Norman asks Trump for endorsement to replace Graham: Report

Campaign Norman asks Trump for endorsement to replace Graham: Report Comments: by Ashleigh Fields - 07/12/26 4:38 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Ashleigh Fields - 07/12/26 4:38 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) on Sunday spoke with President Trump regarding a potential endorsement in the special primary to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), according to a new report.

The president told Norman, “give me a week,” when asked about an endorsement, Bloomberg Government reported hours after Graham’s office announced his death.

The White House and Norman’s office did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment regarding the matter.

However, Norman is expected to make an announcement regarding the race on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. according to Bloomberg Government.

The candidate filing period for Republicans running to replace Graham opens on July 21 and closes on July 28.

A special primary election to select the new nominee will be held on August 11 with a runoff slated for August 25.

In addition to Norman, South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) is also considering a run to replace Graham after her unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in the Palmetto State.

She and Norman both lost the June GOP primary for South Carolina’s governorship to Trump endorsed Attorney General Alan Wilson (R-S.C.).

Originally, the president backed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette (R-S.C.) but ultimately endorsed her and Wilson once the two made it to a runoff, leaving each candidate with little to no edge over the other.

Trump has been active in primary races and statewide elections across the country ahead of midterms in an effort to keep a Republican majority in both the House and the Senate.

The president will now wade into another South Carolina race, this time to replace Graham, who served four-terms in the Senate after succeeding former Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.).

“I have somebody that I think would be great, but I don’t want to say it now because it’s just, you know, it’s too soon with Lindsey,” Trump said during a Sunday appearance on NBC News’s “Meet the Press.”

“I don’t want to even talk about anybody, but I do have somebody that I think is really good,” he added.

The Republican nominee will face Democrat Annie Andrews (S.C.) in November.