Norman Cruises To Special Election Landslide
Defying projections of a close race, former S.C. Rep. Ralph Norman coasted to a landslide win over RINO candidate Roger Costner in a special S.C. House primary election in York County Tuesday night. With all precincts reporting, Norman received over 70% of the vote, easily outdistancing Costner – who received the endorsement of outgoing Rep. Carl Gullick as well as the local newspaper, the Rock Hill Herald.
Norman admitted afterward that he had “not expected” to win so easily, and that his campaign had been gearing up to face Costner in a Republican Primary runoff election in two weeks.
The win was a small victory for the conservative wing of the Republican Party, which has pretty much taken it up the yin-yang in the wake of S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford’s dramatic fall from grace over the last three months.
“We got a good one back in the saddle,” said S.C. Rep. Gary Simrill.
Assuming Norman gets by his Democratic opponent in November, he will reclaim a House seat (District 48) that he won in 2004 and then relinquished in 2006 to run for the U.S. Congress – a job he still covets a little too openly, if you ask us.
Anyway, having Norman back in the House would create a two-vote shift back to the “right” in the notoriously left-leaning Republican Caucus, as Norman’s fiscal conservative voting record would replace the uber-liberal voting record of Gullick.
Turnout was strong for an off-year special election, as 3,800 ballots were cast (or 11.7% of the eligible voting population).
Comments
By Silverfox on September 16th, 2009 at 4:52 am
RINOs must live with them. Would be nice to live without them.
By Toyota Kawaski on September 16th, 2009 at 8:22 am
11.7% yea that is strong! Strong as Man-d writing skills
By Billy Bob on September 16th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Wow it looks like Cahaly and his clan Joe St. John lost this election for Costner big time. I heard there were calls made at 2am calling on behalf of Norman. Looks like Cahaly negative tactics backfired on him.
Norman and Starboard won big last night.
By Makes You Wonder on September 16th, 2009 at 9:24 am
I wonder how Ralph will feel when he finds out that Cahaly was working out of the State GOP offices?
By SC Moderate on September 16th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
(I posted a similar comment yesterday) Am I correct that Ralph voted against Sanford’s Voucher scheme? Assuming the answer is yes… Its nice to see conversatives who are capable of making well reasoned decisions!
By Stupid Stupid Stupid on September 16th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
I thought Michael Johnson backed out of the race causing Cahaly to lose his candidate?
Roger Cosnter’s campaign was a typical Joe St. John failure operation.
By concern citizen on September 16th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Congratulations Ralph Norman and his family!!!! I am not from York county but I wish I could move there because ya’ll have elected a great representative for your district. I just hope that in the future Norman will run for Congress because people we need a change in Washington and he is the man for the job!!!!!!!
By Lacie on September 16th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Glad Norman is back in!!! He is a great guy and will do the right thing for the state of SC. One thing I want to know – why is everybody so worried about whether or not he is going to run for Spratts seat down the road. He said he MIGHT – if Spratt retired! That could be 10 years down the road considering Spratt is a career politician. Does everyone think Ralph should say in the state house for 30 years and be a career politician too? Everyone – including the Herald – needs to chill out about that. Who knows what the future holds. Right now he is committed to serving in the state house. Chill people Chill!!!!!