the South Carolina Senate primary to Graham.
Alternet - Graham had Trump’s endorsement and was described by Norman as not living up to her conservative label.
Alternet - Norman’s son, real estate developer Warren Norman, said he would not vote for Graham and was leaning toward Democratic candidate Annie Andrews.
Alternet - Ralph Norman said his entire family was “NOT SUPPORTING” Graham’s candidacy.
Alternet - Trump is returning to South Carolina to campaign for Graham.
WHAT:
Alternet - Ralph Norman said Graham had been “propped up by special interest groups” and that the president was spending millions to promote “false narratives” about her qualifications.
Alternet - Norman said the election did not have to unfold this way, adding, “Elections have consequences.”
Fox News - Norman accused Trump of trying to “force” his hand-picked Senate candidate on South Carolina voters and refused to campaign for Graham.
Alternet - Norman told CNN that Trump was spreading “false narratives” about Graham’s qualifications and that voters should not have to “‘settle’” for her.
Alternet - Norman wrote that the election concerned attempts to “‘force’ a candidate on the voters of S.C.” and said South Carolinians deserved “‘better!’”
Alternet - Warren Norman wrote that Graham’s campaign was receiving millions of dollars in spending to shape voters’ views, while less had been said about what she would do for South Carolina or whether she would challenge her funders.
Alternet - Warren Norman said he and Annie Andrews disagreed on many issues but agreed on fighting corruption; he wrote, “As of today, I’m leaning her way. It will be the first time in my life I’ve voted for a Democrat in a partisan election.”
WHERE:
Fox News - The Senate contest and primary were in South Carolina.
Alternet - Norman and Graham’s primary contest was in South Carolina; Trump’s campaign event for Graham is also there.
WHY:
Alternet - Warren Norman said voters were being told what to fear, while less attention was paid to what Graham would do for South Carolina or whether she would stand up to campaign funders.
Alternet - Norman’s criticism followed Trump’s endorsement of Graham and his public support for Nikki Haley in the 2024 election, which had drawn Trump’s ire.
Alternet - Warren Norman objected to Graham’s ties to Trump and argued that voters needed senators willing to resist pressure and root out corruption.
Alternet - The article reported growing Republican concern about party divisions ahead of the midterms.
HOW:
Alternet - Norman delivered his criticism in a text message to CNN.
Alternet - Warren Norman expressed his opposition to Graham in an op-ed; Ralph Norman endorsed his son’s statement in a text to CNN.
(UPDATED October 27, 2026 23:12 UTC)
Republican Representative Ralph Norman of South Carolina, who lost the Senate primary to Trump-endorsed Darline Graham, says he will not campaign for her and that his family is not supporting her. Norman accused Trump of trying to force a candidate on voters and said Graham was being promoted with millions of dollars and false narratives about her qualifications. Norman’s son, Warren, also said he would not vote for Graham and was leaning toward Democrat Annie Andrews, citing concerns about corruption and whether Graham would stand up to campaign funders.
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(UPDATED October 27, 2026 19:08 UTC)
South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman, who lost the Senate primary to Trump-endorsed Darline Graham, says he and his family will not support her and he will not campaign for her. Norman accused Trump of trying to force his preferred candidate on voters and said Graham was not living up to her conservative label. Norman’s son Warren said he was leaning toward Democrat Annie Andrews, citing concerns about campaign spending and corruption, and Norman endorsed his son’s statement.