DeMint helped shape the Tea Party as a U.S. senator from South Carolina; later led The Heritage Foundation and advised conservative groups.
The two-week runoff following the August 11 primary is shaping a high-stakes Republican contest in South Carolina. Darline Graham, appointed to replace her late brother, is courting a formal campaign while President Trump’s endorsement and MAGA Inc. spending underline the race’s national dimensions. Norman emphasizes Washington experience as local voters weigh Trump’s influence against his own conservative record.