Graham, Norman set for runoff, Andrews calls for debate
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Tuesday night’s special GOP primary election has set the field for a runoff ahead of November’s general election.
Following unofficial results from the SC Election Commission showing Senator Darline Graham as the frontrunner, the sister of late Senator Lindsey Graham thanked President Trump during her Tuesday night speech to media.
“His steadfast support and his complete and total endorsement mean so much to me,” she says.
Trump responded to Graham’s election results late Tuesday night saying, “And it’s great that she’s doing so well, she’s a very good woman, and she’s got good genetics because she’s related to Lindsey who’s a real professional… I think she’s great.”
Graham also reiterating some of her conservative views Tuesday night, saying, “I’m a conservative Republican. I’m not a career politician. I know how families are struggling to make ends meet because I’ve been there too… I support the right to life… I strongly support the 2nd amendment… And I know that boys have no place in girls’ sports.”
Graham has since received the endorsement of U.S. Senator Tim Scott, calling Graham a “conservative stalwart and a hard worker.”
With none of the 10 candidates reaching the 50% threshold, Congressman Ralph Norman will face Graham in the August 25th runoff — having brought in around 25 % of votes.
“We’re getting ready to elect a senator for the next six years. You need to know what they represent, how they will vote. My record in Congress is second to none for conservatism — for giving money back to the taxpayers for uniting we the people and empowering we the people, so you know it’s faith, family and freedom. I represent that and I will continue to,” Norman told ABC Columbia’s Lee Williams via Zoom on Wednesday, adding, “By all accounts I’ve been the most conservative, pro tax payer, pro we the people candidate or man servant in office as anybody.”
Businessman Mark Lynch is now backing Norman saying in a statement that Norman has a “proven conservative record.”
Williams reached out to third place contender — Representative Russell Fry — but has not yet received a response on whether he’ll be endorsing either candidate.
In a statement, candidate for governor Alan Wilson congratulated both candidates and asked them to stay united after the runoff to ”stop the spread of socialism from taking root in South Carolina.”
Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews telling CNN she is not a socialist and that “the democratic socialist conversation is a distraction from real issues like the cost of gas, groceries, and medicine.”
Andrews also directly addressed Senator Graham’s co-sponsoring of The Save Act.
“You have to show an ID to check out a library book, so why wouldn’t you have to show an ID to vote,” says Graham.
“We already have voter ID laws here in SC, so this is yet another example of a lack of focus on the issues that voters here on the ground are talking about and it shows me that she is really unfit to lead,” says Andrews.
In a press release on Wednesday, Andrews called on the winner of the GOP runoff to join her in a televised debate.
Graham or Norman will face Andrews in the general election on Tuesday, November 3rd.
