Sen. Darline Graham won Tuesday’s South Carolina special Republican Senate primary runoff, defeating Rep. Ralph Norman and moving closer to securing a full term in the seat once held by her late brother.
Graham (R-SC), who entered the race with President Trump’s endorsement and encouragement after the shocking death of longtime Sen. Lindsey Graham last month, led Norman (R-SC) 53% to 47% in the Palmetto State runoff with more than three-quarters of ballots counted.
Her runoff victory followed a crowded Aug. 11 special GOP Senate primary, where she finished ahead of Norman and several other Republican contenders, including former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC), businessman Mark Lynch and others.
Fry, who drew about 20% of the vote and placed third in the first round of voting, moved quickly to endorse Graham after ending his own Senate campaign.
Graham, 62, also benefited from a powerful lineup of Republican support, including endorsements from Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, along with more than $800,000 in backing from the pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc.
“We have known each other for a long time — She is a spectacular person, and a true American Patriot,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on the eve of the runoff.
The president also praised her late brother, saying, “Lindsey was one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, and his sister shares his deep love of our Country, and the State of South Carolina.” He added that “there is nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother.”
Trump had pressed South Carolina Republicans to turn out for Graham in the final stretch of the campaign, telling supporters at a packed Myrtle Beach rally last week to “pretend” he was on the ballot and warning they would “lose everything” if she failed to win the Senate race.
During the primary race, Graham differentiated herself from her brother by highlighting her interest on domestic issues, including affordability, immigration, gun rights, election integrity and opposition to DEI.
“I loved my brother Lindsey, and I miss him so much every day. But on illegal immigration, I’m tougher than he was,” she said at the Myrtle Beach rally. “It’s simple. If you are here illegally, you got to go.”
Graham, a political newcomer, had never held elected public office prior to being tapped to step in for her late brother, who died from an aortic dissection on July 11.
On the campaign trail, she embraced being a Washington outsider.
“Now the critics say I shouldn’t run for the Senate. They say I’m not a politician. You know what I say? Guilty as charged,” Graham said at the rally with Trump.
“And by the way, President Trump had never served in an elected office before, and I think he’s done a damn good job,” she added.
Graham’s inexperience showed during a debate against Norman earlier this month, when she stumbled over a question about the relevance of Taiwan and the South China Sea to US national security.
“I’m not that informed on national security — so,” she replied. “National security is not my thing, not my area of expertise, but I do support the military.”
While Norman’s supporters seized on the apparent gaffe, Trump downplayed the effect the moment would have on the race.
“All she was is being honest. She’s very smart, and she was being honest,” Trump told reporters last week.
“I mean, she’s into the price of groceries, the price of food, the price of beef, and it’s not — it hasn’t been her thing, but she’s surrounded by very good people, and she said that she’s totally for the military,” the president added.
In contrast, Norman, a five-term congressman, declared foreign policy and national security to be one of his “top concerns,” along with reining in federal spending.
“I’m going to be a CHAMPION for fiscal conservatism in the Senate,” he wrote on X Tuesday. “Why? You can’t have military superiority WHEN YOU’RE BROKE!
“My opponent doesn’t get that, but I do!”
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and outgoing Rep. Nancy Mace were among the notable pols that backed Norman’s campaign.
Graham will face Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in the November general election.
South Carolina is a solidly red state and Graham will likely be heavily favored against the Democrat.
