Republican Candidate’s Supporters Boo Trump After Loss to Darline Graham

Supporters of Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) booed President Donald Trump on Tuesday as the congressman gave his concession speech.

Norman lost Tuesday’s South Carolina Republican U.S. Senate runoff to Sen. Darline Graham, the late sister of former Sen. Lindsey Graham (R). Upon Graham’s death in July, Trump urged South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster (R) to appoint Darline Graham for the remainder of the term, which ends in January, which McMaster did. But rather than serve as a placeholder, she opted to run for a full term.

Trump endorsed Graham against Norman. During the primary, neither candidate received a majority of the vote needed to avoid a runoff, which Graham won on Tuesday. Some political analysts suggest that Graham’s admitted lack of foreign policy knowledge during a debate could hurt her chances, but she prevailed nonetheless.

During his concession speech, Norman said Graham’s victory is the result sought by Democrats, who nominated Dr. Annie Andrews. Graham is expected to win the general election. Norman also swiped at Trump for getting involved in the race.

“Democrats, they got what they wanted,” Norman said. “I get that. But you know, the president got involved. He has that right. That’s his prerogative.”

As Norman referenced the president’s endorsement, many of his supporters in attendance began to boo Trump.

“Well y’all, his policies are good,” Norman assured them. “I never understood why he got in this race… but it is what it is, and I’ll accept it… Something good will come out of this. I don’t know what it is, but something good will come out of it.”

Tuesday’s election loss was Norman’s second in just over a month. On June 23, he lost the Republican gubernatorial primary.

During the 2024 Republican presidential primary, Norman backed former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, whom Trump repeatedly called “Bird Brain.”

Watch above via C-SPAN.

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