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South Carolina Republicans have a clear choice in the August 25 runoff for the United States Senate. I am supporting Senator Darline Graham.
President Donald Trump has given Darline his Complete and Total Endorsement, and I am proud to join him. Darline brings something Washington desperately needs: real-world perspective. She understands what families experience when they walk into Food Lion and see what groceries cost. She understands accountability and that every dollar government spends first belonged to a taxpayer.
Most importantly, Darline understands what public service is supposed to be about.
I have a simple framework for making decisions in Congress:
Country. South Carolina. Constituents.
What is best for America? What is best for our state? What is best for the people I represent?
After serving alongside Ralph Norman for years, I have come to believe his framework is different:
Ralph. Ralph. Ralph.
What is in it for Ralph? What leverage does Ralph gain? What position does Ralph get? What office does Ralph run for next?
That is the fundamental reason I cannot support him for the United States Senate.
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There is a difference between being conservative and being performative. Ralph has perfected a Washington playbook: create a crisis, withhold his vote, force President Trump or Speaker Johnson to negotiate for it, gain leverage, eventually vote yes, and then claim he is more conservative than everyone else.
I watched it happen during the Speaker’s race.
President Trump endorsed Mike Johnson. Republicans had virtually no margin for error. Ralph initially refused to support him, forcing President Trump to personally intervene to secure his vote. Ralph then used that moment of maximum leverage to secure a seat on the House Rules Committee, one of the most powerful committees in Congress.
I had a front-row seat. From my vantage point, Ralph used the Speaker’s election as leverage to advance Ralph.
Country? South Carolina? Constituents?
No. Ralph.
Then came President Trump’s reconciliation agenda. Again, Ralph withheld his support. Again, Republican leadership had to negotiate with him. Again, he helped block the legislation before ultimately voting for President Trump’s bill.
Same playbook. Create the crisis. Gain leverage. Eventually vote yes. Take credit. Repeat.
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South Carolina should not reward that behavior with a promotion to the United States Senate.
Last Friday in Greenville, Ralph said he would be “on steroids” in the Senate. If the Ralph Norman we have seen in the House is going to be “on steroids” in the Senate, South Carolina should understand exactly what that means: more obstruction, more manufactured crises and more leverage for Ralph.
South Carolina deserves a Senator who answers President Trump’s call because there is something important to accomplish — not one who requires President Trump to call because he has made himself the obstacle.
And after nearly a decade in Congress, Ralph should answer a simple question:
What has Ralph Norman actually accomplished?
Where is the signature Ralph Norman law? Where is the major conservative reform that exists because Ralph conceived it, built the coalition and got it signed into law?
Voting “no” is easy. Creating crises is easy. Attacking Republican leadership is easy.
Governing is hard.
Conservatism should be measured by conservative results, not how much attention or leverage you can generate for yourself along the way.
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Ralph now campaigns as one of President Trump’s most dependable allies. But when Republicans were choosing their nominee for President, Ralph was the only Republican member of the House to support someone other than President Trump.
That was his right. Republican voters have a right to remember it.
Then Ralph decided he wanted to be Governor. South Carolina Republicans considered his candidacy, and he finished third. Another office became available. Now Ralph wants to be Senator.
Again:
Ralph. Ralph. Ralph.
Public service has to be about more than the next office, the next title, the next committee assignment or the next opportunity to make yourself the center of attention.
I learned something important from Lindsey Graham: political capital is worthless unless you use it to accomplish something. Lindsey understood relationships, trust and results. He understood that holding office wasn’t the accomplishment. Using that office to deliver for South Carolina was.
That should be the standard for his successor.
Country. South Carolina. Constituents.
I believe Darline Graham understands that obligation. After years of serving alongside Ralph Norman, I believe his hierarchy is equally clear:
Ralph. Ralph. Ralph.
South Carolina needs a Senator focused on delivering President Trump’s agenda and serving the people of our state — not advancing himself.
I’ve seen enough.
On August 25, I’m voting for Darline Graham. I hope South Carolina Republicans will join me.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
William Timmons is a businessman and former prosecutor from Greenville, S.C. who represents the people of South Carolina’s fourth district in the United States Congress.
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