Follow the Money
The dollars about to pour into South Carolina this week tell an important story
As South Carolina Republicans consider their choices in the U.S. Senate primary runoff, some may be undecided.
On the one hand, they have Senator Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham, who has been endorsed by President Trump.
On the other hand, they have Congressman Ralph Norman, a solid MAGA conservative who has fought for their values for years.
This could make the choice difficult for some. And since Darline Graham has no record, there’s no way for voters to verify her qualifications.
But if you set aside the president’s endorsement — which is clearly driven by his friendship with Senator Graham — and follow the money, the choice becomes clear.
According to recent FEC filings, voters in the Palmetto State are about to be bombarded with ads urging them to oppose Ralph Norman.
Here’s where the money is coming from:
Security is Strength PAC and Palmetto Action — The two super PACs historically tied to Lindsey Graham. Some of the donations are from disclosed donors, while others are from third-party intermediaries to avoid disclosure (aka “dark money”). But it’s safe to assume they’re funded by the same interests that supported Lindsey Graham and his policies.
National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) — The party committee controlled by Senator John Thune and the Republican leadership in the Senate. Naturally, it favors pro-leadership candidates.
Invest in Tomorrow Colation PAC — The super PAC funded by the green energy lobby that is on a self-described “retribution tour” against Freedom Caucus conservatives who pushed to phase out renewable-energy tax credits in the One Big Beautiful Bill. This group funded the ads that defeated Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) earlier this month, and now they’re spending big to defeat Ralph Norman in this Senate race.
What does all this tell Republican voters in South Carolina?
It says that a vote for Darline Graham is a vote for someone who will likely continue Lindsey Graham’s policies, be loyal to John Thune, and vote to protect corporate welfare schemes.
When you consider that Lindsey Graham had a disappointing 59% lifetime conservative rating, that John Thune is currently on a 5-week recess instead of fighting for the SAVE America Act, and that corporate welfare has enriched the green energy lobby to the point where it can buy elections, the interests funding Darline Graham’s campaign prove she’s not the best choice.
And for those who may think President Trump will keep her in line, he will only be in office for two of the six years of her Senate term. Who’s going to hold her accountable when he’s gone?
Path to Victory
If the election were held today, we believe Ralph Norman would win. One poll reported this week had Norman leading Graham by 12 points in the runoff. This makes sense given that two-thirds of the August 11th primary voters supported someone other than Graham, even though they knew she was Lindsey Graham’s sister and President Trump’s choice. Voters didn’t buy it.
But the election is not today, and a barrage of ads is about to hit the state, telling voters that Ralph Norman is a Trump-hating liberal. It’s garbage. But they have to do this because if they explained the real reasons why they oppose him, Norman would win in a landslide. They know that South Carolina Republicans would love to have a senator who fights for their values — even if that means standing up to John Thune and corporate interests.
Here’s what you can do to help:
Contact Republicans you know in South Carolina and urge them to ignore the false ads and vote for Ralph Norman on August 25th. Turnout will be very low, so every vote has a big impact.
Contribute to Ralph Norman’s campaign. He’s up against some big money, so he needs help to get his conservative message out. If you contribute to him through SCF, we will pay all processing fees and transfer 100% of your donation to his campaign.
Thank you for being part of our team and doing so much to help build a conservative Senate. We know that the Senate is the problem in DC, and the only way to fix it is to elect true conservatives who will fight for America’s future. We have a chance to do that in South Carolina on August 25th, and we’re grateful for your support.
