By Lawrence Delevingne
July 18 (Reuters) - U.S. Representative Ralph Norman, a South Carolina Republican, plans to run for the U.S. Senate in the state following the death of longtime Senator Lindsey Graham, Norman said on Fox News on Saturday.
"I will be laser-focused on passing President Trump's America First (agenda)," Norman told Fox host Kayleigh McEnany.
Norman added in a note on his campaign website that "our country is at a crossroads" and that "President Trump needs proven conservative fighters
standing with him — not politicians who fold when the pressure comes."
Norman's announcement comes after President Donald Trump said on Friday he had asked Darline Graham to run for the position in a special Republican primary on August 11.
"I hope Darline does this, in that there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey," Trump said in a Truth Social post, adding she would have Trump's endorsement.
Graham was sworn in on Tuesday to fill the Senate seat on an interim basis.
Candidates can formally file to run next week. Others who have announced their intention to seek the Senate seat are Republicans Duke Buckner and Mark Lynch.
Norman, 73, ran unsuccessfully this year for governor of South Carolina.
He is a lifelong resident of Rock Hill, with a career outside of politics in commercial real estate development. Norman was elected to represent South Carolina's 5th Congressional District in 2017. He previously spent 11 years in the South Carolina House of Representatives.
Norman has "consistently voted in favor of limited government, individual liberties, and sound financial policies," according to his U.S. House biography.
(Reporting by Lawrence Delevingne; Editing by Kirsten Donovan, Aidan Lewis, Rod Nickel)
