Ralph Norman announces candidacy for Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., officially announces his run for late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat during an interview with Kayleigh McEnany. Norman emphasizes his commitment to President Donald Trump’s America First agenda, including the SAVE America Act and eliminating the filibuster. He expresses confidence in winning the competitive August 11 special primary, despite President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Darline Graham. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., criticized Senate Republican leaders for taking a five-week recess while conservative priorities, including the SAVE America Act, remained stalled in the Senate.Speaking on the “Fox News Rundown” podcast recently, Norman discussed his campaign and scolded Senate Majority Leader John Thune for allowing the break with so many issues in flux.”To go on a five-week hiatus is an abomination to — and a slap in the face of — people all over this country. That’s what I want to change,” Norman told Fox News senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich.SEN RICK SCOTT: AMERICANS WORK FIVE DAYS A WEEK, WHY CAN’T THE SENATE? Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., speaks with reporters ahead of a House Republican Conference meeting with President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol on May 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Republicans met to discuss the budget reconciliation bill. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)Senators began their break on Aug. 8 and won’t return to Washington, D.C., until Sept. 14. Several conservative priorities remain stalled in the Senate, including the SAVE America Act, a House-passed bill requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.Norman said there’s “no more important legislation than the SAVE Act” and called on senators to focus on passing it. “If we don’t know that American citizens are voting for the leaders of our great country, what do we have? We don’t have a democracy,” Norman said.He criticized the Senate’s progress on conservative priorities but stopped short of calling for Thune’s removal as Majority leader.TRUMP’S VOTER ID BILL CATCHES UNLIKELY BREAK AS MCCONNELL REMAINS SIDELINED”Here’s what disappoints me with Sen. Thune: I like him. I’ve met him. What frustrates me is we keep hearing the same refrain. ‘We don’t have the votes.’ How long are we going to hear that? Are you staying in session, or are you going on a five-week hiatus like they did?” Norman said.”We’ve got to dial into fixing this country in a way that we haven’t had to do. It’s D-Day now. It’s time to do it,” he later added.Though Norman focused his criticism on the Senate, both chambers of Congress are on their scheduled August recess. The Senate has also previously held votes on election integrity and voter ID measures during late-night floor sessions, but none secured the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. Norman also addressed President Donald Trump’s decision to endorse his primary opponent, Darline Graham. “I wanted the president’s endorsement, I called him. He chose otherwise, that’s fine. South Carolina will pick the next senator for six years,” Norman said.Graham and Norman advanced to an Aug. 25 runoff following South Carolina’s special Republican primary on Aug. 11. Both are vying for the Republican nomination to succeed the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11. Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister, was appointed to finish her brother’s term and is now seeking a full six-year term. Sen. Darline Graham Nordone, R-S.C., departs after casting her ballot at a polling location inside Lake Murray Baptist Church during a special primary election in Lexington, S.C., on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Sam Wolfe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)Trump endorsed Darline Graham in a Truth Social post following her brother’s death, writing, “She is a spectacular person, and a true American Patriot. Lindsey was one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, and his sister shares his deep love of our Country, and the State of South Carolina.”RALPH NORMAN SUGGESTS SPECIAL GOP PRIMARY RUNOFF RIVAL DARLINE GRAHAM IS THE ESTABLISHMENT’S CHOSEN CANDIDATE”I asked Darline, for the Good of our Nation, to run for the U.S. Senate in the Special Republican Primary on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey,” Trump added.CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APPNorman announced his Senate bid during an interview with “Saturday in America” host Kayleigh McEnany in July, telling her, “I’m here to announce that I will be a candidate for the Senate. I’ll be throwing my hat in the ring. And day one, Kayleigh, I will be laser-focused on passing President Trump’s America First, and it starts with the SAVE America Act.” Madison Colombo is a writer for Fox News Digital’s Flash, Media, and Culture team, covering daily breaking news and trending topics with an award-winning background in broadcast and digital journalism.
