COLUMBIA, S.C. — Norman moved forward Tuesday in a 10-way, whirlwind special election set into motion after Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sudden death last month.
A wealthy real estate developer, Norman has long been a member of the House Freedom Caucus, the chamber’s most conservative members. He came into the special Senate primary already well-known to voters across the state, having run an unsuccessful campaign for the GOP gubernatorial nomination this year.
Sen. Darline Graham also advanced to the runoff. The late senator’s sister was appointed to serve the remaining months of his current term, then entered the race with an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
The winner of the Aug. 25 runoff will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in the general election. No Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina in decades.