Republican Sen. Darline Graham defeated Rep. Ralph Norman in South Carolina’s GOP Senate runoff after receiving significant backing from President Donald Trump and a pro-Trump super PAC in the race to succeed her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
Republican South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham won Tuesday’s Republican Senate primary runoff, defeating Rep. Ralph Norman and moving closer to securing a full term in the seat previously held by her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.
The runoff followed an Aug. 11 special Republican primary in which neither Graham nor Norman received more than 50% of the vote. The two advanced from a 10-candidate field that also included Republican Rep. Russell Fry.
Graham entered the Senate after Republican Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her to fill the vacancy created by Lindsey Graham’s death on July 11.
Her decision to seek the seat for a full term initially surprised some Republicans in the state, but she quickly secured the support of President Donald Trump, who encouraged her candidacy and became an active participant in the final stretch of the campaign.
Trump joined Graham for a tele-rally Monday, one day before voting concluded.
Because he “got her into this whole thing, I have to make sure she gets in,” Trump said during the event.
The president had also traveled to Myrtle Beach on Friday for an in-person campaign rally supporting Graham.
Trump’s endorsement was accompanied by substantial outside spending.
Graham reported raising more than $346,000 between July 23 and Aug. 5, according to Federal Election Commission records.
MAGA Inc., a super PAC aligned with Trump, reported spending more than $827,000 on text-message outreach and voter phone calls supporting Graham’s campaign.
Norman, meanwhile, assembled his own group of prominent Republican endorsers.
His supporters included Florida Sen. Rick Scott, South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace, Utah Sen. Mike Lee, the Conservative Political Action Committee and former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.
Former Virginia Rep. Bob Good also backed Norman on the day of the runoff, using an X post to encourage South Carolina Republicans to “reject birthright senatorship.”
The race also exposed questions about Graham’s preparedness for some of the national security issues she would face as a senator.
During an Aug. 18 debate, Newsmax host Greta Van Susteren asked Graham about Taiwan and the South China Sea.
“Senator, are Taiwan and the South China Sea national security issues for the United States? If so, why?” Van Susteren asked.
“I’m just going to be honest here. I’m not that informed on national security,” Graham responded. “So … But I do support the military.”
Her comments drew attention during a campaign in which she was seeking a full Senate term despite having entered federal office only after her brother’s death.
Some Republican activists in South Carolina were skeptical of her candidacy from the beginning.
South Carolina Freedom Conference Chairman Jordan Pace told the Daily Caller that the party organization did not support Graham serving a full term.
Republican state Rep. Jay Kilmartin also said many grassroots Republicans had expressed frustration with Graham’s policies and governing approach.
Trump’s intervention ultimately placed the president firmly behind Graham in the intra-party contest.
Trump-backed candidates have frequently won Republican primaries, although his endorsement has not guaranteed victory in every race. Former Florida congressional candidate Catalina Lauf, for example, lost an Aug. 18 Republican primary to businessman Jim Schwartzel despite receiving Trump’s endorsement.
Graham’s victory also extends a family connection to a Senate seat long associated with her brother.
Lindsey Graham had built a national reputation as an outspoken advocate of an assertive U.S. foreign policy and extensive American involvement overseas.
After Russia invaded Ukraine, he called for the assassination of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He later supported the war involving Iran and remained a strong advocate of U.S. assistance to Ukraine.
In May 2023, Lindsey Graham characterized the billions of dollars Washington had sent to Ukraine as “the best money [the U.S. has] ever spent.”
His sister now advances from a Republican runoff shaped by competing endorsements, questions about foreign policy experience and an aggressive push by Trump and his political allies to keep the seat in Graham family hands.
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