Write-In Ralph: South Carolina Republicans challenge Trump’s Senate pick | US Midterm Elections 2026 News
Charleston, South Carolina — Avery Milton, a 28-year-old South Carolina resident, describes himself as a long-time supporter of former President Donald Trump, having cast his ballot for him in the past three elections. However, as the midterm elections approach, Milton expresses feelings of betrayal by the president.
“He stabbed us in the back during his second term,” Milton told Al Jazeera.
Milton’s discontent is reflected among peers, especially younger conservatives who are starting families and entering the workforce. His frustration reached a tipping point regarding Trump’s decision to escalate tensions with Iran, contradicting previous campaign promises to avoid new military conflicts.
In response to his disillusionment, Milton is spearheading a grassroots initiative to promote Republican Congressman Ralph Norman as a write-in candidate for the US Senate, opting not to support party-nominee Senator Darline Graham, who is endorsed by Trump.
A write-in candidate is one whose name does not appear on the ballot but can still receive votes if supporters inscribe it themselves. This approach can indicate dissatisfaction with official candidates, though it rarely leads to electoral success. Notably, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska won a write-in campaign in 2010 after losing her Republican primary.
In the 2022 South Carolina Senate race, write-in votes accounted for merely 0.1 percent of all ballots cast.
Graham has struggled to solidify support among conservatives, even with Trump’s backing, potentially creating an opening for Democratic challenger Annie Andrews in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the US Senate since 1998.
Following the unexpected death of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on July 11, his younger sister Darline was selected to fill the remainder of his term. Her appointment marked a departure from the traditional practice of spouses succeeding deceased lawmakers, making her the first sibling to fill a Senate vacancy.
Initially, Graham viewed her appointment as a chance to continue her brother’s work. Shortly thereafter, Trump encouraged her to pursue a full six-year term, publicly endorsing her candidacy on social media. Three days later, she announced her intent to run.
Some Republicans, including Milton, believe the rapid transition from appointed Senator to candidate has not adequately engaged voters. “The appointment effectively ‘installed’ a candidate,” Milton said.
In South Carolina’s August primary, Graham defeated Ralph Norman, who represents the state’s fifth congressional district. Despite their rivalry, Norman has been reluctant to support Graham’s campaign, suggesting she has not earned the electorate’s trust.
“You have to earn the vote. She hasn’t done that,” Norman told The Wall Street Journal, emphasizing that the campaign feels like a strategy to prop up a candidate rather than foster genuine connections with voters.
Milton points out that Graham has not made significant attempts to engage Upstate South Carolina voters, aside from private gatherings and events with Trump. He critiqued what he sees as the Republican establishment’s disregard for grassroots conservatives.
In response, Milton helped establish the Write-In Ralph movement, which aims to give a visible platform to his campaign for Norman.
“We want a senator who will think independently, rather than simply aligning with party leadership,” he stated.
While South Carolina does not officially register voters by party, a recent New York Times/Siena poll indicated that 30 percent of likely voters identify as independents. Among this demographic, Andrews led Graham by 20 percentage points, showcasing potential vulnerabilities in the Republican base.
John Connolly, a 77-year-old retiree, described Graham’s appointment as indicative of a political culture prioritizing loyalty over experience. “I see her as nothing more than a puppet,” he remarked.
Leila Ali, a regional campaign advisor, cautioned political strategists against oversimplifying the Southern electorate. “The biggest thing that people get wrong is that they think the Southern vote is this monolith,” she stated, highlighting the increasing early voting in the state. Nearly 950,000 early votes have been cast, breaking records for a midterm election.
As the November 3 election approaches, the stakes of the Senate race have intensified. Despite Trump’s significant victory in South Carolina in the 2024 election, his multiple campaign visits for Graham indicate an awareness of the competitive nature of the upcoming contest.
The October New York Times/Siena College poll showed Graham and Andrews in a dead heat at 48 percent among likely voters, making the race closer than many Republicans expected.
The divisions within the party may provide a unique opportunity for Democrats in a historically Republican stronghold. Even in a tightening race, Milton and other Republican dissidents remain committed to writing in Ralph Norman on their ballots, asserting that any subsequent blame for a Graham loss should not fall on their efforts.
“They may try to point the finger at this Write-In Ralph movement,” he said. “But that would assume our votes would have gone to Darline anyway, and that’s just not the case.”
