A national anti-abortion organization has endorsed Rep. Ralph Norman in South Carolina’s closely watched Senate primary to replace the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, whose sister, interim Sen. Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC), is also vying for the seat.
Students for Life Action, an anti-abortion group with chapters across the United States, extended an endorsement to Norman on Monday as the five-term representative heads to a special primary runoff against Graham Nordone.
“Ralph Norman represents a reliable, pro-life fighter in this race, and Students for Life Action is proud to endorse him for U.S. Senate,” SFLA President Kristan Hawkins said in a press release. “There is a sharp contrast between a candidate who has been silent on abortion over the years and who even financially supported a state senator who blocked SFLAction legislation in the Palmetto State, and a legislator who has made his pro-life convictions clear.”
In what has become an issue for Graham Nordone’s campaign to take over her brother’s seat, the interim senator donated to former Republican state Sen. Katrina Shealy’s 2023 campaign after she blocked anti-abortion legislation in the state. Shealy was a member of the bipartisan “sister senators” group in the South Carolina state Senate, which famously blocked the state’s near-total abortion ban in 2023.
Following the news of Graham Nordone’s donation to Shealy, she took to social media to tout her record of fighting for the unborn.
“For years, I’ve committed my life to fighting for vulnerable populations, and no one is more vulnerable than an unborn child who cannot speak for themselves,” Graham Nordone said on X in July. “As a mother, I know that welcoming children into this world is God’s greatest gift. I’m proud to be pro-life and to stand up for the unborn and expecting moms. I will not waver in my support for life, pregnant women, and families.”
SFLA also ripped Graham Nordone for receiving support from Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who has long supported abortion rights up to fetal viability, noting Graham Nordone’s closeness “shows that the company she keeps doesn’t put the interests of preborn babies and their mothers first.”
The recent endorsement marks the latest snub for Graham Nordone, as former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley threw her support behind Norman last week. Norman also has the support of Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and the late Graham’s former primary competitor, Mark Lynch.
DARLINE GRAHAM NORDONE, RALPH NORMAN ADVANCE TO RUNOFF IN SENATE RACE TO REPLACE LINDSEY GRAHAM
Despite SFLA and other Palmetto State Republicans backing Norman, Graham Nordone has an arsenal of GOP endorsements, including that of President Donald Trump and Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC), a former rival who placed third in the special Republican primary, as well as a slate of Senate Republicans.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Norman and Graham Nordone for comment.