Senate Runoff Debate: Normans Candidacy and Graham's Stance on Taiwan, National Security
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Graham took the debate stage in Newberry, South Carolina, with her opponent, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), as the two go head-to-head in a closely watched Senate Republican runoff to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. Trump has endorsed Graham in the race, while Norman has the backing of notable South Carolina current and former lawmakers, including former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.
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The HillGraham, Norman tangle in South Carolina GOP Senate debate: Three takeaways Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.) and Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) faced off on the debate stage Tuesday, a day before early voting begins in the runoff to determine which of the two will be South Carolina’s GOP nominee for Senate. Graham, whom South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) appointed to succeed to her brother, the late…
NBC NewsSen. Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman traded criticism over experience, ambition, campaign finance and policy positions in a Senate primary debate Tuesday in South Carolina, one week before Republican primary voters choose a nominee to replace Graham’s brother, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, on the ballot this fall.
HuffPostSen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.), sister of late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and President Donald Trump’s hand-picked choice for his seat, is facing heavy criticism after struggling with a key question during Tuesday night’s debate.
New York Times‘I’m Not That Informed on National Security,’ Graham Says in South Carolina Debate Senator Darline Graham made the remark in a debate against Representative Ralph Norman, her opponent in the runoff election to succeed her brother, Lindsey Graham. Here are five takeaways.
Fox NewsRep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C. — the candidate going head-to-head against Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., in the South Carolina special Republican U.S. Senate primary runoff — suggested in a campaign ad that his rival is the establishment's candidate.
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Graham and Norman, who finished first and second respectively in the Aug. 11 special GOP U.S. Senate primary, will now face off in the Aug. 25 runoff.
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NBC NewsGraham and Norman finished first and second in the special primary last week, triggering a runoff next week since no one got a majority of the vote. The Republican nominee will face Democrat Annie Andrews in the fall. Lindsey Graham had previously won the regularly scheduled primary for the seat.
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Norman spokesperson Brittany Yanick said in a statement to Fox News Digital, "Ralph Norman is a businessman and the only proven conservative in this race. He has received wide support from conservatives including Senators Rick Scott and Mike Lee in Washington, D.C. to leaders across South Carolina, such as [former] Senator Jim DeMint and Former State Rep. Adam Morgan, among many others."
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HuffPost“I’ve got a proven record, folks. You can look me up for eight years. I’ve been in Congress. I’m the most conservative member. You know how I’m going to vote. My resume is my record,” said Ralph Norman, a congressman from the more conservative northern part of the state, before getting to the heart of his case. “We have an unknown candidate who I am running against.”
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“Senator, are Taiwan and the South China Sea national security issues for the United States and, if so, why or how?” moderator Greta Van Susteren asked.
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Washington ExaminerDuring the debate, hosted by Newsmax, the candidates were asked if tensions between China and Taiwan were a national security concern for the United States.
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“I’m just going to be honest here — I’m not on national security,” Graham said. “I’m not that informed on national security, but I do support the military.”
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Washington Examiner“I’m just going to be honest here,” Graham said. “I’m not that informed on national security.”
HuffPost“I’m just going to be honest here. I’m not that informed on national security,” Graham replied. “But I do support the military. My brother was in the Air Force for 33 years, so I will do everything I can to support the military.”
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“I fully trust President Trump when it comes to the war in Iran,” Graham said, adding: “Iran is the weakest they have been in 47 years. The one thing that concerns me is we cannot let them get a nuclear weapon. So I trust President Trump and everything he’s doing. I think he’s got this, and I trust him on it.”
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Washington Examiner“I fully trust President Trump when it comes to the war in Iran,” Graham said. “47 years this has been going on. Iran is the weakest they have been in 47 years. The one thing that concerns me is we cannot let them get a nuclear weapon, so I trust President Trump and everything he’s doing. I think he’s got this, and I trust him on it.”
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“Ralph Norman betrayed President Trump by endorsing against him in 2024,” a new ad says, referencing Mr. Norman’s endorsement of Nikki Haley, a longtime friend, in the Republican presidential primary.
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HuffPostAt one point, Norman, who incurred Trump’s wrath by endorsing former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for president in 2024 rather than Trump, came close to criticizing the president by suggesting he needed to explain what was actually happening with his Iran war.
5 details only one outlet reported
Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.
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01 Fox News "The establishment has already" selected "their candidate," he declared in the video, without naming Graham, his lone rival in the contest. "Same old playbook, same old insiders. I'm not their choice."
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02 Washington Examiner Sen. Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC) said national security is not her forte but staunchly defended President Donald Trump‘s defense agenda, echoing many of the opinions expressed by her late brother as she seeks to take over his long-held seat.
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03 NBC News While Graham, a political newcomer, went on the attack against Norman, her thin résumé took center stage in the historic Newberry Opera House on several occasions throughout the debate, including when a question about Taiwan, the South China Sea and American security interests came up.
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04 HuffPost Polished or not, a candidate for the U.S. Senate running in the middle of a war admitting that “national security is not my thing” left critics on social media stunned:
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05 Washington Times Several deep-pocketed groups are running ads in South Carolina to help Sen. Darline Graham’s bid to fill her late brother’s seat for a full six-year term.
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