Supporters of losing Republican Senate candidate Ralph Norman booed President Donald Trump's name during his concession speech Tuesday night, an unusually raw moment of grassroots frustration with the president's intervention in a South Carolina primary.
Sen. Darline Graham defeated the congressman in the state's GOP special primary runoff after Trump campaigned aggressively on her behalf, holding an in-person rally and repeatedly urging his Truth Social followers to back her, and The Daily Beast highlighted the reaction to the president's name from Norman's supporters.
Graham won with 52.5 percent of the vote to Norman's 47.6 percent, according to the Associated Press. Trump declared victory on Truth Social at 8:44 p.m.: "Darline Graham Wins! Endorsed by President Trump."
The winner told her supporters that "South Carolina truly is Trump Country," while Norman, a 73-year-old congressman who also lost the GOP gubernatorial primary in June, took the stage saying he hadn't prepared a concession speech because he believed losing "was not in the cards." The crowd cheered when he said, "I hate it for the state."
The tone shifted sharply when Norman turned to Trump's role in the race. "But you know, the president got involved. He has that right. That's his prerogative," he said — a line that drew loud boos from his own supporters. Norman tried to smooth it over, insisting "his policies are good" while admitting, "I never understood why he got in this race ... I don't like it, but I'll accept it."
He also aired grievances about the money spent against him, noting roughly $8 million in PAC spending backed his opponent while his campaign relied on South Carolina donors and his own funds.
Norman closed by pledging tepid support for the winner — stumbling over her name at the podium, prompting laughs from the crowd and a visible reaction from his wife, Elaine, who appeared to shout "Whatever her last name is!" He said his next chapter "won't be in the political arena."
The booing adds to a rockier-than-expected run for Graham, who was appointed to the Senate after her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, died last month at 71, and had never held elected office before this race.
Last week she was booed on a debate stage after saying "national security is not my thing" when asked about Taiwan and the South China Sea. She has since claimed no one she's spoken with while campaigning has raised national security concerns with her.