James Xavier

If you’re a Republican thinking about sitting out today’s election because national politics has left you frustrated or disillusioned, I get it. But your local Republican leaders still need your vote—they shouldn’t pay the price for the national party’s shortcomings.

This post is for the write in Ralph crew. This isn’t going to earn me friends but I believe in telling the truth and letting the chips fall where they may. I know people have insulted you, shamed you, and tried to kick you out of the party over your deeply held principled beliefs. I’m not here to do any of that, I’ve heard you, and I’m asking you to just hear me out on this. I’m an elected county chairman in Dorchester County. When Darline was appointed to the Senate seat, I didn’t mind because I figured it would be temporary. I genuinely felt empathy and shock for her and the Graham family. I openly criticized the idea of her running when I learned she was going to run for the seat. I hosted Congressman Norman during the runoff at our annual fundraiser. Darline was invited but it was pretty obvious why she didn’t come. I travelled with my friends to what I thought would be his victory party. I was quoted in New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, and more national outlets on record. This cost me friendships, and I’ll likely face a challenger next spring from a moderate running to my left who will attack me over this. So be it. I don’t regret standing up for what I believe. I liked Sanford a lot. I voted for Ralph. Darline was my choice today. This decision took some time to come to. After the runoff I went on a podcast and said I hope Darline and her team would reach out to Ralph supporters to try and bring the party together. They did reach out, and invited me to speak at her event in my county this weekend despite my sharp criticism. I don’t need to speak at her event to feel important so I didn’t prepare any remarks. When I got up to speak, I felt led to ask everyone to join me in prayer for Darline. This wasn’t planned. Maybe it was the holy spirit. I’m not really the person to do something like that. We prayed for courage, wisdom, strength, and peace. We prayed that God would keep his hand on her and her family as they faced major battles. After the event was over her and I talked and I could tell her guard was down. To my surprise she is an extremely sweet and sincerely real person. I talked to her about how the debate with Annie really put the race into perspective for me, how I could tell how much she had prepared, how disciplined she was, how she spoke on the substance that mattered like debt, taxes, and immigration - not just the trans stuff. We talked about family, her logo design that doesn’t emphasize “Graham” but instead puts her name prominent, and some other pleasantries before I left. I’m didn’t vote for her today because she’s a perfect candidate or because she was nice to me. I voted for her because she is the best candidate on the ballot. She seems to be stronger than Lindsey was on immigration, Annie Andrews didn’t blink when Biden let in 12 million illegals. That many illegals affects housing prices and rent for young people, low skilled labor jobs for young people, classroom sizes, census numbers for redistricting, and so much more. Immigration is why we all supported President Trump in the first place. Like President Reagan said, an 80% ally isn’t a 20% traitor. With the US Senate majority on the line, the most far left Democrat we’ve ever seen run in SC in striking distance, and Dems having a wave year, I humbly ask you to vote for Darline to defeat Annie Andrews. Annie is a petty, mean, radical, fraud who doxed my friends and I in 2022. Writing in Ralph won’t send the message you think it will, it will just embolden the socialists for 2028, and they’ll think their message worked. You’ll get a DSA presidential nominee and who knows what next. Georgia has had 2 Democrat senators because 112k people voted libertarian in 2020 and they’re struggling to right that wrong still. Vote Darline and help us clean up the party with fellow conservatives in the coming years.