Mark Sanford, former congressman and governor of South Carolina, has endorsed Rep. Ralph Norman in the Republican primary for the state's U.S. Senate seat. Sanford's endorsement puts him at odds with President Donald Trump, who has endorsed Darline Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham. Sanford previously ran for the Senate seat but received 14.9% of the vote in the Republican primary, which did not qualify him for the runoff between Graham and Norman.
Sanford cited the national debt as a primary reason for his endorsement, stating, "The stakes are simply too high as our nation really is at a financial tipping point." He expressed condolences to Graham for the passing of her brother but praised Norman for his commitment to reducing government spending.
Norman accepted Sanford's endorsement, highlighting his nine years of experience in Congress compared to Graham, who is a political newcomer. He stated, "I am honored to have the support of former Governor @MarkSanford in this fight to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate." Sanford's endorsement comes shortly before President Trump is scheduled to hold a rally for Graham in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.